Hi there! I'm new to the community and I'm thinking about getting my first snake. I've worked with many different snakes, but I would really love to own a western hognose snake. However, there seems to be a lot of conflicting information about their care so I wanted to clear some things up.

First, I was wondering if there are any alternatives to aspen bedding. I am completely willing to use aspen bedding if it is the best option, but I personally don't find it aesthetically pleasing, so I was just wondering if there are other bedding options that work just as well.

Second, what is the best enclosure size for a male western hognose? I've heard everything from 10 gallons to 40 gallons. I already own both 5-gallon and 10-gallon tanks, so I could use those while the hognose is still young, but I'm not sure how big I should go once it's full-grown.

Thank you!