WESTERN HOG NOSE  

• Native to parts of Canada, United States, and Mexico.
• Western hognose are a very small species, adult females range in size from 24-36 inches with males only getting 15-24 inches making them a great choice for first time snake owners.
• Get their name from the upturned rostral scale on their nose which helps them dig.
• Instead of biting, when threatened hognose will play/feign death by rolling on their back, sticking their tongue out and musking.

Diet

Like most snakes, Western Hognose will eat once every 7-10 days. Western Hognose feed on smaller prey items but more of them. They should be fed prey items that are roughly the size of the widest part of their body or slightly smaller. It is best to feed them 2 prey items once a week but some people prefer to feed them 1 prey item twice a week. They are ravenous eaters and should always be fed with tongs.

A shallow dish of fresh water should be available at all times. Western Hognose may have trouble locating water. Soaking them in a container with very shallow water once a week can be beneficial. Be sure they cannot drown and are only left in for a few minutes.

Housing  

Due to their small size, Western Hognose snakes do not require a large cage. If they are kept in too large of an enclosure they will often become stressed and go off of feeding. Babies to juveniles can be kept in 5 ½ to 10 gallon cages, while adults can live happily in a 20 gallon long.

There should be enough decorations provided to give the snake adequate cover. A few small decorations and a couple hide spots are sufficient. Be sure no cage furniture can shift, or fall, and injure your snake. There should be a hiding spot directly under the basking bulb and one on the cool side. Cypress mulch is the best choice for substrate but other bark based beddings may work as well.

Temperatures should be between 85 - 90º F on the warm side and mid 70’s to 80 º F on the cool side in order to provide a proper thermal gradient. Night temperatures can drop in the low 70’s and supplemental heat is not needed. If room temperature is below 70 at night a low wattage (about 50 watts) infrared or black night bulb can be used.

Handling & Care

Western Hognose snakes are very slow and docile snakes making them incredibly easy to handle for beginners. Initially some may hiss and puff up to look tough but rarely, if ever, will one bite in defense. While there is much debate, Hognose carry a very primitive and mild ‘venom’ but by most it is considered no more than a toxic saliva. Hognose do not inject their prey with venom, rather they have to gnaw or chew on their prey to administer it. Effects of the ‘venom’ are much like that of a bee sting causing swelling and mild pain. Like a bee stings, however, everyone has a different reaction and some may be allergic.

Spot cleaning by removing feces once a week will ensure a healthy, clean environment. Bedding should be thrown away and the entire cage and decorations wiped clean once every few months.

Always wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap after handling any animal.

Health

Respiratory distress can occur if the cage temperature changes radically, if temperatures are too low and/or if humidity is high and the cage is damp. Mouth rot (infectious stomatitis) can occur if a respiratory infection goes un-treated, the mouth lining is injured, if a struggling rodent being constricted bites the snake, or if the snake's teeth are broken.