Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a hatchling western hognose snake. When feeding it, the chucks, who are in a cage BELOW the hog, go crazy when they see the pinky mouse squirming around. The mouse squirms down to clear glass, through the aspen substrate, & the chucks have a clear view straight up top...they jump up, trying to get to the pinky ( I assume). Until the hog finishes eating, they're transfixed, almost hypnotized, watching it all happen.

Any explanations? The chucks are well fed & well socialized. This behavior has me baffled...

Put a mealworm in a cage with Chucks and half of them will give it a pass and half will eat it (not recommended as a dietary habit), but ALL will taste it before deciding whether to eat it or reject it. My Chucks eye everything that moves as a potential food, especially if it is the right color, and will even come over and lick my fingers in anticipation. However, I think if you would actually put a pinky in the cage with the Chucks, they would all lick it, and maybe even taste it out of curiousity and then reject it.

Maureen...

Thanks for the input. It's quite interesting! I knew that chucks were vegetarian, so I & I assumed the movement just triggered some sort of feeding response, though veggies don't move! Clearly, I think I might need to move the hogs tank, as ultimately this probably stresses my chucks!

Thanks again...

If the chucks can also see the snake when it burrows, then I would move it. Chucks are prey for snakes in the wild.

good point! Thanks. although this 12"chuck could EAT this 7" hog without any problem!