Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is it considered normal for westerns to refuse to eat after feeding regularly for months?

What is considered optimal temerature for westerns?

Are there any detailed care sheets out there anywhere for hogs?

Thanks

Stu

I am no expert but I can tell you what I have learned and what works for me...

I have not yet experienced a bad feeder... All 7 of my hogs are eating well... Males can go off feed at times so I am told... It can happen during breeding season... The same can be said for many species of reptile... When the female scent is in the air, they do not want much to do with anything else...

Also, winters can be a time when hogs go off feed along with other species of reptile... I ususally just raise the temps to be sure they have nice high ambient temp... In my experience this will keep your reptiles eating through the winter without pause...

My hogs are kept at high temps... Some people like to keep them cooler but what I have learned form some of the keepers and breeders on this site is that hogs should be kept hotter than most other North American colubrids...

My temps on the hot spot are up at around 92 degrees for the most part and the ambient air temps are in the low 80's... I also keep my hogs very dry and only offer humdity during a shed cycle although it might not even be needed... Ofcorse they have access to fresh drinking water every day...

Keeping the cage hot and well vented is key in my opinion...

I've kept kings and milks mostly but started keeping hogs a couple years ago. I am familiar with the males going off feed and keep mine between 75-85 which may be the problem. I will try cranking up the heat and see what happens. Mine were all (6) feeding well then towards the end of winter started slacking off and missing a few meals. One stopped all together and was my best feeder of the bunch. A few I had to get re-started by scenting with toad and frog scent.

Thanks

Stu

Older hogs or wc tend to be more likely to go off feed. They can do so for up to 5 months. If they have generally good weight, its usually ok. For me, if they start to thin noticeably, assistance is necessary.

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Thank you,
Kevin Rhodes
http://www.freewebs.com/spreptile/hognose.htm
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/lifesciences/?action=view¤t=09-09hognose001.jpg

Here is a link to download the pdf version of my care sheet.

Care sheet

-Jon

Thats well done Jon R

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Brent Bumgardner
bwbumgardner@aol.com
703.431.1776
Superconda Website

Thanks man!! I hope it helps a few out a little bit.

Very helpful and informative care sheet!

Thanks for sharing!

Stu

Great care sheet, Jon. I use cricket frog, house gecko and tuna as my scents, just because they are available in my area, and work well.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase, Striped Desert, Newport, and Coastal California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

WELL written Jon R..Thank you..
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www.serpentim.com

I enjoyed reading it.. really like the fact that you included personal experiences while explaining everything in detail.

Thanks,
Kenny

I am glad you all like it.. I hope you enjoy my site just as much. It is very close to getting launched and I am pretty excited about it.