Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Heres another pic of a Hernando Co Hog in his enclosure. Kevin

very nice yellow!!!i would lose the sand.
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1.1 super kids Memfis Lance and Linda May(co-dom)

What would you use instead??
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Thanks and best regards

Mark

You can get it pretty cheap at Walmart. One bag will last a while. It allows them to burrow, and is easy to spot clean. Of course, just like with the sand, you should not feed on it.
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Jenea

2:3:1 Tricolor Hognose
2:2 Eastern Hognose
1:2 Western Hognose
0:2 Southern Hognose
0:0:3 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:3 Eastern Fence Lizards
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

I've kept mine on paper, sand, pine, and eco earth. Since this one is in my living room I added sand to make it look natural. He definately burrows in it as you can even see the hole he created. I have also fed mine on all of the above substrates with no ill effects. Kevin

Well, pine is known to be toxic to reptiles. As for the feeding, you are lucky you have not had any impactions yet. I have heard, via another forum, of someone that lost a python due to it ingesting part of the substrate (which was paper). Apparently it tried to regurge, but it lodged and he died. It was very tragic and avoidable.

The sand is an issue because of the potential of clogging the nostrils. Plus, the lack of humidity.
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Jenea

2:3:1 Tricolor Hognose
2:2 Eastern Hognose
1:2 Western Hognose
0:2 Southern Hognose
0:0:3 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:3 Eastern Fence Lizards
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

If you really want it to look natural go with a 1:1 ratio of potting soil and peat. Holds humidity better, and looks more like the areas you would be most likely to find them in.
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Jenea

2:3:1 Tricolor Hognose
2:2 Eastern Hognose
1:2 Western Hognose
0:2 Southern Hognose
0:0:3 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:3 Eastern Fence Lizards
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

"Holds humidity better"

I thought easterns were supposed to be kept dry??
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Thanks and best regards

Mark

The avg humidity where I am is over 40%. Not to mention, I normally find them in leaf litter, not dry conditions. Do I mist daily...no. However, I do provide a humid hide year round, and they use it all of the time. Remember, they are not a desert snake....they feed on animals that require humid environments. Doesn't it make a little sense that their environment would be similar? Southern Hognose require even more humidity, and will dehydrate quickly if you are not careful. I have found my westerns like a little humidity as well. If I let it get to dry they both soak in their water bowls for hours at a time (and they do not have mites). When I increase humidity, they stop.

It is simple, was the animal found in a dry desert type environment? If not, why would you set it up that way?
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Jenea

2:3:1 Tricolor Hognose
2:2 Eastern Hognose
1:2 Western Hognose
0:2 Southern Hognose
0:0:3 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:3 Eastern Fence Lizards
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

for Eastern hogs to be found in sand hill habitats in Central Florida. Well, they aren't particularly common, but they are still found in sand hill and scrub habitats. A lot of Hernando County is sand hills, and I wouldn't doubt that hognose came from sand hill habitat.

Actually yes, the mother of this snake was found in extremely sandy conditions, much like the tank he is in. You see, mom was found in the sandy hills of Hernando Co Fl. Also, I do question the toxicity of pine as many breeders keep their snakes on pine. Also I question whether newspaper is unsafe as many breeders keep their snakes on this as well. I believe there are many ways to keep snakes. As I stated above I have snakes on pine, I have snakes on eco earth, I have snakes on newspaper and of course I have a snake on sand and they all are doing fine. Thanks, Kevin

I was not saying the substrates were unsafe, but that there is a potential for ingestion if fed upon it. As for pine, I have heard that the oils can be toxic. Thus the recomendation of Aspen, a virtually oil free product. I myself use paper towels, newspaper, aspen, and the soil/peat mix. What I don't do is feed on the substrate. If for some reason I do have to feed without a dish, I hold the prey item so that it is off of the cage floor, until it is almost completely swallowed. Most of my snakes have come to recognize the feeding dish, and get excited at seeing it. it may seem a little extreme, but I have heard to many stories of impactions from substrate ingestion, and not just with snakes. You may feed 100 times without a problem, but then on 101.....just not worth the risk to me.

I have found with my own set ups, that the habatit humidty does not match the general humidity outside. With the lighting and such, the habitats tend to be very dry. An animal found in a sandy area in FL is still use to a relative amount of humidity. Unless the humidity is monitored, a desert type eviron will dry out relativity quickly. I guess my concern is not so much with the sand, as that it looks like a desert setup for a snake the is not a desert snake.

Up here in the panhandle of FL, I only find Easterns in areas with a fair amount of leaf litter and such (where the toads like to hang out). Do they cross sandy areas and such, sure, but when I find them holed up, it is normally in a humid area. Under leaves, in/under logs (and since Ivan we have a bunches of logs!), etc. The exception is during breeding season, when they show up anywhere. Wait, I take that back, I have never found them on the beach or barrier islands, but diamondbacks have been found there, so even that is possible.

Not trying to tell you how to keep you animals, but you see a lot of "newbies" make husbandry errors that really hurt the animals. When I see a temperate animal in an environment that looks desert like, it gives me cause to pause. Sorry if I offended, my concern is only for the animal.
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Jenea

2:3:1 Tricolor Hognose (plus babies)
4:2 Eastern Hognose
1:2 Western Hognose
0:2 Southern Hognose
0:0:3 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
1:2 Eastern Fence Lizards
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

I for one am certainly not offended. I look forward to everyones input as I feel there is still much to learn. Thanks. Kevin

Aspen is great. Pine isn't bad but it's a little too light and easily moved around and bunched up.
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Steve W.

i do news paper on mine.layerd.
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ball pythons,pastel,het&PH albino,het&PH hypo,PH pieds,PH clown,and norms!!
borneo ST,black,& red blood pythons
garter snake morphs
bull snake morphs
w.hognose morphs
e. box turtles
1.1 super kids Memfis Lance and Linda May(co-dom)