Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i purchased a small western hognose two months ago at the reptile expo in Kentucky. up until a week or so ago, he/she was always gentle and non-defensive. last night i took 'baja' out for a little 'bonding time' and i saw his little cheeks puff out and he let out the most threatening hiss i've ever heard.. after i picked him up, he attempted to strike me a few times and he hooded several times. i thought it was so adorable! this adorable little muppet-faced snake was trying its best to be as threatening as he could. bless him.. i love my hognose just thought i'd share. - k

p.s. still waiting for him to feign death lol.

I think feigning death is very hard to elicit in Westerns, mine goes through the whole puffing thing all the time, sometimes for several minutes, but has never feigned. I think he's saying 'you're scary, but you're not THAT scary'. He never does it outside of his cage, though.