Reptile & Amphibian Forums

alright everybody i wanna get a cool small snake so boom i've chosen western hog so now i have only a few questions
1:do thye need a light or an undertank heater
2:how biga tank do they need whats the best substrate

thats it thanks everybody

PS can you post pics of your tanks

>>alright everybody i wanna get a cool small snake so boom i've chosen western hog so now i have only a few questions
>>1:do thye need a light or an undertank heater
>>2:how biga tank do they need whats the best substrate
>>
>>thats it thanks everybody
>>
>>PS can you post pics of your tanks
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

First off never get a snake because it's cool looking. Western hognose snakes do have a venom so the most care and respect should be exercised when handling them.

Yes they need a UTH, about like a corns heat. 85 hot side 70 cool side.

Aspen is the best choice since they are burrowers. about 2-3 inches of it, because of this you have to feed out of the enclosure.

Males get to about 2ft, and females get up to 3ft.

For a male they can live in a 10 gal tank all it's life. But a female should be housed in a 15-20 (long) gal tank.

DO RESEARCH BEFORE GETTING ANY HERP.
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 0.1 western hognose

thank you nut how does the tank stay in the 80's on one side and cooler on the other iwthout a lamp?

It's called a UTH (under tank heater) do your research before you get this animal, Especially if you don't know what a UTH is. You also have to use either a lamp dimmer or a rheostate (lamp dimmer is cheaper) to keep the UTH at the correct temps, or it will go over 100 degress which will fry your snake.
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 0.1 western hognose

Reasons I bought a hognose if the first place:

75%- cool looking
25%- ultra cute threat display

It doesn't matter WHY you buy the snake, as long as you can care for it. You won't find many people buying them because they think they're ugly.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

actually I know someone that is getting them becasue they think they ARE so ugly. lol

And you probably won't find to many CB that will do the threat display.
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 0.1 western hognose

Mine does the whole hood and puff thing, but only when he's in the cage, he's fine once I get him out. He's a Western.
The only animal I have that I got because it was ugly was my matamata... which takes ugliness to a whole new art form.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

oh a matamata, those are cute! It looks like they are smiling all the time. lol
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 0.1 western hognose

Well, yeah, it's great, because if they're ever sick, they just frown.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

You must be kidding me what other reason is there? I also have to disagree that you need a rheostat or dimmer for an UTH. Simple heat pads from Walmart set on low work fine and dont cost an arm and a leg. Just make sure you dont set alot of weight on the pad-leave a little space between the bottom of the cage and the pad. Also, I have worked with hogs for 20 years and have never heard of any research that says being captive bred has anything to do with the threat response. Seems to me that is an evolutionary trait. Year after year I produce CB W. hogs and MOST babies will display some degree of the threat response-some even go all the way with it and play dead, being CB has nothing to do with it.

what other reason is there? A genuine love for the species. Not becuase you want to show off some new trend!(
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 0.1 western hognose

I meant as in don't go buy a snake because it is "popular" at the time, or simply because your friends have some. Get a snake that you like, and know you can provide proper care for. Another reason to get a snake, pure love for the species.

Those wal-mart heat pads turn off after 2 hours. So you will need a UTH, which in turn will need some kind of dimmer.
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 0.1 western hognose

I agree and those are all good reasons but to have "a general love for the species" wouldn't you first have had to be visually attracted to it? Also, I have 5 heat pads from Walmart that I use for starting seedlings and not one of them turns off after 2 hours so I'm afraid your statement about that is not 100% correct.
Nate

First let me start by saying "Please excuse the people in here who find it easier to make an A$$ out of people with questions than it is help them out by answering the questions and being a supportive person.

Hogs do need an undertank heater to get a hot spot of 80-90 degrees. No light is required for them, however they should have some kind of photoperiod. An adult male can be housed in a 10 gallon. A female should have atleast a 15-20 gallon long.

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1.1 00 Queretaro Mountain Kingsnake
2.1 01 Texas Glossy snakes
1.4 01 Western Hognose
1.1 00 Striped Het Albino Pacific Gophers
1.2 03 Tri-color hognose
1.1 00 Black Milks
0.1 01 Black Milk
1.2 03 Tarahumara Mountain Kings

thank you