Normal hognose behavior?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I currently have her in a 20g terrarium. 2 mini RBI hides and about 1.5in of aspen chips. ambient is around 75F and she has a hot spot around 90F. She refused food last night. Not sure if it was just too soon for her, or if she isnt liking the massive tank. One thing I feel like im struggling with is lighting. I could put her in a tiny tub in my VE-6 rack with my BPs, but the rack is always dark. I guess I will just have to get her her own tub for now. I will take another tail picture when she gets larger. Thanks for the replies!

20 gallons for a 9 grams hognose is absolutely way too big, even a 6 quarts tub at that size is huge for them, so downsize is definitely in order.

Another thing to keep in mind is young hognose under 20 grams are not very good at taking the prey of the tongs, in my experience they do much better if you leave the prey on the tub floor.

Here is what I do with my hatchlings, I thaw their prey, push the bedding to leave an area without bedding, place the prey in the middle and usually the prey is gone by the morning.

I start tong feeding when they are 20 grams at which time they seem less skittish around the snake tongs.

[MmmBanana]

I went out and got her a 12qt tub before seeing that reply =/. I hope the 12qt will be ok for her. I gave her a ton of sub straight for her to burrow through.

I found out she hates the tongs the hard way. As soon as they got close to her she puffed up and started hissing. So I just left the pinky in with her to see if she would eat later. She never did.

Now that I put her in the smaller tub, how long should I wait before offering food again? I know they say wait a week with BPs, but I know hognoses have faster metabolisms, so I wasn’t sure if you could offer sooner.


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

You offered twice in 24 hours that and too big of an enclosure, switching of the enclosure is a lot and I am not surprise she did not eat today either. Put her in something smaller 6 quarts max and wait for 5 to 7 days and next time leave the prey overnight and in the mean time no handling.

I would also recommend to raise the temp on the cool side to 80, young ones like it hot.

If at that time she still does not eat you can go even smaller with a 2.7 quarts tub https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite...lear/113216537 that's really a great size for an hatchling that size and until it reaches 20 grams.

If again she fail to eat you will keep the same setup however you will start scenting the prey, I know it's a step backward however at 9 grams you do not have much wiggle room and need to have her eating for you within the next few week.

[Craiga 01453]

Thanks to Deborah I was able to get my hognose eating after making a few adjustments. He was supposedly about a year old when he came to me and had eaten once in the past 6 months. Thanks to following Deborah's advice to a T he is now over 50 grams after coming to me at the end of March weighing only 11 grams.
You're in good hands with Deborah. Follow her advice and you'll have a happy, healthy hognose 😀

[MmmBanana]

When I was out looking for a tub I saw the little 2.7qt tubs and the next size up was 12. So I ended up with the 12. I was thinking the 2.7 would be too small so I got the 12. Should I go back out and look for a 6 somewhere else, or do you think the 12qt is worth a shot. I gave her about 3in of aspen to burrow in. I got the temp up to around 80F.

[MmmBanana]

So, I actually remembered that I have a 2.7qt tub. I use to put my baby bp in it while I clean his cage. So I took Mango out of the 12qt tub and got her setup in the 2.7qt tub. No more moving her or touching her for a week.



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[Stewart_Reptiles]

So, I actually remembered that I have a 2.7qt tub. I use to put my baby bp in it while I clean his cage. So I took Mango out of the 12qt tub and got her setup in the 2.7qt tub. No more moving her or touching her for a week.



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Perfect!

[MmmBanana]

I have left a pinky in Mango's tub a few days ago, and she still didn't eat. At what point do I start attempting scenting?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Considering the size you need to start now,

here is what I would try in order again 3 to 5 days between attempts.

Hard boiled eggs (you can even offer her pieces of hard boiled eggs and see if she take them)

Tuna

Vienna Sausage

Chicken

Anchovies

Salmon

Toad

[MmmBanana]

Thank you so much for the help Deborah! How do I scent with a hard boiled egg? Just rub the pinky on it? Lol sorry, it seems like such an awkward question.

Also, is there a best time of day to feed a hognose? Should I wait till she is out and about and active to offer her food?