Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased a baby Western Hognose at the Tampa reptile show last weekend and I'm a little concerned about her. This is my first Hognose so I don't know if this is normal, but it doesn't seem right to me. It seems like she is not using her back end to move around. When she moves she basically drags her back end and is very clumsy. I have other snakes that I have raised from hatchlings and have never seen a snake act like this. When she is in her aspen bedding she seems to move a little better because she has more to "grab" onto but still doesn't seem right. When I pick her up she seems limp and doesn't respond when I grab her tail like most snakes do. When I called the breeder I purchased her from, he said to make sure she's hydrated and leave her alone for a couple of days. I have done this and have not noticed a difference. She seems very docile and has only flattened her head at me once. No striking or anything and she's not playing dead. Is this normal behavior for a baby or is there something wrong?

Take her to a vet. This is not normal.
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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

It's hard to tell from your description really. I've found though that hognose snakes are very different in their movement than other snakes though. So if you're just saying her movement is odd compared to other snakes you have kept, that may be just how the hognose is...

The best example I can think of is that their movements are more wormy, they inch along more than they slither. Also the babies at least move much easier on bedding because of the rough surface, and less so on smooth surfaces or in your hands.

Hognoses also probably do not have as much strength their tail as other snakes you may have kept because they aren't constrictors.

The best thing to do is to check out a few more hognose hatchlings and see if yours really is moving oddly compared to them.

Best of luck!

No her movement isn't just odd, it's severely hindered. I've spoke to some other people now about her and they agree she's not right. I called the breeder and he agreed to swap her out so I will be making the hour and a half drive to do that today. It's kind of a shame because she has a really nice temperament. She's only flattened her head at me once. Other than that she doesn't make a fuss at all when I pick her up. Thanks for the replies!

That's really sad. Hopefully the breeder will try to do something about the hog you sent back, but sadly she probably won't get any vet care... oh well it's not your fault really you wanted to buy a healthy snake.