The Limelight collection

Pueblan Milksnake

Lampropeltis polyzona

Pueblan milk snake · Campbelli

A classic banded milksnake with a distinctive range of expressions: bright tricolours, warm Apricot tones and the softer dark pigment of Hypo animals.

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Limelight Lampropeltis collection · captive animal

Adult size: Usually about 75–100 cm
Origin: Pueblan form: parts of central and southern Mexico
Housing: One snake per enclosure

Beyond the pattern

In the wild. In your collection.

The traditional campbelli profile describes populations in parts of Puebla, Morelos and Oaxaca, including relatively dry upland environments. Its account records rodents and other small vertebrates as prey.

Classic animals combine red, pale and black bands. Apricot colouring changes the look of the pale bands, while Hypo animals can display softer brown rather than deep black. The name of a visible trait should be kept separate from possible-het claims.

From the Kingsnake.com archive

Kingsnake.com’s campbelli profile notes Apricot and Tangerine colour forms, variable black tipping on the scales and typically strong feeding responses in captivity. These are species-level observations, not a promise about every hatchling.

Read the historical species profile ↗

Another Pueblan Milksnake showing individual pattern variation — Individual colour and pattern vary; a photograph does not establish genetics or locality.

Bred at Limelight

Previously produced. Individually distinctive.

A look back at Pueblan milksnakes produced at Limelight Lampropeltis, from classic tricolours to warm apricot tones and darker patterns. Each animal has its own character. These archive photographs are not current availability listings.

Pueblan milksnake previously produced at Limelight Lampropeltis, photograph 1

Practical husbandry

A care sheet to keep close.

Set up and measure the enclosure before your snake comes home. These starting ranges are for routine maintenance; follow the individual animal’s breeder guidance and monitor its condition.

Warm area: 26–30°C (79–86°F)
Cool retreat: 21–24°C (70–75°F)
Humidity: About 40–60%, with a humid hide

Housing

House singly. Use a secure enclosure long enough for the adult to stretch out, with room to explore and climb. Scale up as it grows.

Cover & substrate

Provide snug warm and cool hides, stable branches and burrowing substrate. Avoid aromatic cedar or pine bedding.

Heating

Control every heater with a thermostat. Measure both ends with digital thermometers; guard bulbs and avoid heat rocks.

Water & shedding

Provide clean water and a humid hide with moist, not saturated, material. Maintain ventilation and keep most substrate dry.

Feeding

Offer appropriately sized frozen/thawed rodents. Follow the animal’s established schedule; adjust with growth and body condition.

Handling

Let a new animal settle and feed reliably. Support its body gently and leave it undisturbed for 48 hours after meals.

Routine

Spot-clean waste promptly. Record meals, sheds and weight. Persistent feeding refusal, weight loss or breathing changes need a reptile veterinarian.

Light & season

Provide a consistent day/night cycle and shaded retreats. If using UVB, match output and distance to the animal. Brumation is not required for a pet.

Field observations

Where people have recorded them.

Explore public, research-grade, wild observations on iNaturalist. Coloured cells show recorded sightings—not a complete range boundary or a measure of abundance.

Loading observation map… Open the iNaturalist map ↗

A common question.

Does the map show only Pueblan milksnakes?+

No. It shows the broader iNaturalist species Lampropeltis polyzona. “Pueblan” is a traditional captive/locality designation within that group.

Read further

Sources & context.

Reviewed 13 October 2026. Historical keeper accounts are paraphrased and linked; older scientific names are retained only as context. Photos are from the Limelight collection. Observation tiles are supplied live by iNaturalist; basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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