What to feed baby hognose snake
17 Frequently Asked Questions About Hognose Snake Care – Reptilinks
By Nick Helble
Although they aren’t currently the most popular choice of pet, more and more reptile enthusiasts are becoming interested in raising a hognose snake. Truthfully, there’s a lot to love about these underrated members of the snake family: their upturned nose, their wide and goofy grin, and the adorable way they play dead like a puppy.
But why are hognose snakes the way they are? What’s the purpose of their unusual features and characteristics? And how do you take care of a hognose snake pet? We’ve collected answers to some of the most common questions related to these wonderful creatures, as well as the most important facts relating to hognose snake care.
Check it out below:
What is a hognose snake?
The term ‘hognose snake’ can refer to several different species of snake that share similar characteristics— namely, their upturned hoglike nose. Some of these species are named after the regions where they live, such as the Eastern hognose snake or the Mexican hognose snake. Others are named after specific defining features, such as the Speckled hognose snake or the Tricolor hognose snake. Ultimately, the most popular species found as pets (and the main focus of this article) are the Western, Eastern, and Southern hognose snakes.
An Eastern hognose snake in Wisconsin. Photo taken by Alex Harman and uploaded to iNaturalist.
What does a hognose snake look like?
As its name implies, a hognose snake’s most distinguishing feature is its wide head with an upturned nose. This shovel-like head shape allows it to dig in sand or soil when scavenging for food. Additionally, the range of colors and scale patterns can vary, even among the same species. However, the majority of them will be between two and three feet long as adults, with females typically growing larger than males.
What does a baby hognose snake look like?
For the most part, baby hognoses look like smaller adult hognoses.
However, the average size of a hognose hatchling can vary depending on the species. For more info on general size differences between hognose snakes, take a look at the table below:
Hognose Snake Size Chart
| Species | Western Hognose Snake | Eastern Hognose Snake | Southern Hognose Snake |
| Hatchling Size | 5 to 9 inches | 6½ to 8 inches | 6 to 7 inches |
| Adult Male Size | 14 to 24 inches | 17 to 24 inches | 13 to 15 inches |
| Adult Female Size | 28 to 36 inches | 28 to 36 inches | 18 to 22 inches |
Source: Animal Diversity Web
Where do hognose snakes live?
Hognose snakes can be found in many locations all over North America, as well as a few in South America.
Additionally, the names of many hognose species denote where they live. Typically, Western hognose snakes can be found in Southern Canada, the American Midwest, the American South, and Northern Mexico. Eastern Hognose snakes can be found in Ontario, Wisconsin, Florida, Minnesota, Texas, Kansas, and New Hampshire. Southern hognose snakes can be found in Florida, Mississippi, and North Carolina.
Five points if you can correctly guess where Mexican hognose snakes live!
How long do hognose snakes live?
Hognose snake lifespan can vary depending on the specific species, with many Southern and Eastern hognose snakes having an average lifespan between 5 and 9 years. In comparison, Western hognose snakes have much longer lifespans and can live as long as 20 years in captivity.
Are hognose snakes venomous?
Most varieties of hognose snakes are considered harmless to humans and are generally referred to as non-venomous. Truthfully, hognose snakes can produce a mild venom, but this is only harmful to small creatures like toads and mice.
Even Madagascar hognose snakes — a species notorious for its venomous properties due to its habitat — still only produces a mild amount that won’t cause serious damage to a human.
Why do hognose snakes play dead?
As previously mentioned, hognose snakes are mildly venomous. This means that while they can effectively subdue their own prey, they aren’t as effective at warding off predators. Hence, they will often play dead and emit foul smells to prevent predators from wanting to take a bite. This is especially common among Eastern hognose snakes, but Western hognoses have also been known to do this.
An Eastern hognose snake playing dead in Arkansas. Photo taken by Kory Roberts and uploaded to iNaturalist.
Do hognose snakes make good pets?
Yes! Hognose snakes are some of the best pets for reptile enthusiasts. In fact, they’re an excellent compromise snake; they’re more exotic than a gecko but less fussy than a ball python. When considering the wide variety of morphs, their adorable faces, and the fact that they can play dead, it’s no surprise that Western hognose snakes are becoming more and more popular as pets.
That isn’t to say that Eastern or Southern hognoses aren’t good pets, just that Western hognoses are slightly more popular due to their longer lifespans.
Are hognose snakes good for beginners?
Yes and no. If you’re a complete beginner to keeping any pet reptiles, you’re probably better off starting with a gecko; they’re more easily handled and less picky with their diet. However, these do make for excellent pets for first-time snake owners since they’re slightly less picky than ball pythons. With that being said, corn snakes are generally considered the best pet snake for beginners, although hognoses aren’t much more difficult.
Are hognose snakes legal in Australia?
Currently, it is illegal to own exotic animals as pets in Australia. That means that hognose snakes that are native to North America, including Western, Eastern, Southern, and Mexican hognose snakes, cannot be legally kept as pets in Australia. However, the NSW Native Animal Keeper Species List does allow for Eastern shovel-nosed snakes to be kept as pets, which are similar in some aspects to hognoses.
Before getting one as a pet, however, you should contact the Australian Department of the Environment and Energy.
Are hognose snakes legal in Canada?
Currently, only Western hognose snakes can be legally kept as pets in Canada. This is because the country has similar laws to Australia when it comes to exotic and invasive species. According to Manitoba law, raising exotic species that are either wild or in captivity is highly regulated and can result in legal action. This excludes the Eastern, Southern, and Mexican hognose snake, although some types of Western hognose are native and therefore legal. However, you should still contact the Canadian Wildlife Service before acquiring one.
A plains hognose snake in Manitoba, Canada. Photo taken by Neil Balchan and uploaded to iNaturalist.
Where can I buy a hognose snake?
Hognose snakes can be purchased from a retail pet store, although they may be rare to find in stock due to their diminished popularity compared to other reptiles.
Additionally, there are breeders who sell specific morphs and species of hognose, although this is usually the more expensive option. Additionally, you’ll need to do your due diligence when purchasing through a breeder; check reviews from other customers, ask questions to ensure they’re acquiring and raising their hognoses ethically, and find out if they can ship the animal to your area.
How much are hognose snakes?
As previously mentioned, hognose snake prices can vary based on the specific species, morph, and breeder or retailer. That being said, the average price for an albino Western hognose snake online is around $200, which is pretty affordable for a snake. Alternatively, specialized morphs can cost anywhere between $300 and $700, with some even costing more than $1,000.
What do hognose snakes eat?
Hognose snakes are carnivorous and can eat a variety of creatures. The most common meal in the hognose snake diet is amphibians like frogs and toads; they’re highly susceptible to their venomous bites.
However, they can also eat mice, bugs, and both lizard and bird eggs. When kept as pets, it’s a good idea to feed your hognose whole mice (frozen, not living!) with Frog Juice for flavor. We also recommend our Frog & Rabbit, Iguana, or Frog Micro and Mini links for a balanced meal.
A Southern hognose snake eating a frog in Florida. Photo taken by Joshua Doby and uploaded to iNaturalist.
What do baby hognose snakes eat?
Baby hognose snakes have been known to eat insects in the wild, as well as some small rodents and amphibians. When feeding your own hognose snake hatchling, we recommend frozen pinky mice with Frog Juice or Frog Micro and Mini links.
How often should I feed my hognose snake?
When managing a baby hognose snake diet, it’s generally recommended that you feed it every 5 or so days. Once it grows into an adult, you can space out feeding sessions to once every week or every 2 weeks. Remember to only feed your hognose snake appropriately-sized meals to avoid regurgitation.
Additionally, you should avoid touching or agitating your hognose snake for one to two days after feeding so that it can digest its meal.
Why isn’t my hognose snake eating?
There are several reasons why your hognose snake isn’t eating. It’s important to ensure that you’re feeding your hognose the correct kind of food in the correct size. Additionally, the size of your hognose snake enclosure and its decorations can affect your pet’s appetite. However, the most significant factor that can affect your snake’s ability to eat is ambient temperatures and brumation. For a more detailed breakdown of all of these factors, check out our blog post for tips on getting your hognose snake to start eating again.
Hopefully, this information has inspired you to add a hognose snake to your family! If you have any questions that we didn’t cover here, feel free to continue the conversation by leaving a comment or contacting us. Thanks for reading!
Sources
- https://www.
inaturalist.org/ - https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Heterodon_nasicus/
- https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Heterodon_platirhinos/
- https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Heterodon_simus/
- https://www.fws.gov/southeast/wildlife/reptiles/southern-hognose-snake/#recommended-conservation-measures-section
- http://www.toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?fuseaction=main.snakes.display&id=SN1531
- https://archive.org/details/audubonsocietyfi00behl
- https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-snakes/list/heterodon-simus
- https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-snakes/list/heterodon-platirhinos/
- http://www.thehognosesnake.co.uk/hognose_snake_care_sheet.htm
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/zombie-snake-hognose-found-in-eastern-us-can-roll-over-and-play-dead/
- https://www.madamagazine.com/en/die-madagaskar-hakennasennatter/
- https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Licences-and-permits/nsw-native-animal-keepers-species-list.
pdf - http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/w130e.php
- http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/snakes/plains-hognose-snake-heterodon-nasicus/
- http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/snakes/eastern-hognose-snake-heterodon-platirhinos/
- http://www.thehognosesnake.co.uk/hognose_snake_care_sheet.htm
- http://www.lihs.org/files/caresheets/Heterodon.htm
This was very helpful
Kyleigh LeskowIt should be noted that Hognose snakes play dead as a last resort and will be accepting the fate of death when this point is reached, so to anyone looking to buy a hognose like me, PLEASE don’t make a hognose play dead! (Exceptions being that hatchlings may play dead when first having human contact as they don’t know what humans are. Be smart and do research regarding snakes of any kind you’re interested in owning.
)
How Often To Feed Baby Hognose Snake?
August 3, 2022 by Marjorie R. Rogers, MA (English), Certified Consultant
A hognose snake’s diet consists mainly of toads. In the wild, they will eat one to two toads per week. When feeding a captive hognose snake, it is best to give them one toad every seven to ten days.
This will provide them with the nutrients they need without overfeeding them.
Most baby hognose snakes will need to be fed once or twice a week. Some young snakes may need to be fed more often, while others can be stretched to being fed every 10-14 days. It is important not to overfeed your snake as this can lead to health problems later on in life.
If you are unsure how much to feed your snake, it is always best to err on the side of caution and feed less rather than more.
Feeding Baby Snakes their First Meals!
Western Hognose Feeding Chart
If you’re considering a western hognose snake as a pet, it’s important to know what and how often to feed them. Here is a helpful feeding chart to keep as a reference! Adult Western Hognose Snakes:
Feed adult snakes 3-5 times per week. A good rule of thumb is to offer food that is the same diameter as the thickest part of the snake’s body. If you are unsure if your snake is still hungry after a meal, offer another small item such as a pinky mouse.
It’s always better to err on the side of caution and not overfeed your snake. Baby Western Hognose Snakes: For baby snakes, it’s best to start with pinky mice or hopper mice.
Feed babies every 5-7 days and increase frequency as they grow. Again, it’s better to underfeed than overfeed so watch your snake closely during meals and stop offering food if they seem full.
As babies grow into adults, you can begin slowly transitioning them onto adult-sized meals.
Credit: reptilinks.com
How Do You Feed a Baby Hognose Snake?
If you have a baby hognose snake, congratulations! These snakes make great pets. They are small and docile, and they don’t require a lot of care.
In this blog post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about feeding your baby hognose snake. First things first: what do hognose snakes eat? Baby hognose snakes should be fed small mice or pinkie rats.
You can buy these frozen from most pet stores, or live from a breeder. If you opt for live prey, make sure to watch the mouse closely so that it doesn’t hurt the snake. When it’s time to feed your baby hognose snake, thaw the mouse (if frozen) and warm it up to room temperature.
Then, place the mouse in front of the snake’s cage and let it strike at will. Don’t worry if the snake misses its target – this is normal! Once the snake has eaten its fill, remove any uneaten prey so that it doesn’t rot in the cage.
That’s all there is to feeding a baby hognose snake! With just a little bit of effort, you can keep your new pet healthy and happy for years to come.
How Much Should I Feed My Hognose?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the amount you should feed your hognose snake will vary based on a number of factors, including its age, size, and activity level. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should aim to provide your hognose snake with enough food so that its body is about twice the width of its meals. For example, if you are feeding your hognose snake live mice that are each about 1/2 inch in diameter, you would need to provide it with 2-4 mice per feeding.
If you are feeding it frozen/thawed mice that are 1 inch in diameter, you would need to provide it with 1-2 mice per feeding. Ultimately, it is best to err on the side of providing too much food rather than too little, as snakes can go for long periods of time without eating and will not suffer from obesity like many other pets can.
Do Baby Hognose Snakes Eat?
Most baby hognose snakes will eat pinky mice as their first meal. After that, they can be fed fuzzies, hoppers, and pinkies. Adults usually eat fuzzy rats or adult mice.
What Do You Feed Baby Western Hognose?
If you are lucky enough to have a baby western hognose snake, congratulations! These are beautiful and unique creatures. But what do you feed them?
First, it is important to note that baby snakes generally eat more frequently than adults. They may need to be fed every 5-7 days. It is also important to offer smaller meals more often rather than large meals less often.
A good rule of thumb is to offer food that is equal in diameter to the widest part of the snake’s body. When it comes to what to feed your baby hognose, there are a few options. Many people choose to feed pinky mice, as they are small and easy for the snake to digest.
You can also offer fuzzy mice or young rats. If you opt for live food, make sure the mouse or rat is not too much larger than the snake, as this could pose a danger to the snake.
You can also feed your baby hognose pre-killed prey items.
These can be thawed frozen mice or rats from a pet store (never use wild-caught rodents). You can also purchase fresh-killed prey items from some specialty vendors (though these can be expensive). If feeding pre-killed prey, make sure it is warm before offering it to your snake – put it in a zip-top bag and submerge in hot water for a few minutes until warmed through.
Cut the prey item into small pieces if necessary so that it is an appropriate size for your baby hognose to eat without posing any choking hazard.
Conclusion
Hognose snakes are a small species of snake that is native to North America. They are known for their upturned noses, which give them their name. Hognose snakes are a popular choice for snake owners because they are relatively easy to care for and are not aggressive.
When it comes to feeding your hognose snake, there is no need to overdo it. These snakes will typically eat once every 7-10 days.
If you feed your hognose snake more often than this, you may end up making them overweight and causing health problems down the road.
About Author
The inspiring mum of 6 who dedicates her time to supporting others. While battling with her own demons she continues to be the voice for others unable to speak out. Mental illness almost destroyed her, yet here she is fighting back and teaching you all the things she has learned along the way. Get Started To Read …
Proper feeding of snakes
- home
- Blog
- Proper nutrition for snakes
The practice of feeding snakes at home has its own characteristics. In the process of choosing feeds, one should strive to ensure that their composition is as close as possible to natural food.
Keep in mind that all snakes are predators. For cubs, newborn rats and mice, small frogs, lizards, spiders, insects, and worms are best suited.
Frogs, lizards, chickens, mice, and rats are best suited for medium-sized snakes. Large boas and pythons need prey of their size: adult rats, guinea pigs, chickens and geese, pheasants, rabbits and pigeons. At the same time, wool and wings have a positive effect on the peristalsis of the digestive tract, and cartilage and bones bring such feeding as close as possible to the natural nutrition of snakes. nine0011
In addition to the above, young boas and anacondas eat fish, snakes and young turtles. But at the same time, it must be remembered that constant feeding with fish can lead to the development of beriberi and other metabolic disorders.
There are also snakes that eat bird eggs. That is why the eggs of pigeons, pheasants, and dwarf chickens should be placed in a terrarium containing snakes. However, at the same time, it should be taken into account that the exclusive feeding of such food may interfere with the absorption of such a vitamin as biotin. nine0011
Feed and snakes
Some species of these animals prefer to consume only highly specialized feed.
It is very difficult to provide suitable nutrition for such pets. These snakes include: Japanese snake, which feeds only on earthworms. The tree arrow-snake, in turn, eats only lizards. Feeding such snakes with other food is simply unacceptable. Therefore, when choosing pets, this factor should be taken into account. nine0011
Some snakes are characterized by seasonal food specialization. So, for example, a four-stripe already with great appetite eats birds in early spring, a little later - their eggs, and in summer and autumn - rodents.
If we talk about insects, then experts recommend giving steppe and house crickets as food. The popularity of this type of food is due to the fact that it can be quite easily bred at home.
If the terrarium contains snakes that lead a burrowing lifestyle, then it is necessary to equip artificial norms. These designs are necessary both for the normal physiology of pets, and for transferring them to more affordable food.
So, for example, blind snakes that are accustomed to captivity can be fed with newborn mice. However, first they must be placed in a narrow underground passage. After the snakes have adapted, they will be able to feed themselves directly from the feeder. nine0011
In any case, the transition of snakes to more convenient and affordable food should be gradual. And after each meal, snakes should be protected from anxiety, since the speed and quality of food digestion depends on the ambient temperature.
Most often, snakes prefer to feed in the evening or at night, which is especially true for nocturnal and crepuscular species. The amount of food consumed depends entirely on the age of the animal. In addition, snakes can go without food for a long time, as long as they have water. nine0028
Pre-order
Pre-order sent successfully!
Telephone *
I hereby confirm that I have read and agree to the terms and conditions offers and privacy policy * nine0011
Add to cart
Go to cart
Callback
Request sent successfully!
Telephone *
I hereby confirm that I have read and agree to the terms and conditions offers and privacy policy * nine0011
what is important to know what to feed, recommendations
Published: 08/27/2020 Reading time: 5 min.
10206
Share:
The snake as a pet is a phenomenon that is gaining popularity. These beautiful animals attract with elegance and unpretentiousness. Royal pythons are especially in demand. It is believed that this snake is suitable for beginners: it is not very active, rather unpretentious and non-aggressive. The size of the royal (or ball python) is 1–1.5 m, it has a thick muscular body, an elegant triangular head - this is a very beautiful snake. nine0011
Contents
- What should be the contents of a python
- What and how to feed a snake
- Reptilife for python health
What should be the contents of a python
The snake does not need constant daily care, but in order for the reptile to be healthy and live a long time, you need to create suitable conditions for it:
- spacious terrarium. The dimensions depend on the dimensions of the python: it should be comfortable to be inside; nine0004
- volume drinker pool.
Snakes do not just drink from water containers, they also swim there, so there should be a lot of water, and the drinker itself should be well fixed; - temperature regime. In the coldest corner, the temperature should be at least 26 ° C, in the warmest - up to 32-36 ° C. The background temperature comfortable for a python is about 28 °C. The optimum humidity is 80–90%.
What and how to feed a snake
Python is a predator. During the hunt, he strangles and swallows the victim whole. It can digest what it eats for several days or several weeks, depending on the size of the object. At home, the snake should be fed with food that is as close as possible to its natural prey. nine0011
- As a rule, owners of snakes buy food mice or rats, frozen or alive, in pet stores. Some pythons do not perceive an already dead mouse, since there is no thermal radiation from it. To make the food more attractive, it must be warmed in water to a temperature of 40 degrees;
- The first meal after the first lace shedding is very important.
A young python cannot starve for a long time, and it must be fed. So get ready to be flexible in your choice of food items and offer your python mice, rat pups, or even young gerbils. In the most extreme case, force-feeding is used, but only under the supervision of an experienced specialist; nine0004 - frozen rodents are much more convenient as food, but require snake habituation. Be sure to check if the carcass is completely defrosted;
- frequency of meals depends on age. The interval between feedings of cubs should be 4-5 days, an adult python - from 1 to 3 weeks. Keep in mind that pet snakes are prone to obesity, so adjust your meals according to your pet's condition. Female pythons tend to be more voracious and larger; nine0003 sometimes the snake refuses to eat. This is normal if the hunger strike does not last too long, although it is royal pythons that can starve for no reason for up to six months. The python also does not eat well during the molting period, when the temperature drops, if there are stress factors in its environment.
- live rodents, especially rats and hamsters, can gnaw on a python. Therefore, if the snake is not interested in prey, it is better to postpone feeding for a day or two and remove the rat from the terrarium. nine0004
If the pet does not eat for too long, has become inactive and drowsy, has lost weight and lost weight, contact a specialist;
Reptilife for python health
To maintain the snake's health, provide it with the necessary vitamins and microelements, including during active growth or molting, the Reptilife Powder vitamin and mineral complex will help. The feed supplement was created specifically for reptiles, taking into account their needs, it contains vitamins A, K3, C, D, E, vitamins of group B. It will allow you to cope with beriberi, normalize metabolism, and recover from illness. It is convenient to use the supplement when the python has already switched to eating thawed food. It is enough to slightly moisten the carcass of a rodent and roll in vitamin powder.
