I see Westerns, but where's the Easterns?

[valhalha30]

I don't own a Hoggie, yet, in time (and with more space) I most likely will though....
I see TONS of Western Hoggies, but if there are Westerns, (since the opposite is always true) then there must be Easterns as well.....
Why doesn't anyone own one? I live in the area that I know Hoggies live in, and I've seen a few, which must've been Easterns... most of the ones I saw have Melanism, so they are all in dark phase, but.... that shouldn't steer people away. In fact, I would own a dark phase Eastern in a heartbeat lol.
But, are there any Eastern owners out there? Or are Westerns the only ones kept as pets?

[bfirecat]

From what my local pet store told me, Westerns are more popular and easier to feed.
Westerns apparently take mice more readily, and without the need to scent with lizards.

However, that's just what I've been told

[valhalha30]

Guess that makes sense.... but... I've never come across any lizards here in SW, Pennsylvania lol.
I know that there are some skinks around here, but like I said.. I never saw any... doesn't mean that person is wrong... but does make me wonder about what other lizards may be crawling around that I don't know of. haha

[RoseyReps]

I've heard the same, easterns are much harder to get onto rodents and prefer to stick to their froggie/lizard diet. Thus, making them a bit harder to raise/grow/breed. I've also ready they just don't acclimate as well (WC) as westerns did/do.

[valhalha30]

oh... huh.... that kinda bums me out... had an Eastern on my wishlist lol. I love the cobra flair they do with their neck, idk if Westerns do that as well, but if they do, then I would settle for a Western

[RoseyReps]

Westerns "hood" as well Easterns are beautiful, and you can find them, they're just not as prolific / easy to find as westerns. Just be prepared you may have to make "frog soup" and scent pinkies, or even feed frogs. I love the westerns though, and they seem to be gaining in popularity every year. New morphs are popping up and they are just too darn cute!

[valhalha30]

Oh wow! That's so neat lol. I think it's really really cute when snakes "hood" or hood like a False water Cobra. Idk why lol.
I'd love to own one someday, either a westie or an eastie.... they look strange... but at the same time, really dang cute.
Do they hood often? Or only when super ticked?

[RoseyReps]

Hooding in captivity isn't super common, but you can get some that like to do that. They also "play dead" sometimes. Usually babies more than adults. On this thread you can see some pictures of some westerns hooding and playing dead
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...d.php?t=363718

[Xaila]

People do breed/sell Easterns (as well as Southern and Mexican hogs). From what I understand, they don't do as well in captivity as Westerns and can be really difficult to get onto (and thrive on) a rodent diet. It's a shame because I'd LOVE a big black hognose snake.

[reptileexperts]

Yeah, as others have stated, easterns are not a species that does well in captivity. I have kept a few wild caught over the years and worked on getting them feeding strong and on a staple diet that I could realistically maintain, but none would take rodents - scented or not. Most of them would take Green Tree Frogs after some time, but those were getting harder to get in my area. Easterns are also more prone to be dramatic, while bites are uncommon, hooding is extremely common as is playing dead - this leads to higher levels of stress in the animal and ultimately could explain their horror in captivity. Westerns are every bit as awesome though, as are Mexicans, you can even look into Tri-colored