Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am fairly new to the snake world, and after seeing the hognose snake in person, I wanted to get one. I have talked to other people and they say the venom may cause an allergic reaction. I was wondering how often this may occour (2 in a million or if anyone knows statistics). Also, if you have been bitten, do the rear fangs sink into you? Some people tell me to get a Corn or King, but I don't like their size or looks. Please help me out!!

P.S.- if you know any sites or people that have baby Western hogs for sale, please let me know.... Kwikslvr22@hotmail.com thanks.

Hognoses are not good for beginners, and there is a good reason for that. They are troublesome feeders and I can see too many situations where a newbie would know what to do or how to do it properly. With corns, you often get a snake the feeds EVERYTIME and they are a good way to learn the basics. Besides, I have found that people who buy animals because of their looks are the ones that have the most trouble (example: people who buy dart frogs and red-eye treefrogs). Do a search on non-feeding hognoses and you will see the difficulty in keeping hognoses. You should buy according to your experience, not to aesthetics.

As far as venom, I don't have any links on this computer, but this question gets asked repeatedly and you would have no trouble finding information if you searched this forum.
-----
*Humans aren't the only species on earth... we just act like it.

".the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without
spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

I would have to disagree, my hog was a perfect beginner snake for me! Then again, she's never given me any trouble with eating!

The venom isn't a concern with me. I let my boyfriend's five year old nephew play with my hog without any concern at all! I have been bitten by her ONLY because I didn't wash my hands after handling her food. The rear fangs didn't sink in to me at all, and in fact I didn't feel anything until I looked down and saw it! ^_^

Type in nonfeeding hognose and see how many millions of results you get (and that could be an understatement lol). Hognose, like ball pythons, can be iffy feeders and can go off feed for no particular reason. They are a better second or third snake for that reason, not so much their personalities, as hognose are among the most docile of all snakes. Even WC ones can be as friendly as any CB snake. Andy
-----
Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

It is not venom.

Actually, it is ... in both cases.

Cheers
BGF
Venom & Toxin Database