Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female Eastern hognose of unknown age, but she's at least 2-3 years old. I didn't do anything particular with her last year for the winter season and I don't have any plans to pack her away for this season, either. I don't breed her nor do I plan to, so that's not an issue. We're in Central FL and I believe she's a wild caught specimen from the Tampa/Hernando area. I didn't get a lot of info when I acquired her about a year ago. I haven't been very successful with scenting mice, so she's still eating live toads. However, when as our 'fall' approaches and the toads disappear, her food supply will also. I was considering either moving her into my garage to experience the natural temps of our area or just turning her lights off. Any suggestions? I can't imagine that hogs in our area area experiencing chilled temps on a regular basis. Our temps are mild pretty much all winter except for Jan/Feb when we get highs in the 50's-60's for a few weeks.

start freezing some toads in water so the toad skin stays soft and your snake does not starve if stays on feed through the winter.The garage is way different in temps than the natural habitat she may brumate in.tom.

I live in Tampa. I have kept a WC Southern Hognose male for over 4 years now. He stays in my garage and eats toads all year but from November to March he stops eating which is normal for Southern's. When it gets below 50 in the garage I bring him in as I kept the house in the winter cool. I have a CB baby female Southern that I have had a year now and kept her on tree frogs all winter with a small light under on side of her tank. Eastern's will eat all year but must be kept warm. You can collect toads now and freeze them in small bags filled with water and thaw them out to feed when you need them. I walk my dog at night were I live and can find toads on the side walks almost every night. I have a 4 year old WC 22inch now Scarlet King that eats all the time but I cool him down in January -Feb. and start feeding him in March again. Make sure you kept feeding your eastern toads because they do very poorly on other diets. You can find toads in the winter just look on warm humid nights before the cold fronts, but I would freeze toads and during JAN - March let him cool down. Just make sure if he eats he stays warm!
-----
"Fragmentation Of Our Land Kills Herps!"

Eastern do quite well on a diet of rat pups (no hair) while offering them WC food is in my opinion quite foolish. The reason I say that is that I use to be of the same opinion as you until a toad/frog introduced virus wiped out my entire hognose collection in a matter of 6 months. Spent lots of money at the vet to no avail. Also, unless you treat for parasites on a regular basis with a WC diet, your animal will eventually be over run since the captive environment tends to cause the parasite load to increase. Not to mention feeder animals captured in surbaban environments are exposed to fertilizers and pestacides in pretty high concentrations. Just some food for thought.
-----
Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown

Actually, I do deworm on a preventative basis. I understand what you're saying and I don't disagree. I have tried everything when it comes to scenting pinkies, but this girl just won't anything but live or dead toads...very stubborn case. I must admit that I have given in and I really dread looking for live toads all the time.

Kudos to you, most do not practive preventative medacine.
-----
Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown