Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just returned from my yearly expedtion to the Carolinas. I rarely collect anything anymore... I usually just take photos these days. However, this time I happened upon a very large all black Hognose (slightly over 3 feet in length), and with these being my favorite snakes, i decided to make a pet of her.

The problem I now have is procurring toads for her to eat. I live on Long Island and the past few days i've spent going to places where toads used to be common, but i'm finding nothing. It's amazing how rare they've become. No wonder Hognose have all but disappeared on Long Island... nothing for them to eat!

So i'm hoping someone from NY could give me some idea where toads are still fairly common. I only need a few, as i'm going to use them to scent dead mice. If you know anywhere on Long Island, or near Long Island where I could procure a few toads, i'd very much appreciate the info!

Not only are you all stressed out now looking for food for it but the snake doesn't belong in a terrarium in your house. Take pictures or even video and you can treasure it for a lifetime. You said you learned that years ago......obviously not.

Mr. Shadowman.....Why not back off this guy a bit? It sounds to much like the HSUS when you speak to him like he is some child having no right to keep a species he is interested in. I feel he has the right to own that hognose and enough sense to possibly mail it back in a month or so to the Carolinas where he obviously knows people if he can't find some toads. Maybe someone here might mail him a few toads so he might realize some sucess. I'm thinking the toads are in N.Y. just still honkered down from Winter. He is on the righjt track wanting to scent with toads and get his snake on rodents. He also has come to a place where people care and will try and help him sort this out. Thanks Richard

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Richard -amazoa-

"Changes in behavior occur when the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change."

Thank you Richard... Shadowman was absolutely no help. I don't know why he even replied. To attempt to make me feel bad for keeping one reptile in the past 20 years? He must be a superior being... lol!

Shadowman is also wrong on one statement of his... that i'm all stressed out. I'm not. I will find toads. I may have to go upstate to find them... they are just eluding me on the Island. You may be right... I haven't seem any anurans, lizards or snakes here yet.

I only came here hoping someone else from Long Island would write and say "they're everywhere in my town". I know they are in Lake Ronkonkoma and if need be i'll take the 40 minute ride there. I'm not stressed. If this same question were asked of me 15 years ago, I could have given a dozen suggestions.

Anyway, thanks for understanding. If everyone could see this incredible snake, I think many would understand my taking it. And trust me, it has a good home here!

I'm confident you will get that Eastern Black Hognose going good. I found one here in Jacksonville, Fl and kept him several years but could never get a female so I released him where I found him. He converted to rodents and after about 3 months I did not even have to scent them anymore. If your able post a shot of yours. My Blk. Hognose had a redish ventral color to him...PS: Here is a couple of shots of a garter snake taking on large toad at my house. Good Luck---Richard

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Richard -amazoa-

"Changes in behavior occur when the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change."

The picture above is an anerythristic Boa. Not just any but one of the lightest BLK/Wht combinations seen in Boa Breeding in recent history. Some people thought she was a Ghost but the vivid bright white discounted that idea. I made the worst decision of my Boa Breeding days when I traded her for two proven 100% het for albino adult females. The well known breeder I traded her to notified me he tried to breed her but she died during the follicle gestation.
I still think what could of been had I kept her. I understand that this boa has no place on a field herping page but just wanted to show her magnificence off. Have a good week all-----
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Richard -amazoa-

"Changes in behavior occur when the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change."