Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I hatched 10 Western Hogs at 82 degrees whiched started hatching 57 days later and one turned out to be this specimen! (No, I didn't use photoshop). It has 3 eyes (2 normal on each side and one larger one in the center). The underside of it's mouth is deformed back and reminds me of a leech or carp. It has been 4 days since it hatched, today I forcefed it a pinkie mouse head. Anyone else have experience with anything like this???
Lance G

np

np

np

Underside of his mouth.

np

np

sweet triclopes
never seen a 1.5 headed snake before
nate

Would be kinda cool if it can eat and grow OK.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I forcefed it a couple of days ago, it processed it and defecated already. It can drink on it's own. I'm going to forcefeed it again today. Still going strong on day 7!
Lance

>>I forcefed it a couple of days ago, it processed it and defecated already. It can drink on it's own. I'm going to forcefeed it again today. Still going strong on day 7!
>>Lance

I guess I wonder why you are pushing food at it so much. I would be leery of overwhelming it and killing it with stress.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

I'd agree with Sonya, babies can litterally go for MONTHS with no food at all and still be fine. Slow down and give it a chance to eat on it's own when it's hungry.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I'm just planning on one more small meal today (as I fed it a very small portion before, less than half a pinky). I figure more frequent smaller meals might be easier for him to process than less frequent larger meals. Or am I wrong? What about "pinky pumps" He is actually fairly easy to forcefeed compared to a normal snake due to his larger mouth. How long have baby hognose gone without eating before? Thanks.
Lance

Can't speak to hognose, have not kept them, just know many folks sweat out feeding on baby snakes and resort to forcefull methods way before the animal is in any risk. Sometimes the forcing can be worse than letting the individual decide it's hungry.

IMO, try letting it feed by itself on a small pinky mouse, see what happens.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I have never dealt with hognoses, but don't you usually wait until they have a first shed before feeding? And don't they shed approx 10 days after hatching? So wouldn't that mean it is still living off the egg yolk anyways? If I am correct, you are talking about forcefeeding twice within 7 days of hatching? Maybe I am wrong on the whole shed before feed thing, but I know when I had corns, bulls, and house snakes, I always let them shed before offering food.

He shed the day after he hatched and digested and pooped a couple days before I gave him another SMALL meal yesterday. I'll wait until a couple days after his next poop to feed again, or at least a week. Still going strong on day 8!