Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering how to care for hog nose snakes. I posted a message on the general snake page and someone told me hognose snakes can live their entire lives in a 10 gallon tank.

What else do they require??

Will an UTH be ok for their heat sorce? What do they eat? I have 2 corns, and a honduran milk that are eating fuzzies and adult mice. Do they have the same care requirements as corns and milks?

I'm interested in a snake that can live in a 10 gallon since I'm short on space for something bigger.

Any good websites on hog nose. Aren't they mildly toxic? (That's what I've heard.) Thanks for info.

a good web page is www.hognose.com

they have the same temps as corns (atleast I keep mine at) 80-88 hot side and 70-75 cool side. He eats mice and will probably only get big enough to eat adult mice.

Females can get up to 3 ft, so will need something more along the lines of a 20gal long. But a male will fit nicely in a 10 gal all it's life.

a UTH will work fine, as long as you have a lamp dimmer to controll the heat (uth's can get well over 110degrees) and a digitial thermometer with a probe (put the probe right over the UTH)

I personally use aspen shavings as substrate and feed outside his "home" enclosure.
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 1.0 western hognose, 1.0 red blood

Hognoses are poisonous, but the venom is not a threat to most people. General reaction to a bite is mild swelling. A small percentage of people can have an allergic reaction (similar to bee stings).

The only reason a hog would bite is that they mistake you for food. This is easily avoided by washing your hands before handling the snake. If they ever should happen to bite, run them immediately under the tap and they should let go (they really have to chew on you for a bit to get any venom in). You can also pinch their heads closed while they bite you so they can't chew.

Definately don't get a hognose if the possibility of getting bit bothers you. But if you do decide on it, go for it! I have a 2 month old w. hog, and so far it's been a joy.
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1.0.0 Sinaloan Milksnake - Widdershins
1.0.0 Western Hognose - Moqui
1.0.0 Shepherd Mix - Loki
0.1.0 Pug - Quasi
0.0.3 Goldfish - 1, 2, and 3
1.0.0 Husband - Greg

actually hognoses can bite for several different reasons, because they are in shed, feel threatened, you startle them, or they are in just a cranky mood. lol
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 1.0 western hognose, 1.0 red blood