Which milk snake is best for a pet?

Our 9 yr old has decided she wants a milk snake. I'd like to hear recommendations on which ones make good pets.

We've handled a few different milk snakes in pet stores before, but I honestly don't remember which kinds they were. Right now, based on browsing through some pictures, she is leaning towards a Pueblan. Is that a reasonable choice?

She is familiar with snakes since she has handled our BPs and corns since we got our first snake in '07, and of course will have our help making sure the husbandry and such is correct. We also know that baby milk snakes can be flighty and may musk and stuff like that, and are prepared for that, but want something that will settle down as it matures.

I've heard that Black Milk Snakes make great pets.

I'm not an expert on Milks, but I've heard good things about Nelsons. I'm picking up a normal and albino this month. :)

I don't know about the disposition, but I think Nelsons are just about the coolest looking ones out there :) good luck!! :D

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Originally Posted by reptile65

I've heard that Black Milk Snakes make great pets.

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I second this :D have read good things about black milks plus I personalyl love how they change color from juvenile to adult

Ive have much better luck with Hondos than Sinaloans. Just pickep uo a Louisiana Milk this weekend

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Originally Posted by kc261

Our 9 yr old has decided she wants a milk snake. I'd like to hear recommendations on which ones make good pets.

We've handled a few different milk snakes in pet stores before, but I honestly don't remember which kinds they were. Right now, based on browsing through some pictures, she is leaning towards a Pueblan. Is that a reasonable choice?

She is familiar with snakes since she has handled our BPs and corns since we got our first snake in '07, and of course will have our help making sure the husbandry and such is correct. We also know that baby milk snakes can be flighty and may musk and stuff like that, and are prepared for that, but want something that will settle down as it matures.

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to be honest my last choice would be a pueblan,they often musk and fuss into adulthood.i used to breed black milks and once they get over the "your trying to kill me " stage they have a ton of personality.plus the color change is fun to see happen.albino nelson's are pretty and stay quite small compared to BM's.BTW black milks are cool temp snakes and only need a room temp of about 70-75 degrees with no additional heat.have fun !

My Nelson is wonderful! Calm, beautiful, and gentle when handled.

I have a Nelson's and a Pueblan, and really.. the type of snake won't determine temperament. It's really the individual critter that says it all.

If you hold them, whichever one is the least flighty and crazy trying to get out of your hands is the best. My pueblan is nutso and hasn't calmed down yet, and my nelson's is a doll and goes grocery shopping with me. :]

Big warning: make sure your cage has so many locks a polar bear couldn't escape it. And always always always shut it, these guys are real houdinis.

I don't know, I always like the Pueblan's myself.

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Originally Posted by Misfit

I have a Nelson's and a Pueblan, and really.. the type of snake won't determine temperament. It's really the individual critter that says it all.

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this is simply is not true at all! species of snakes have certain traits that are true to there species,of coarse there are some variations within each snake and every once in a while a snake will be totally different that most.

the fact that the pueblan is crazy and the nelson is calm is typical of each species.have fun !

I like the Nelsons and Sinaloans:gj:

Thanks for all the replies so far!

I should have mentioned in my original post that she is not interested in a black milk. I know they are supposed to have nice personalities, but she is attracted to milks because of their colors, and while the color change would be neat, she doesn't want a snake that will be a single solid color for most of its life.

I guess I'll have to do more research into Nelson's, since they seem to be getting the most votes here.

I've kept and bred sinaloans, pueblans and hondurans. I've never had problems with any of them and have produced hundreds of each. Hondos tend to be the fiestiest as babies. Nelsons and sinaloans are basically the same snake. Black milks are neat, but if it's colour you're after, they are not the species for you.

If you don't have to have a baby any of the three I mentioned first should be great. As babies any of them can be pissy but all have outgrown it in my personal experience.

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Originally Posted by Misfit

the type of snake won't determine temperament. It's really the individual critter that says it all.

If you hold them, whichever one is the least flighty and crazy trying to get out of your hands is the best. My pueblan is nutso and hasn't calmed down yet, and my nelson's is a doll and goes grocery shopping with me. :]

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These statements are contradictory. The type of snake does play a large roll in temperment. I would not recommend a honduran or pueblan to a 9 year old. They are usually flighty and do not like to be handled. My recommendation is a sinaloan, hands down. Great size for kids as well as their temperment. Very easy going milksnakes.

Most Nelsoni in the hobby have been crossed with Sinaloan, and some consider the two ssp to be the same.