Care Guide for Pet Hognose Snakes
Hognose snakes consist of three varieties – the Eastern Hognose, Western Hognose and Southern Hognose. The Western Hognose is the species most commonly used as pets. It is important to take good care of your hognose snake so that it may thrive.
According to the Long Island Herpetological Society, snake owners should be very careful when choosing housing for the snake. They are very adept at finding any and all escape routes. The lid should be on very tightly.
You want to make sure that any enclosure provides enough room for the hognose snake. A small cage that is only 12 by 6 inches may be fine for a hatchling that is under a year in age. A 20 gallon tank is typically sufficient for an adult pet. Some people choose fish tanks with screen covers while others purchase cages specifically meant for snakes.
Many substances are suitable for the substrate, including newspaper, paper towels, or aspen or pine shavings, which allow them to burrow. Cedar, sand and gravel are not suitable and could hurt the snake.
Make certain to give your hognose snake water in a bowl that will not tip over. The cage should be dry because humidity can cause hognose snakes to develop potentially serious respiratory infections. The water bowl should not be over a heated area.
It is very important to provide a heated area for the hognose snake. The temperature should range between 75 and 85 degrees. A heat pad or heat tank will be sufficient, but make sure that one area does not get too hot. A dimmer switch may be useful. Approximately one-third should be covered by the heating area so that the snake has a choice.
There should be areas for the hognose snake to hide, created by caves, rocks or other items. These should be present in both the heated and unheated sides.
It is important to properly feed your hognose snake. Although they tend to feast on toads in the wild, most pet owners feed them mice. Hatchlings can be started on pinkie mice, and then move to fuzzies, crawlers, small mice, medium mice and even fully grown adult mice for larger snakes. The food should not be larger than one and a half times the snake’s girth. Choose frozen prey from pet stores since live prey can hurt the animal. Hatchlings may eat anywhere from twice a week to once every ten days while adults may eat every one to two weeks.
With good care, your pet hognose snake will do well. A veterinarian can help with any concerns you have.
Page 75, 1111