Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here's the deal. I recently saved a juvenile male hognose from certain demise by some ignorant people who were convinced it was a massasauga rattler. I brought him home and the weather changed dramatically since then. With the cooler temps I figured he would do better in my care so I went out and invested about 100 dollars on material to make him feel at home. He's a great snake with a wonderful temperment. He often hangs out with me and watches TV. The problem with him is the same as many other owners. I just can't get him to eat no matter what I do. I tried live, thawed, scented and unscented pinkies. I've tried house geckos. I even went out and dug up a plains spadefoot toad, the main diet of hognose. He still won't eat. The current temperature is about 85 degrees. Currently the snake, gecko and toad all live in the same environment. I'm really hoping he'll get hungry. Is there anything I should be concerned with. He seems happy although he looks a little thin. He's about 12 inches long and about the diameter of my finger....I have normal digits. Any comments are welcome.....thanks in advance.

Often said on this forum, but just worked for me. I have a yearling female Western Hog, she went off feed for about a month and a half. She ate 3 hoppers today. Try scenting with tuna. Buy a cheap brand of canned tuna. Thaw a frozen mouse of appropriate size. After it is thawed, dip it in the juice of the canned tuna, be sure it is soaked all over with the juice. Put it in your Hog's cage, and see what happens. It's cheap and worth a try, it sure worked for me.
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0.1 Western Hognose
1.0 Ball Python

My guess is that if it won't even eat a toad, is that it wants to brumate. This time of year a lot of my hogs go off feed, especially adult males. Do you have a way to cool it down for awhile? Take care. John Meltzer

>>My guess is that if it won't even eat a toad, is that it wants to brumate. This time of year a lot of my hogs go off feed, especially adult males. Do you have a way to cool it down for awhile? Take care. John Meltzer

I agree. I have 3 adult male hognose right now and every one of them has stopped eating. Nothing in their environment has changed, they just know it's about that time of year. I will probably brumate them in about a month when it gets cooler.

Also, try feeding him in a small, dark, opaque container, with minimal holes, leave him in there from the afternoon to over night. - Don't disturb or check up on him until morning. This usually works, especially if your using a toad in addition to this method. - But try a scented pinkie first. You should probably brumate him if this doesn’t work.

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James