Publean Milk Snake

Milksnakes are popular pet snakes because they are hardy, manageable in size, and generally tolerate human interaction well. With good care, they can live 20 years or more.

Temperature: Provide a range of temperatures in the enclosure so the snake can regulate its body temperature. The basking area should be 85–90°F, the cool side should be 70–78°F, and nighttime temperatures should not drop below 66°F. You can use heat bulbs and a dimming thermostat to control the temperature.

Humidity: The ambient humidity should be 40–60%. You can provide a damp moss box to help with shedding. If the humidity is too low, the snake may have trouble shedding.

Water: Provide fresh water daily in a heavy bowl that the snake can't tip over.

Food: Feed the snake an appropriately sized prey item, such as mice or rats. You can also offer a variety of prey, such as quail, chicks, multimammate, and gerbils. Before feeding, run warm water over the thawed food to bring it above room temperature.

Handling: Limit handling to 20–30 minutes at a time, and don't handle the snake for 2–3 days after feeding. You should also give the snake a two-week settling-in period before handling it.

Enclosure: Provide hard decorations for the snake to climb over and bask on. You can use coarse beech woodchip bedding, or a soil and clay mix. 
Heating: Overhead heating, such as halogens, is more natural than other types of heating.