Western Hognose Snakes tiny snakes with venom and an enthralling personality!
Hognose snakes are renowned for their acting talents. They are able to play in dead poses, flattening their necks, and roll their and ribs “hood up” like a cobra, and even fake strike.
A number of fascinating information about the snake the fact that they are infected with venom.
The Western Hognoses have fangs on their rears that release an astringent vermox in their saliva , which helps them to hunt. They also come with a scoop nose to aid in burrowing.
Their small size and their gentle manner make them an excellent companion snake pet for novices!
If you’re looking to know more about this tiny snake venomous read on…
Western Hognose Snake
Western Hognoses are indigenous of the central region of North America.
These snakes that are venomous have a wide range that extends from the southern region of Canada up to the northern part of Mexico. In these regions, they are sometimes referred to as
- Prairie Hognose.
- Plains Hognose.
- Texas Hog.
- North American Puff Adder.
The Hognose is derived from the scientific designation Heterdon Nasicus because of its Latin phrase “nasus” meaning “nose”.
They sport a distinctive nose which scoops up to make burrowing a breeze. With their scoop-nose and checked body patterns make them among the most attractive snakes found within North America
Western Hognoses are poisonous and possess rear fangs. They are also capable of poisoning their prey using poison while hunting.
They may be slightly venomous to humans, but they are not aggressive. In the event that they bite them, they may cause small skin rashes and swelling for people who are more sensitive.
Their venom is more harmful to toads, frogs, small rodents, and lizards.
Western Hognose snakes are called “faux vipers” because they canflatten their heads and give warning strikes and shake their tails, make their bodies puffier and even play dead.
What We Love About The Western Hognose
Hognoses are well-known for their calm nature and high tolerance to handling. They make fantastic snakes for novices. (40 corn snake morphs).
Pros
- A calm and docile disposition.
- Their adult responsibilities are simple.
- They are small and can only increase to 2 feet long.
Cons
- They are fond of hiding in burrows and on substrate.
- Young animals may require frogs or lizards in order to begin feeding captive.
- People who are sensitive may be swollen after being they are bitten.
Species Appearance
One of the most unique aspects in the Western Hognose’s look is their nose. The hognose has an averted the rostral bone which creates the appearance of a scooped nose.
It is the Western Hognose Snake has a distinct checkered pattern as well as scales with keeled.
Their keeled-scales make them appear like a variety of western rattlesnakes like those of the Prairie, Western Diamondback and Mojave. Researchers believe that their keeled scales provide an evolutionary illustration of Batesian mimicry to guard them against predators.
Despite the fact that they can shake their tails but they don’t have rattles, and are easy to distinguish from rattlesnakes!
What Size Does An Western Hognose Snake Grow?
A mature Hognose size ranges from 1.5 to 2 feet in length. Female hognose snakes’ length could be as high as three feet, but two feet is the average.
Western Hognoses develop between 6 and 7 inches in length, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Eastern Hognose Snakes Morphs
The morphology is recognized as 45 for Western Hognose.
Due to their rising popularity, breeders have started selectively breeding the species exactly like ball pythons..
The Western Hognoses are typically olive-gray or tan-yellow.
There are minor color variations when you observe wild animals. Some are more gray, olive, brown or red.
They also are covered in gray or dark brown spots that form saddles along their spines. They also have two lines of smaller blotches on their sides which create an asymmetrical checkerboard.
The Western Hognose Snake’s Care Guide
Care for a Hognose fairly easy.
Adults require at minimum 20-gallon of terrarium, with plenty of soil to allow burrowing.
They prefer eating amphibians (e.g. toads) in the wild however they are also able to eat frozen-thawed rodents in the event that they are they are introduced early enough.
Feeding Guide
Western Hognoses are carnivores that devour many wild animals. As young animals, they are primarily interested in eating amphibians. However, adult Hognoses are predatory feeders and are known to consume:
- Toads.
- Small Frogs.
- Lizards.
- Skinks.
- Eggs.
- Rodents.
In captivity, providing adults with diverse diets can be difficult. It is recommended to provide mice with food.
Mice are a must-have element in their food
- The hatchlings need to be fed at least every 5 days.
- Children aged 6-18 months require food every 7 to 10 days.
- Adults are fed from 10 to 14 days.
Mice that have been frozen and thawed are more effective than live mice. Prey that is live can scratch or bite your snake, causing an infection.
If your snake starts to eat mice, it could be beneficial to feed lizards and frogs for a brief period of time.
As your snake grows , the size of the mice you feed will also grow. The best rule of practice is that you feed your mice with exactly the same size as the snake’s mid-region.
The weight of your Hognose should be watched closely to ensure the young snakes are constantly growing in weight, and adults have an ideal body.
Also, make sure you have an adequate water bowl to allow your Hognose to bathe in. This will allow them to hydrate effectively.
Health Concerns and Husbandry
The Western Hognose Snake can be around for 20 years if it is kept properly.
The proper care of your pet is vital to ensure the well-being for your pet snake.
Untidy husbandry can result in many ailments:
- Respiratory Infections.
- Mouth and Scale Mouth and Scale.
- Mites.
- Anorexia.
- Parasites.
For health problems such as mouth or skin rot or respiratory issues, it is essential to consult with a veterinarian. Treatment is usually a requirement of injectable antibiotics.
Fecal tests are the most effective method of diagnosing internal parasites.
Mites influence how your snake behaves. Snakes with mites take a longer time to soak in order at drowning them. In addition, mites might be small however you’ll be able to be able to see them by your naked eye.
The Signs That They Are Healthy
- It is growing at a steady rate.
- The video shows hunting and burrowing behavior.
- Infrequently shed.
Sickness symptoms
- Breathing through the mouth.
- Biting or unusually defensive behaviours.
- Stuck shed on the eye or body.
Hognose Snake Enclosure
The Western Hognose can be found within Central North America.
Their habitat is filled with swamps, prairies, and scrublands. These habitats are perfect for Hognose snakes due to their low-growing shrubs to hide and sandy soils that are ideal for digging.
The Hognose requires both of these characteristics in the wild.
Hognoses are shy snakes who tend to hide throughout the day to keep out predators and heat. They only come out in the early morning hours and will be covered with dust.
Cage and Set Up
Your enclosure should be filled with stones, sticks or hides to allow your western hognose hide beneath or build a shed against. The hognose should also have a flat rock to use as a bathing area, and a depth of 3 inches substrate.
The hatchlings may be kept in a 10 gallon enclosure. When they reach a foot in length, they can be moved to a bigger tank. Adults should have 20-gallon tanks:
- Tank type Glass or plastic.
- Tank Size: 20-gallon minimum*.
- Lighting: basking light required.
- Substrate Mix of sand and soil .
* If you own an active and large western hognose, you could increase the size of your tank by 50-gallons.
The Western Hognose Snake thrives on the humidity that ranges from 30% and 50 percent.
Their basic humidity requirements make it clear that any enclosure material can be used as long as it’s resistant to escape. Vision-front and glass enclosures are ideal, however, plastic tubs are a good choice by ensuring the proper installation of heat.
Hognose snakes require a daytime sun-bathing area that can reach 90 degF – 95degF.
A basking lamp should be placed on an even rock. It is recommended to remain on all 12 hours of the day.
Its temperatures should range from 80-85degF while the cooler side should not fall below 70degF. Check the temperature on both ends of the tank using an electronic thermometer, and adjust as necessary.
In a tank of 20 gals, a area of basking on one side is enough to cause such a temperatures gradient.
Heating at night is required, but should be reduced to 10 degrees F.
The ambient temperature should be 70degF for the cooler side, and 80degF to 85degF on hot side.
You should use a thermostat-controlled ceramic heat emitter. It is recommended to avoid using heating mats under the tank because the hognose snake requires a substantial substrate. It is difficult to determine belly heat with just a few inches of substrate.
The most suitable habitat for the species would be a sand soil mix. It is recommended to use organic fertilizer, organic perlite, and organic free topsoil as well as children’s play sand.
Be sure to put three inches of sand-soil substrate into their enclosure.
Tank Cleaning
Cleaning your snake’s cage on a regular basis can help reduce the risk from pests or mold.
It is recommended to the snake’s tank for feces on a regular basis.
It is also essential to do a thorough cleaning and replace the sand-soil substrate each three times.
Cleaning gives you the opportunity to look at the condition of your Western Hognose snake’s feces and general health.
Your snake must have regular motions after eating. The feces of snakes contain tiny amounts of chalky white substance known as Urates, as well as darker fecal matter. If the feces are and white for your pet, it might have a digestive or hydration problem.
The Typical behavior
Western Hognoses possess some of the most fascinating and lively wild behavior than the species in the North American species!
They are burrowing snakes , and the majority of them are in hiding or under the ground.
Hognose snakes can also be crepuscular. They only emerge between dawn and dusk in order to dig in the soil to find the toads that have been buried.
In captivity, Hognoses usually keep their usual crepuscular burrowing habits. They don’t often bask, but the option to do so should always be available since it improves their metabolism after eating.
They are individual snakes and rarely found in groups.
It isn’t advised to cohabit.
Western Hognose snakes aren’t likely to eat cannibals if they’re identical in size and fed independently. If there is an inconsistency in size or food in short supply, they can battle.
Western Hognose Snake Playing Dead
If threatened, western hognoses exhibit a range of defensive behavior. They can increase their body size or make a loud scream or flatten their ribs in order in order to create a cobra-like hood, and make closed-mouth strikes.
If the behaviors aren’t working, The western hognose will be able to roll over and poke his tongue in. They’ll flail around while they pretend to be dead..
The Western Hognose Snake’s Bite
Western hognoses provide “false strikes” by hitting the target with their heads instead of using their mouths.
It is important to note that the Western Hognose almost never bites and therefore can be handled. It is essential to take your time and use care when dealing with.
The hatchlings need to be handled every few days following they have had the chance to adjust to their environment. You can increase the handling frequency gradually.
Are Hognose Snakes venomous?
Western hognose snake moderately poisonous to humans.
Their fangs release some mild venom from saliva. This helps them catch frogs, toads small rodents and lizards.
Baby Western Hognose Snake
Western hognoses can be oviparous.
These are hognoses born in western Canada. can be laid as clutches of 12-15 eggs inside an edifice that is moist. After 50-60 days the eggs hatch and give birth to the 7-inch long hatchling.
Baby Western Hognose Snakes usually hatch with adult colors and pattern.
Some fade slightly as they age, but for majority of the time, they keep their natural color since birth.
What’s the Cost of A Western Hognose Snake Cost?
Hognose snakes are often kept in captivity across all of the United States.
Common Western Hognoses cost $150-$250 from an individual breeder. Adults can cost up to $250, and hatchlings can be offered for sale at as little as $175.
Morphs, such as the Lavender could cost you $1200.
Additionally, to ensure that your snake is captive-bred, you must handle it prior to buying. This is an excellent way to assess the health of the snake as well as its activity. The juvenile should react to your touch by moving it around.
If the snake seems agitated and stressed or is showing evidence of shed problems Do not buy it.
Hognose Snake Facts
| Common Name | Texas Hognose, Prairie Hognose |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heterodon nasicus |
| Price | $175 – $250 |
| Size | 1.5 – 2 feet long |
| Lifespan | Between 18 and 20 years old |
| Diet | Mice, frogs, and toads, skinks, and lizards |
| Tank Size | 20-gallon minimum |
| Humidity and Temperature | Daytime temperature: 80- 85 Basking Spot: 90- 95degF Humidity: 30% – 50% |
| Popular Alternatives | Kenyan Sand Boa, Garter Snake, Corn Snake |
Summary
This Western Hognose snake is tiny, gentle and entertaining.
They are very charming and their wild, unpredictable behavior can lead to them being called”celebrity snakes!
If you’re unsure about the western hognose’s venom, there are many alternatives that aren’t venomous:
- Corn Snakes are slightly larger at between 4 and 5 feet but with simple needs for care.
- Kenyan Sand Boas are burrowers as well and less invasive than western hognoses.
Hognoses are fast becoming a favorite snake for beginners.
Their general care and husbandry are easy and simple. They’re also calm, accept handling and have adorable noses. (cute snakes)
Do you think this snake is your latest reptile? Tell us in the comments below!
