Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys, I got a western hognose on 2/2 from Baltimore Repticon. I was able to feed her on 2/4 a small pinky and had no problem. I have tried to feed her twice since then but she has refused both times. For one of the pinkies I rubbed it against the frozen salmon to scent it but that did nothing. I know they tend to go off feed but I'm still worried since she is about 6 weeks old and only around 8 grams.

Heating is fine with a temp around 91 on the hot side and mid 70's on cool side.

Anything else I could try?

Thanks

Raise heat to 98 and 80. mike

NP

i have to agree with gregg on this one. make sure there are a couple nice tight secure hides, one on each end of the enclosure. clean water as well. then... leave her alone. try again in a week. if it ate right away, then the snake is probably fine, imo. it's probably shocked by the new environment and getting used to it. either that or something is stressing it out. try not to disturb it unless absolutely necessary until it's feeding on a regular basis.

Well said geckoejon, I did not have the energy to type out a more detailed post today. LOL

Yeah I have the two hide system going. One on hot side one on cool. A clean water bowl. I was just stressing cuz she is young and small and didn't want to not feed her and have her die after a few weeks. Bumped up the heat and am going to leave her alone. Will come back and report in a few days, thanks guys.

I agree for the most part. Now so much about leave it alone, but about providing proper secure shelters.
The problem is, there is a huge difference in meaning, between the word "hide" and what snakes actually do, "shelter". And with hognose, its very very different.
The pet shop definition is a half round piece of wood or other material a snake can go under. The problem is they are not shaped right. Snakes normally seek places that fit their bodies.
Hognose, make their own and stay in the ground not a cave or tunnel, more like many species of desert lizards that dig a hole the exact shape of their body.
There are two important parts, 1.by having no to very little air space, and burrowing in substrate that is of neutral humidity, they prevent dehydration. 2. being completely covered also allows them to feel secure. Which is very important to tiny snakes. As tiny snakes are food for many many predators, from insects, to frogs and toads, to other snakes, on up the ladder.
In nature, their ability to utilize their uniqueness, the nose for hognose and stay in the safety of the ground, is what allows them to compete with other species and exist. This is particularly important when they are small. Simply put, they do not know they are safe. All it takes to accomplish this is a few inches of substrate, and allowing part of it to be moist. When you do this, the whole cage is a hide and the snake can use it as needed. Best wishes

I have two of the reptile basics smallest hides. I also have about an inch of aspen substrate in the cage.

With what FR said about them liking to feel secure, even with some of the small basic hides I have seen these still not being enough.

Something I have found better to producing a secure and snug hide is home-made hides using wood or rocks that are structurally secure that allow snakes to really get down into a snug spot. With some I will add some plant cover over a few spots to make the entrances to the self-made hides less visible so that the snake does not still feel exposed.

Sometimes it takes a bit of trying to get home-made hides designed "right" based on keeper tastes and simply durability, but they can be better than store-purchased hides if you put some thought into how to make it and where/how to position it.

I have seen a few easy ones to make. There is another post a few posts down where FR posted a pic of his son's hognose hide, and then another one I have seen is a board with a wooden block about the width of a 50 cent coin to prop it up with some plastic decor plants draped over the openings.

Hognose have a giant advantage, they make their own hides, with their nose. Give them sandy substrate and it only needs to be a few inches deep and they do the rest. One side a big moist, leave another a bit dry, hot spot and cooler areas, and the hogs do what hogs do and for neonates, in total security, as they would in nature.
And yes, like you mentioned, we as keepers are not restricted by commercial products, the outside world is full of better products that actually fit the animal we are working with. Best wishes, pics later

Have left her alone all week. Didn't even go in the room. Come back today, attempting to feed her now and same thing. No response. Seems scared of the pinky. WIll keep it in the enclosure. Man these hoggies are frustrating. Not sure what to do at this point shes going on 16 days not eating.

Again, the two main variables are temps and humidity. Your temps could be better, but should be fine. humidity is very important.

After that comes the behavioral stuff.

I recently obtained a tiny little hognose, while it feeds and on pinkies, it was progressing the way I think it should. So I changed out the substrate, aspen and went with sand(out of a local wash) The little guy has picked up a lot. feeding on three pinks in two days. Which it did not do before. The sand has a dry area and a moist area around the water bowl. I just noticed a bunch of burrows and such around the bowl. I will go take a pic for you. Will post it later

This is a drawer type cage with a couple inches of sand. As you can see, the snake is making burrows and does make choices. He is feeding way better. I added to much water, but it will settle out soon.

I don't see the need for a hide on the hot side at all. I have a hide on the cool side and it's where mine stay 99% of the time. I see them on the hot side in the mornings and the late afternoons, that's it!

I give mine a condo, I've tried the clear ones they work ok, I've given them a purple one and a green one (only two colors they had at the time). They prefer the color ones to the clear one, but will use the clear one but will bury themselves inside the cloth. That's why I experimented with the colored ones. I elevate it by using pvc end pieces, which also serves as another hide also. The inside is a micro fiber cloth that I rinse and clean weekly. It stays moist and they sleep in it every night. Well at least until the room temperature starts to be around 80 ambient, then will only use it when they go into shed.

These are from the Dollar Store.

These work great and I just add some rocks for them on the hot side....there is a uth on the bottom of the rock side (hot side).