Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just recieved what is supposed to be a 5 year old male western hog. Hes about 11 inches long and a little over 3/4 of an inch fat. The person who gave him to me feeds him two pinks a week. Is it possible that he has had his growth stunted by being fed small prey items? ANd if so has anyone ever had any experiences bringing them back up to size. Ive never had anything stay this small all of my snakes seem to get real fat fast and grow nice and big.
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Ricky

1.1 Samutran Bloods
1.0 Normal Ball
1.0 Amel Corn
2.1 Cal Kings
1.0 Western Hog
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa's
0.1 Columbian Raibow Boa's
1.0.2 Leapord Geckos
0.0.4 Med House Geckos
1.1 Tokay Geckos
1.1 Alligator Lizards 1 mel
0.1 Pink Toa Tarantulas
0.1 California Ebony Tarantulas
0.0.1 Costal Stripe Tail Scorpin's
0.0.3 Riverside Millipeads
2.4 Red Ear Sliders
0.1 Spiny Softshells
1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
0.1 California Desert Tortoise
1.4 Felines
1.1 Canines

Two pinks is not enough for an adult western hog. Usually I feed the hatchlings two pinks or two of any prey size before moving them up to the next size. So, when a hatchling is eating 2 pinks and has the proper girth for fuzzies, I switch to a single fuzzy. Then two fuzzies before switching to hoppers, etc.
I would say that his growth was/is stunted but I would also have a greater concern. Calcium or in this case, lack of. Pinkies don't have much in terms of calcium. Start feeding him the proper size food item, fuzzies or hoppers if he can handle them. Keep the temps up and feed him more often, every 4 days if possible.
Best of luck

During the time when the snake's body was in need of nourishment to grow, if it didn't get enough, then it didn't grow like an animal that is fed much more. Pretty much that describes the scenario.

So feed him more and see what happens. Do you know what the growth window of opportunity of a hognose is? Is it the first 2 years? 3 years? 5 years? I don't know either, but it will be interesting for you to find out.
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Mark

Suposidly its almost five I have a hard time beliving its that old. It dosn't seem calcium defficent, but it is definitly small. I tryd a fuzz on it but it had no interest, but Iven only had the snake a week or so, so i didnt really expect it to eat. This coming week I'll try another fuzzy and if that dosent work a pile of pinks dusted with calcium. Hopefully I can get it up to its proper girth, the western hogs that i have worked with are around the same age and eating fuzzie rats.
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Ricky

1.1 Samutran Bloods
1.0 Normal Ball
1.0 Amel Corn
2.1 Cal Kings
1.0 Western Hog
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa's
0.1 Columbian Raibow Boa's
1.0.2 Leapord Geckos
0.0.4 Med House Geckos
1.1 Tokay Geckos
1.1 Alligator Lizards 1 mel
0.1 Pink Toa Tarantulas
0.1 California Ebony Tarantulas
0.0.1 Costal Stripe Tail Scorpin's
0.0.3 Riverside Millipeads
2.4 Red Ear Sliders
0.1 Spiny Softshells
1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
0.1 California Desert Tortoise
1.4 Felines
1.1 Canines