Western Hognose Snake?

Question

My boyfriend's mom found a western hognose snake living in her greenhouse and we have been thinking about catching it and keeping it in a 55 gal tank. The snake is about 3ft in length already.

He doesn't want to feed it mice though (he thinks it's mean since we have other rodents as pets, heh) ... any alternatives?

We currently have a little ribbon snake that we've had for almost a year but he lives off of fish (and no, we don't intend to put them together)... so basically, we have minimal snake experience. Advice?

Answer 1

How convenient......I'll explain. Hognose snakes, especially wild caught, have an extremely difficult time adjusting to a diet of mice. In the wild they eat mostly toads(Eastern Hognoses eat exclusively toads and frogs). Western hognoses are a little easier to switch to a diet of mice than Eastern hognoses. I would say you will most likely have to give him mice at some point because a constant supply of toads is hard to come by. I would suggest freezing any toads when you find them to build up a stockpile for the winter months.



So your choices are :

1. Feed him mice

2. Feed him toads

3. Let him go where you found him



If you're not going to feed him what he needs then let him go. Also, if he refuses food in captivity please let him go. Some hognose snakes will simply never eat in captivity.

Answer 2

Ok Im on neither sides. Its your decision of either keeping it or not keeping it. YOu guys who are saying let it back into the wild. How is that going to help.



He is asking a Q about a hognose snake. Not should I let this snake go?



Yeah dumbs down for me. What is that going to do.



A Western Hognose Snake can live in a 10 gallon if it has a water bowl, a hide or 2, substrate.



Substrate should be aspen bedding.

Western Hognose Snakes basically eat toads, frogs, and other snakes in the wild.



Let it get used to its enviremont for at least 2 weeks. Since it's a wild Hognose. Don't even play with it.



For feeding.. Try F/T and live mice. If that doesn't work then buy a toad that has no toxin on its skin. If the toad thing doesn't work.. Try a green anole. They are $7.99 at pet stores.



Good Luck



- Sean

Answer 3

Hello, In my experience the hog nose snakes are very hyper active, I have owned several of these including the western and speckled hog nose, and both of them were very active when I held them, not really aggressive just hyper. they get around 2-3 feet or so full grown and if you didn't already know are mildly venomous rear fanged snakes,not considered dangerous to humans but are related to the cobra. snake temperaments will vary from one to another it may be that your snake is just more nervous than others might be. if you are holding him every day then it is likely that he is just very High strung and if he is not offering to bite I would not concern myself to much with this. TN has one of the most strict laws governing the ownership of venomous reptiles, basicly if it is venomous it is agaist the law to own for the public, no execptions unless you are an active member of a snake handling church, zoo, University or a very closly watched dealer for one of these. on the list of forbidden snakes you will find a very long list which includes the "hognose (all species)" per the TN department of wildlife. Being a venomous dealer I must deal with them on a regular basis and when I questioned them about this harmless snake being on that list some time ago the answer I got was "the fangs make the difference, because they are rear fanged and inject there venom and are related to the cobra". not saying that I agree with there opition but thats the law.

Answer 4

Please do not catch him leave him alone you can possible kill him and send him in to shock or he will starve to death by refusing food. If you have little experience then you shouldn't be tiring to catch this type of snake. If he is wild leave him as that.