Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A question for all...

...This has been on my mind for a long time. What do most of you prefer to feed your Western Hogs? I normally feed all of mine on mice and nothing else, but since breeding rats for the last couple of years I now offer a rat every once in a while. But I have heard that rats make Hoggies to fatty and can lead to early death??? Is there any truth in this?

Cheers

Gary
GM Reptiles

There is no evidence that rats will cause "early death"... Some people are hung up on this fatty liver disease thing especially when it comes to Western Hognose snakes...

Some people will argue that they are almost exclusive toad eaters in the wild and that rodents are much more fatty than toads... So in their eyes a rodent diet is not natural for them... The fact is, in the wild, toads only make up about 50% of their diet... In some parts of their range that % will be even less amphibian and more rodent... This could explain why some lines will accept unscented rodents more readily in my opinion...

In my opinion, feeding rats to your hog will most likely not shorten its life but with any species you should keep an eye on their overall body condition and weight... An obese reptile is an unhealthy reptile...

Usually providing a hot spot of over 90 degrees and a cool spot that does not drop below 80 will keep their metabolism high and the chance of them becoming too fat, low...

Here is a little bit of info on fatty liver disease... It is on the contrary to what some reptile "internet experts" believe...
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1889214,1889214

I feed my hogs rats from time to time.

Here in MN, most of the wild western hognose eat skinks, eggs (especially turtle), and some small mammals.

-Chris
-----
Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC

The studies we have done here in west Texas and eastern NM showed that Westerns ate predominantly lizards. Every native lacertilian has been consumed including Eastern Collared lizards Texas Horned lizards.
Amphibian consumption peaked following rains that brought out toads and salamanders. They were also found gorging on amphibians post metamorphosis. We also saw yellow mud turtle eggs and juveniles in the gut of DOR hognose. Mammals were found also in the gut of deceased specimens and in the stools of collected ones.
In our area there are around 40 different species of small rodents that Western hognoses likely consume. Within that group, most are mice but also squirrels, shrews, and rats.

Pink to pup rats will likely have more fat especially if they have visible fat reserves inside. Females that are gravid and growing will utilize these calories for egg production.

Like Gregg referred to, if hognose are kept at median temps, and given room to crawl around they will do well even on a diet of rats.
Obesity seems to occur in Hognose collections that are kept around 68-74 degrees ambient with no heat spot.

Hope that helps.
-----
Thank you,
Kevin Rhodes

www.spiderhognose.com

http://www.freewebs.com/spreptile/index.htm
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/lifesciences/?action=view¤t=09-09hognose001.jpg

Thanks for the reply's. And that really puts my mind at rest.

Cheers

Gary