Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Why do hognose have such a bad attitude when they are in their cages? Mine will hiss and strike at me whenever I reach in. As soon as I pick him up he calms down and is completely different. I've read this before about these guys. Anyone know why they do it?

To me it's just the "nature of the beast", my mexi. hogs are the worst,they hit the sides of their shoe boxes when I walk by!Like you said tho,they calm down once they're in your hand. Jeff

i dont really think that to give them a stereo type as being pissy in fair. i think for the most part they all have there own personalitys obviously some worse then others like that little red one that i post often is straight from hell i swear no matter what i do she's mad all the time i cant even walk in my snake room with out her blowin up(if she's out).
but for the most part isn't that why we love these suckers so much.
how many do you have just the one??
and do you know the sub-species?

My female never hisses or puffs up, but my male does it the second I walk by his cage. He is getting better about being held, but still fights it most of the time.

The reason is probably a defense mechanism that has been maintained even though they are captive animals. Instincts never really go away... Mimicking an aggressive animal often times will scare away would-be predators. The hissing seems to mimic a rattlesnake sound, and the puffing up makes them look bigger than they are.

It's all for show, and that's why I love this species!
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Robert Charvat
1.1 het albino Western Hognose

I just think it's kind of funny how quickly he changes from being all big and tough (well as big and tough as a 18" hognose can be)when in the cage, to being completely placid when in hand. I don't know if he is even opening his mouth when he strikes. I've never been hit by him. I guess my reactions are a little quick for him since I've owned emerald tree boas, amazon tree boas, pygmy rattlesnake, and a pair of carpet pythons that tried to eat me sometimes!

BTW joe, it's a western and my first and only hognose. He's awesome though! I'll post a pic of him later.

just wonderin.
in my exrerience the kennerlyi are the craziest.
it'll be cool to see a pic.
and just curious 18 inches and no girlfriend ide be mad 2!lol...
hv a good 1
joe

They're some great little actors aren't they. I got a pic of my little female nasicus doing the faux cobra thing.

reako45

Here's a pic of my hog. Such a cool little snake!