Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just fed my hog a live pinky (newly born) and the pink was thrashing around wildly for about 10 minutes before the hog could even begin to try eating it. Anyone know exactly what hog vemon does to the prey?
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1.0.0 Common Snapping Turtle (Aggro)
1.1.0 Bearded Dragons
1.1.0 Western Hognose(hets for albino)

I honestly dont think it does ANYTHING to rodents at all. Ive had them chew a live mouse for 30 mins only to give up, I took pity on the mouse and he went on to father many many babies!!

I have a female hypo green that will only eat lives, she chewed the hell out of a week old ratpup once and swallowed it backwards, i know that rat was alive for at least 10 minutes after ingestion as i could still hear it squeeling!!!
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www.hognose.co.uk

That's funny. I've got an '05 male W. hog that, after his initial 40 min marathon eating the first pinkie I ever fed him, has become quite proficient @ dispatching pinkies. I don't know if it has anything to do w/ his venom, but after a bit of thrashing, he seems to subdue and swallow them easily, and they are not moving.

reako45

Another hognose enthusiast and I were discussing the effectiveness of their venom. We have not seen any of effects of their venom, nor do we believe that their fangs are meant for "toad popping" that is commonly believed. Along the same lines, we are wondering about the effectiveness of death feigning in hognoses. To most mammalian predators, I find it hard to believe they will turn down a snake that is obviously very freshly dead. Just wanted to throw all that out for discussion, any observations / opinions?
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Virginia Herping
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VaHS
Virginia Herpetological Society
http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS

"The irrational fear of snakes is the only excuse a grown man has... to act like a complete sissy" - Colchicine

... nature has ceased to be what it always had been - what people needed protection from. Now nature - tamed, endangered, mortal - needs to be protected from people. When we are afraid, we shoot. But when we are nostalgic, we take pictures.
Susan Sontag

>>Along the same lines, we are wondering about the effectiveness of death feigning in hognoses. To most mammalian predators, I find it hard to believe they will turn down a snake that is obviously very freshly dead.

They won't turn it down, but prior to eating it, they may lower their guard, take their eyes of it, let their young play with it, or whatever, thus providing opportunities for escape for a suddenly revived snake. It won't work every time, but perhaps often enough to convey a selective advantage on hoggies that display the behaviour in the longer term.

Cheers,

WW
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WW Home

One of the female easterns I rescued last year was rescued from dogs (German Shepard and Border Collie). The dogs were going beserk, barking, snapping, and lunging in at her as she struck at them. When I finally got to her she was starting into her death roll. Both dogs seemed almost startled and stepped back a bit, though they continued to bark.The odor was awful. If I had not stepped in I have no doubt they would have killed her. The problem is that she continued to death feign for 2 hours! She only quit when I put her in a dark box. I think the death feigning only put the dogs off for a short time.

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Jenea

1:1 Tricolor Hognose
0:0:1 Florida Redbelly Snake
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse