Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello...
I intend buying a hognose, but I can't decide whether I prefer a western or an eastern.

What do you guys think?

Thank you for your kind help,
Jonathan.

I have had plenty of experience with both, and I definitely prefer the Westerns. Aside from the biggest advantage of not having to worry about feeding them mice (sometimes Easterns require a lot work to get the switched to mice), I find them to be much more attractive. They definitely have the cute factor with their rostrum turned up more, and they don't have that low scale over their eyes giving them the mean look that Easterns have. I haven't heard anyone on this forum say anything about this but Easterns have a strange hollow feeling, as if their weight doesn't match their size at all. Westerns give you a solid feeling. In addition, Westerns are much more widely available as captive bred specimens and are quite cheap.

For those who say they like Easterns cuz they are larger, we are still talking about a snake that maxes out at 3 ft!!! Get a Burmese. And for those who like Easterns because of their color variations, go plant some pansies if you want color. Like a snake for reasons that make it a snake!
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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

Thank you for your kind response...

I think I'd go for a western one...
Would a 50*25*20 CM terrarium would be enough (20*10*8 inches)?

thank you.

And... I forgot to ask,
Do you think a 15 year old boy can handle a western hoggie?

That would be big enough for an adult male. A large female might be a bit cramped in there.

I think a responsible 15 year old is very capable of caring for a western hog.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Which substrate you think is the best for western hoggies?

I thought about reptile red sand (of Exoterra or JBL I think, don't remember).

As for this snake will be my only one (Had a couple before but not right now) I'd like to decorate it's enclosure... So Paper towels and newspaper wouldn't fit...

Thank you for your kind help,
J.

I use aspen. It looks good, is easy to spot clean, and holds the tunnels that the hoggies like to dig.

ep
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Occupants not paying rent:
1.1. balls
1.1 corns
1 everglades rat
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2.1 cats