Caring for Western Hognose Snakes

I've loved the look of hognose snakes for some time, but it's taken a good year before I decided to purchase a pair of hognose snakes. And, let's just say, I love them. My male can be a little irritable at times, but the female is super sweet. (It's actually feeding day today, so I may try to get a few pictures tonight to share.)

Hognose snakes are relatively small snakes, but they're not legal pets in all states. So, make sure that you check your state laws. In some cases, you can have hognose snakes, as long as you don't have those that may be native to your state. Basically, meaning, in Georgia, you can't have Eastern hognose snakes, but Western snakes are ok.

These snakes may hiss when nervous or scared, but for the most part, they are relatively docile. The hissing may sound like the rattle of a rattlesnake, as these snakes are said to mimic the Prairie Rattlesnake in terms of aggressive behaviors (hissing and body posture).

Hognose snakes are considered nonvenomous, as it is vary rare that a person will get bitten and envenomated, but they do have a mild venom. These snakes are rear fanged, and for the most part they will only strike when severely agitated and even then they will generally strike with a closed mouth. But, there have been some cases where mild pain and swelling may occur from a bite. Just keep in mind that the snakes have mild venom, but because the fangs are set way in the back of the mouth and because the snakes are relatively small, it's hard for them to actually envenomate an arm or hand.

Size:  Adults average between 1.5 to 2 feet long, but records have seen hognose snakes up to 3 feet.

Lifespan: up to 20 years

Housing: A 10 gallon tank is bare minimum for one adult hognose snake, but a 20 gallon long is much more suited for them, as it is easier to create a temperature gradient in a slightly larger tank.

The temperature on the hot side should be about 85F, which can be achieved using an under tank heater.

You don't have to have anything special in regards to decorations. Apsen, paper towels, tile, etc are effective substrates to use. Aspen shavings allow the snakes to burrow, which is a natural behavior for them; if you use aspen, you won't see your snakes often, as they will burrow. I've heard accounts of breeders using paper towels for their babies, but no matter what you use make sure that your avoid pine and cedar wood shavings.

Make sure to use a sturdy water bowl so that the snakes can soak before shedding, and to use as a drinking bowl. Don't use a super deep bowl, and make sure that the snake can get out of the bowl easily.

Feeding and Diet: Baby hognose snakes will easily feed on pinkie mice for a while. Typically, you'll find that 1 pinkie a week for the first 6 months will be efficient, and 2 pinkies a week for the next 6 months is ideal.

Some breeders will offer small snakes or geckos to help achieve faster growth, but that's not really the most ideal situation. These snakes will eat lizards, other snakes, geckos, bird eggs, amphibians, as well as mice.

You want to feed young snakes once every 4 to 6 days, and adult snakes once every 7 to 10 days. Make sure to feed appropriately sized feeders that are no larger than the widest girth of the snake. Also, keep in mind that F/T feeders are much more safe for your snake.