He Bit Me!

So once when I was cleaning my hognose's tub I didn't follow the rules and I had some pinky mouse scent on my hand. He bit me, and I got him to let go pretty quickly. That was my bad, I knew I should've washed my hands but I didn't.

Fast forward to tonight, I just got back from vacation and had no mouse scent on me at all. I got into his tub to check for poop and change the water. He was posturing pretty bad and looked like he was hunting. So I tried to scoop him up so he'd know it wasn't feeding time. Anyways, he bit right between my fingers and really started gnawing. He drew blood, and after running him under water he let go. I know I got some saliva, because my hand is a slightly swollen and it had more of a sting than when I've been bitten by other snakes. I don't seem to have a big reaction to it, which is great to know.

However, my question is how do I keep him from doing t in the future? Should I just handle him a lot more? Is it possibly because he's hungry all the time? I'm feeding him every 3-5 days, and he was fed just 2 nights ago. This really doesn't look defensive to me, and everything I've read says hognose don't bite in defense, and definitely don't gnaw unless they're trying to eat. Thanks!!

Pinkies are probably too small to keep him fed and he is hungry. I feed my male hog a fuzzy every 4-5 days.

He's very small. But yes I agree, I'm going to start feeding two until I run out.

Yeah, pinkies may be too small. Hognose have extremely high metabolisms and pinkies don't supply a whole lot of nutrients.

What does he weigh?

Mine bit and gnawed on me once. I had a little swelling but that was about it.

Mine is always hissy and pissy in her tank. Once out she is fine. Unless she is being a real turd I pull her out by hand. If she is being a turd I'll use my big forceps to lift her out.

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Originally Posted by Werdna12

He's very small. But yes I agree, I'm going to start feeding two until I run out.

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When you say really small, how small is he? Do you have a scale? If not, definitely invest in one.

As for feeding, keep it at 3 days until he hits about 30 grams then you can go to 5 days. Hognoses have a much higher metabolism than other snakes. If the pinky isn't leaving any type of 'bump' then it's time to move up to the next size food. I have a boy who is on a feeding strike right now but is eating fuzzies even though it doesn't look like he should be.

one of my females is like that. she gets plenty to eat, but acts like i haven't fed her in months.

I use hook training on all mine. Two gentle taps on the glass with the hook to wake them, a gentle touch on the snake with the hook, and only then will I put my hand on them.

I don't like the startle them.