Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 4 hatchling eastern hogs from a friend who had a clutch of 9. They are eating great and growing nicely. I do have to run around in the woods with a flashlight at night at least once a week to find their food. I have had many adults but this is the first time I've attempted to raise babies. I live in central Florida and our winters are interspaced with warm spells that last up to a week. From my past experience, no toads are found during the winter, even during warm weather. Again from past experience, previous hognose snakes would be active and hungry during the warm spells, but I had no food to offer. My hatchlings are very small and I don't think they will do do well with no food until march or april. I also don't find enough 1/2 inch toads to biuld a reserve for the winter

What do I do?

Switch them to mice.
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Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

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

You could cool them down for the winter. Then in the spring when you can find frogs, bring them out of burmation and start feeding them. Then switch them to mice when you have a good supply of frogs to scent with.

-Dell

Get a green tree frog or squirrel frog and some frozen thawed pinkie mice. Put the tree frog in a small container with a hatchling. You can tell when he starts hunting the frog smell, and at the last second wiggle the pinkie mouse (I use long tweezers)in front of the baby eastern and he will grab it. I have 6 hatchlings right now that I have switched over to mice.