Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a western hognose, who is living in a 2 1/2 gallon for now. He's about 6 inches long. I want to move him to the 20 High gallon, but the breeder told me the weirdest thing. He said if I put him in that size tank, "he will get lost." What on earth? I'm sure snakes born in the wild certainly have a bigger space to roam than the size of a 20 gallon high tank... and I doubt being born in captivity would change this much. Can anyone tell me why I shouldn't put the little guy in a 20 gal? I think it would be good to give him that much room to roam and then he wouldn't have the stress of changing tanks as he grows. I have a 10 gal too but 20 gal is nicer.
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purrhisswoofmeowblubsqueakneigh

All captive born snakes prefer smaller environments. With a 20 gallon he'd have to travel 20 hoggie miles for a drink of water lol.I think a 10 Gallon would be perfect for now and when he is full grown then you can use the 20. Although you could raise him without a problem in a 10 gallon. I think the pet shop owner was just using that as a figure of speech because that snake is so small, he wouldn't literally get lost lol.

haha! Hoggie miles, I like that I see what you mean. I'd just like to move him up to a larger size tank than the 2.5 without going out and buying a 5.5, because the way it's set up is two little hidey spots on either side of the tank (warm and cool) and the water dish in the middle. So crowded!
Actually I got him at a reptile show, not a pet store *beams* teehee, I'm just excited that I actually made it to one! He was my favorite of 4, including a red one. Most definitely the calmest one there, and best of all he just so happened to be the one who ate pinkies from day 1! Hooray! Good temper and easy feeder!
They are so cute...
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purrhisswoofmeowblubsqueakneigh

I thought you would enjoy the "Hoggie miles" term lol. Your right they are adorable. Especially when they go into a defense pose, hiss, and bluff like they're trying to pose a threat lol. I have mine in a 5 gallon tank, he's also a baby. I don't worry about a warm or cool side on the tank, my room is generally always 75-80 during the day and about 70 at night and he's just fine and eats well.

Yeah, my room's about the same temperature throughout the day, but sometimes it varies like when someone forgets to turn the heat back on. Brrr! This little guy seems to be one after my own heart, he loves snuggling over the heater.
I was just curious, he seems to be a neonate. How fast do hoggies tend to grow? By what age do they usually finish growing? How big is he going to get, maybe 2 or 3 feet?
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purrhisswoofmeowblubsqueakneigh

Well Females grow larger than males. "He" would probably get to two feet. I would say in two years he should reach maximum length. Do you have any other snakes?

Just a figure of speech, go for it. The larger the tank the better the thermogradients available to the snake.
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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Governor George W. Bush, Jr.

"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)

I don't see a problem trying him out in the 20 high for a while. As long as he continues to eat then I wouldn't worry about it. Worse comes to worse you can always move him back, but I really don't think it would come to that. It's not like you are talking putting him in a huge enclosure. He'll be better able to thermoregulate, I'm guessing you are using a UTH on one side. He certainly will be able to find his water and then find his way back to his hide. With a 20 high he could even have a cool hide and a warm hide which would be nice for him. I use water bowls that are hollow underneath, that double serves as a cool hide. Let me see if I have a picture...

Here is one, that part that sticks out on the side is a "handle" to make it easy to pick them up, also serves nicely as a doorway into the "hide" area underneath the bowl. That's Fang, my Russian Sand Boa, in his 40 breeder.

Good luck with your new little guy! Do you have any pictures?
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Lyns Lair
WNY Herpetological Society

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I would say that you should wait before putting him in a 20 gallon. He'll be easier to monitor in a smaller tank. In a smaller tank it will be easier for him to find his food and water.

We keep all of our babies every year in small 2.5 gallons with heat pads or tape underneath. Never had a problem. I think that it would be unescessary to put him in a tank that big right now. Snakes don't like to roam around...they hide for a living and come out to breed and eat food and drink water.

Do what you want but if it were me I'd wait til he's longer than 6"...maybe when he's a foot or so. It'll make your life easier too.

Just my suggestions.
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Chris Vanderwees

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