Here are some non-rodent ideas for feeding your hognose:
- African clawed frogs
- Cane toads
- Cuban tree frogs
- Redback salamanders
- Gray treefrogs
- Axolotls
- Quail eggs
- Frozen/thawed anoles
- Dropped gecko tails
- Reptilinks
Full Answer
What do hognose snakes eat besides toads?
Toads account for over 75% of their diet! However, Hognose snakes have been known to feed on frogs, lizards, salamanders, insects, and small mammals, such as rodents. If you have a pet Hognose snake, the best food to offer is frozen mice that have been flavored with frog juice.
Can you feed hognose snakes live mice?
When it comes to feeding your snake, you have two options: 1. Live mice, or 2. Frozen mice. We highly recommend going with frozen mice. While you can feed a Hognose live mice, there are several reasons why you should opt for frozen. First, live mice can damage a captive snake because they have sharp teeth.
How often should I Feed my hognose snake?
Consider the size of the meal you are offering when you decide how often to feed your hognose snake. A single appropriately-sized rodent is enough to feed a hognose snake once every 7 days. An appropriate size is a rodent which is about the same width as the thickest part of your snake’s body.
What do you feed your hognose?
Here are some non-rodent ideas for feeding your hognose: 1 African clawed frogs 2 Cane toads 3 Cuban tree frogs 4 Redback salamanders 5 Gray treefrogs 6 Axolotls 7 Quail eggs 8 Frozen/thawed anoles 9 Dropped gecko tails 10 Reptilinks More ...
How Long Can a Hognose Snake Go Without Food?
As long as your Hognose snake is in good overall health, it can survive for months without food and will not starve or become ill. Although any pet...
What Can Hognose Snakes Eat?
Hognose snakes are carnivorous reptiles that feed mainly upon toads. However, these snakes are not extremely picky if they become hungry. They have...
Can Hognose Snakes Eat Eggs?
Hognose snakes have been known to eat quail eggs while in their natural habitat. If you own a Hognose snake as a pet, they'll enjoy an occasional t...
What temperature should hognose snakes be?
Provide your hognose with a basking spot at a temperature of 88 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and a surface temperature of 78 to 80 degrees on the cooler side. In fact, nowhere in the habitat should the ambient temperature be less than 75 degrees.
What is the easiest snake to care for?
Western Hognose Snakes are some of the easiest snakes to care for. They are timid, and can commonly be found hiding in their habitat. But although timid, they are still unique, and have their own habitat, feeding, and sanitation requirements. If you're having challenges with your hognose snake, feel free to ask our experienced reptile community ...
How long do hognose snakes live in a 10 gallon tank?
A juvenile hognose will do well in a 10 gallon reptile tank for a couple of years. At 2 1/2 years old, your snake will have more than doubled in length and will be sexually mature.
How long does a hognose snake grow?
Hognose snakes will grow 3' Long. They require 78-90 degress F in their habitat. They like to hide. This gentle and incredibly amusing snake comes in several varieties. The most popular in herpetoculture is the Western Hognose Snake. But there's also the Eastern and Southern Hognose variety.
What color are hognose snakes?
They naturally occur in some very attractive color morphs, from a dusky charcoal to a coral pink. Playing Dead as a Defense Mechanism.
What type of light do snakes need?
Many keepers have observed more activity and overall better health in their snakes after adding UV lighting. A tube that covers ½ of the habitat is more than sufficient, in fact that is all that you should provide. These burrowing snakes get less exposure to direct sunlight in the wild than you would think at first, so don’t overdo it.
How to keep snakes from getting hot?
As the temperature increases, they don’t always feel it in time to move to a cooler spot. It is up to the keeper to carefully test and retest all surfaces several times weekly to keep your snake safe.
How big of a tank do you need for a hognose snake?
Housing the Hognose Snake. Hognose snakes don't grow very large, and a tank that allows them to stretch the entire length of their body will suffice. 1 A 20-gallon tank is often a good size for one snake, depending on how large your animal grows. Prioritize floor space over height, as these snakes don't typically climb.
What is the behavior of a hognose snake?
Hognose Snake Behavior and Temperament. Hognose snakes are diurnal animals (active during the day), and they are known for their docile nature. In fact, the eastern hognose ( Heterodon) is especially well known for its habit of playing dead around predators.
How much humidity do snakes need?
Hognose snakes need a humidity level from roughly 30% to 60%. The level varies slightly among the species, and the snakes tend to prefer a little higher humidity when they’re about to shed. The water dish in the enclosure will provide humidity, but you also can lightly mist the enclosure if you need to raise the humidity level. Monitor the humidity with a reptile hygrometer.
Why do hognose snakes wheeze?
Like most reptiles, hognose snakes are susceptible to respiratory infections, which show symptoms of wheezing, drooling, and general lethargy. 2 It's believed that improper humidity is usually the reason for recurring respiratory infections in snakes. Another ailment that afflicts snakes is mouth rot, or infectious stomatitis.
How much does it cost to get a hognose snake?
Expect to pay around $100 to $500, depending on the species and age of the snake.
How to keep snakes safe in enclosure?
Prioritize floor space over height, as these snakes don't typically climb. But a secure lid is still recommended to keep your snake safe in its enclosure. Provide a water dish that's big enough for your snake to climb into, as well as a hide box where it can go to feel secure.
What temperature should a snake tank be?
Within the enclosure, provide a temperature gradient with a basking area at around 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and a cool side that doesn't drop below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. To achieve these temperatures, you might need to experiment with different wattages of heat bulbs at varying heights. For an accurate reading, remember to measure the temperature at the level of your snake in the enclosure, not at the top of the tank.
Temperament
Hognose are very docile snakes and are typically very easy to handle. Due to its non - aggressive nature bites typically don't occur but when they do its usually due to hunger. Very good choice for beginners!
Where To Purchase?
Hognose are a common snake for beginners and are available at most brick & mortar pet stores and reputable online retailers.
Feeder Sizing
Hognose can generally eat 1 - 1.25x the widest part of there body. However if your feeding 1.25x it's girth it's recommended that you make your feedings less frequent. Be careful of what you feed your snake as certain rodents can have green belly, mites and other diseases if they weren't properly raised & euthanized before packaging.
Feeding Frozen Vs Feeding Live
Feeding a Hognose live rodents can be dangerous and is not recommended. Captive bred snakes specifically, don't gain the instincts that they normally do in the wild and are much more susceptible to injury. If you leave live rodents in an enclosure with a snake that isn't hungry it may even get eaten by the rodents themselves.
Why is frozen food good for hognose snakes?
Another benefit of frozen food is that it is easier for hognose snakes to digest. Unlike fresh food, frozen food has already begun to break down at the cellular level.
What do hognose snakes need to live?
A hognose snake’s new home needs a substrate to line its tank or cage. As mentioned, hognose snakes love to burrow and dig. In the wild, they use their upturned snout to dig through dirt and leaves to find their prey.
What Tank Do Hognose Snakes Need?
A hognose snake of average size will be contented with a 20-gallon or 30-gallon terrarium. A hatchling, on the other hand, will only need a 5-gallon tank.
Why are hognose snakes so popular?
With regular handling, your hognose snake will quickly learn to trust you and become a calm, docile pet. Hognose snakes are popular due to their defensive behaviors. Hognose snakes have a loud hiss, and they can flatten out their body in a way that makes their neck seem a bit like a cobra’s hood.
How many species of hognose snakes are there?
Hognose snakes include 3 species within the genus Heterodon. These include the eastern hognose snake Heterodon platirhinos, the western hognose snake Heterodon nasicus, and the southern hognose snake Heterodon simus. While scientifically speaking these are 3 different species, all hognose snakes require basically the same kind of care.
How to make a hognose snake feel comfortable?
You can make your hognose snake feel more comfortable in its new home by giving it some handy hiding places to crawl around and under. Hides, like little caves and logs, can be found at any pet store. You can also create your own hides at home out of old plastic containers and boxes.
Why is my hognose snake's eye cloudy?
It could be a sign that the snake is in the middle of its shedding cycle. Often snake keepers refer to this cloudy appearance as “going blue.” The clouding in its eyes is an opaque lens that limits the snake’s vision.
How to judge hognose snake meal size?
Again, it’s best to judge the proper meal size by how big the Hognose Snake’s head is. After feeding, they should have a visible lump going down their body.
Why are hognose snakes so popular?
Hognose snakes have a unique, shovel-like head and they are a common and popular breed of pet snake. There are several reasons why Hognose Snakes are a good choice when it comes to snake ownership. First, they don’t get too large, especially in comparison to some tropical boas or pythons. Plus, they don’t have too many special needs that make it difficult to care for them. Hognose snakes are usually in most pet stores and are sold by most breeders.
How often do hognose snakes play dead?
It’s a normal defense mechanism, and they should be back to normal in no time. Consider handling your snake at least once or twice a week so they become familiar with you. Once familiar, this should prevent them playing dead down the road.
How long do Hognose Snakes live?
It’s best to plan for the long run if you are thinking of diving into snake ownership. When it comes to Hognose Snakes, they tend to live between 12-18 years on average in captivity.
What are the three components of a hognose snake cage?
Three components come into considering in order to provide your Hognose Snake a healthy habitat. Temperature, humidity, and lighting .
How big is a male hognose snake?
Average Male Hognose Snake Size: Range from 15-25 inches (or 38-64 cm) Average Female Hognose Snake Size: Range from 28-36 inches (or 71-91 cm) Since female Western/Eastern Hognose Snakes tend to be larger, the sex of your desired Hognose Snake could play a role in how big of an enclosure to set up.
What snakes make good first time snakes?
Hognose snakes make excellent first time snakes for new owners!
What temperature should hognose snakes be?
Hognose snakes should have a basking temperature of between 90-95°F. On the other side of the enclosure, the temperature should be around 70-75°F. Heating should be turned off at night so the enclosure can cool down. Make sure to measure the temperatures in your enclosure with at least two digital probe thermometers.
What color are hognose snakes?
Coloring is generally cream to tan with an array of large, dark brown spots. Due to their pattern and scale texture, they are sometimes mistaken for rattlesnakes.
Why are hognose snakes cold blooded?
Like other reptiles, hognose snakes are cold-blooded, which means that they rely on external temperatures to manage their own body temperature and metabolism. A reptile’s enclosure should offer a range of temperatures to allow them to thermoregulate effectively.
How to heat up a snake?
Provide heat for your snake with at least one halogen flood heat bulb, placed over the basking area (ex: a piece of flagstone or stone paver). Using multiple heat bulbs allows for more even heating of the snake’s body. Do not use ceramic heat emitters (CHEs), red bulbs, or blue bulbs, as these are not as effective.
What does an empty terrarium do to a snake?
An empty terrarium makes for a bored snake, reducing its quality of life. Keep your pet entertained and engaged with its environment with the strategic use of décor items that encourage it to exercise natural behaviors!
Where do hognose snakes live?
The hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus) is a 2-3’ long, fossorial, diurnal snake native to southern Canada, northern Mexico, and the central United States . They generally prefer arid habitats with sandy, loose soil, such as shortgrass prairie and dry rockland.
How to thaw a frozen snake?
Prey items should be around 1-1.5x the snake’s width at its widest point. Frozen prey should be thawed in a BPA-free plastic bag in warm water until fully thawed and at least room-temperature. Then use a pair of soft-tipped feeding tweezers to offer it to your snake. To reduce the chances of substrate ingestion, you can use a paper plate.
