Western Hognose Snake
Heating, lighting and Temperature
Western Hognose Snakes are best kept at daytime temperatures varying from 28 to 32 degrees centigrade at one end of the enclosure and 22 to 26 degrees centigrade at the other. Temperature can be allowed to drop a few degrees at night.
A thermal gradient for this snake can be achieved by placing a heat mat under only half of the enclosure, leaving the other half cool. Heat mats should be controlled by a thermostat to maintain the correct temperatures for your snake. Always follow the instructions that come with your heating equipment as these can vary between different manufacturers.
If you find that extra heat is necessary for your Hognose, a low wattage bulb fitted to the ceiling of the enclosure can be used to increase the ambient temperature. Bulbs over 15 watts need to be covered with a bulb guard to protect your pet snake from burns. Any lighting should be turned off at night. An inexpensive timer can be used to do the job for you. These can be purchased from most hardware stores.
Feeding
Most Hognose snakes are good feeders and Western Hognose Snakes can be fed on an appropriately sized mouse, once a week. The food offered should be roughly the thickness of the snake at the centre of its length.
Frozen mice can be bought in many different sizes from pet stores that sell reptiles and can be thawed out at feeding time. Juveniles can occasionally prove tricky to feed as they are adapted to eating amphibians in the wild. It may be best to buy a Hognose that is a few months old and feeding reliably on mice.
Most snakes swallow their prey head first but the Western Hognose Snake seems less concerned about this and will happily swallow food sideways or backwards, just as long as it fits.
Housing
An enclosure with dimensions of 24”x12”x12” is ideal for housing a single adult Western Hognose Snake. The enclosure can be a wooden or glass vivarium with sliding doors or removable lid, or an aquarium with a well ventilated and secure lid. They are also successfully kept in large plastic storage boxes with plenty of ventilation holes drilled in to the sides. Whichever type of enclosure you choose you must ensure it is secure and escape proof. Humidity should be kept at 45 to 65%. Normal household humidity is usually within this range.
A 2 inch layer of Aspen bedding makes an ideal substrate for the Western Hognose Snake and allows for burrowing. Another good substrate is coconut fibre which can be bought in compressed blocks such as the 'Eco Earth substrate block.' 1 or 2 hiding spots should be provided in your Hognose Snakes enclosure. These can be bought or home-made (from margarine tubs, upturned flowerpots, pieces of bark etc.) and should be just large enough for your snake to squeeze in to.
A sturdy water bowl should be available in the coolest part of the enclosure, preferably just large enough for your Hognose to bathe in. When placing the water bowl for your Hognose, clear an area of substrate so that the bowl sits on the bottom of the enclosure to prevent your snake from burrowing underneath and either injuring itself or knocking it over.The vivarium can be decorated with pieces of bark and plastic plants if desired.
Behavior
These snakes are harmless but make every effort not to appear that way. They will often inflate their bodies to appear larger, and will flatten their neck when in a defensive posture. This behavior is often combined with loud hissing. They will also strike defensively, but you quickly notice that their mouths remain closed and the whole act is just for show. In my experience, the plains hognose rarely employs the feigned death posture in response to a threat as their cousins the Eastern hognose (Heterodon platirhinos) often do.
Notes on Hognose Venom
Western hognose are what is called "rear fanged" and they do possess a type of venom, really just a mildly toxic saliva. This toxic secretion is normally harmless to humans, however a few isolated instances of allergic reaction have been recorded. No lasting effects have been ovserved in any case.
It's actually quite difficult to experience a hognose envenomation. Due to the location of the fangs in the far rear of the mouth, coupled with their small size, it's hard to come in contact with them. For this reason, and the fact that the venom is very mild and normally has no effect at all on humans, hognose are not considered dangerous in any fashion.
Keep in mind though that on very rare occasions, some people have displayed allergic reactions to these secretions.
Range and Description
The plains hognose has wide range and can be found from southern Canada all the way to Texas. They are threatened in parts of the range due primarily to habitat destruction.
They are a small stocky snake. Average length is 16-26 inches with males being the smaller of the sexes. Specimens exceeding three feet are rare.
Like other hognoses around the world, the plains hognose gets its common name from the upturned rostral scale. They have the "perpetual smile" look about them that is endearing even to many of those who otherwise do not like snakes.
Western Hognose Snakes are best kept at daytime temperatures varying from 28 to 32 degrees centigrade at one end of the enclosure and 22 to 26 degrees centigrade at the other. Temperature can be allowed to drop a few degrees at night.
A thermal gradient for this snake can be achieved by placing a heat mat under only half of the enclosure, leaving the other half cool. Heat mats should be controlled by a thermostat to maintain the correct temperatures for your snake. Always follow the instructions that come with your heating equipment as these can vary between different manufacturers.
If you find that extra heat is necessary for your Hognose, a low wattage bulb fitted to the ceiling of the enclosure can be used to increase the ambient temperature. Bulbs over 15 watts need to be covered with a bulb guard to protect your pet snake from burns. Any lighting should be turned off at night. An inexpensive timer can be used to do the job for you. These can be purchased from most hardware stores.
Feeding
Most Hognose snakes are good feeders and Western Hognose Snakes can be fed on an appropriately sized mouse, once a week. The food offered should be roughly the thickness of the snake at the centre of its length.
Frozen mice can be bought in many different sizes from pet stores that sell reptiles and can be thawed out at feeding time. Juveniles can occasionally prove tricky to feed as they are adapted to eating amphibians in the wild. It may be best to buy a Hognose that is a few months old and feeding reliably on mice.
Most snakes swallow their prey head first but the Western Hognose Snake seems less concerned about this and will happily swallow food sideways or backwards, just as long as it fits.
Housing
An enclosure with dimensions of 24”x12”x12” is ideal for housing a single adult Western Hognose Snake. The enclosure can be a wooden or glass vivarium with sliding doors or removable lid, or an aquarium with a well ventilated and secure lid. They are also successfully kept in large plastic storage boxes with plenty of ventilation holes drilled in to the sides. Whichever type of enclosure you choose you must ensure it is secure and escape proof. Humidity should be kept at 45 to 65%. Normal household humidity is usually within this range.
A 2 inch layer of Aspen bedding makes an ideal substrate for the Western Hognose Snake and allows for burrowing. Another good substrate is coconut fibre which can be bought in compressed blocks such as the 'Eco Earth substrate block.' 1 or 2 hiding spots should be provided in your Hognose Snakes enclosure. These can be bought or home-made (from margarine tubs, upturned flowerpots, pieces of bark etc.) and should be just large enough for your snake to squeeze in to.
A sturdy water bowl should be available in the coolest part of the enclosure, preferably just large enough for your Hognose to bathe in. When placing the water bowl for your Hognose, clear an area of substrate so that the bowl sits on the bottom of the enclosure to prevent your snake from burrowing underneath and either injuring itself or knocking it over.The vivarium can be decorated with pieces of bark and plastic plants if desired.
Behavior
These snakes are harmless but make every effort not to appear that way. They will often inflate their bodies to appear larger, and will flatten their neck when in a defensive posture. This behavior is often combined with loud hissing. They will also strike defensively, but you quickly notice that their mouths remain closed and the whole act is just for show. In my experience, the plains hognose rarely employs the feigned death posture in response to a threat as their cousins the Eastern hognose (Heterodon platirhinos) often do.
Notes on Hognose Venom
Western hognose are what is called "rear fanged" and they do possess a type of venom, really just a mildly toxic saliva. This toxic secretion is normally harmless to humans, however a few isolated instances of allergic reaction have been recorded. No lasting effects have been ovserved in any case.
It's actually quite difficult to experience a hognose envenomation. Due to the location of the fangs in the far rear of the mouth, coupled with their small size, it's hard to come in contact with them. For this reason, and the fact that the venom is very mild and normally has no effect at all on humans, hognose are not considered dangerous in any fashion.
Keep in mind though that on very rare occasions, some people have displayed allergic reactions to these secretions.
Range and Description
The plains hognose has wide range and can be found from southern Canada all the way to Texas. They are threatened in parts of the range due primarily to habitat destruction.
They are a small stocky snake. Average length is 16-26 inches with males being the smaller of the sexes. Specimens exceeding three feet are rare.
Like other hognoses around the world, the plains hognose gets its common name from the upturned rostral scale. They have the "perpetual smile" look about them that is endearing even to many of those who otherwise do not like snakes.