I'd seriiously consider corns then, if you are going to an expo. Generally very good feeders, active in the daytime, come in a variety of colors, very affordable for most color morphs too. And, an adult male would probably be ok in a 40gl, especially if you give the snake branches to climb on also. A kingsnake would probably also work, as they have the same general feeding response and activity level.
Be aware though, baby corns / kings are very small / thin and it is very easy for them to escape if the lid of the enclosure is not very well secured or if there are small gaps. Babies can also be very nippy / defensive, but will grow out of that with handling.
A kenyan sand boa could be a very good starter snake for you too. A female will only get 3' long as an adult and could live in a 20gl just fine...a 40 gl would be even better. They generally eat well also. The only negative with them is that they tend to hide in the substrate, but will come out and explore at times...One of mine used to climb the thermometer probe cord.
If you do want a hognose, I'd go with a female and one that is well started (a juvie, not a baby), and feeding solidly on f/t. Be aware that hognose are rear-fang venomous, although most don't bite and when they do, it is equivalent of a bee sting. Some people have experienced an allergic reaction though when bit. They have to bite and actually chew on you to transfer venom, so the chances of this happening are rare, but it is possible. My male (whom I had for 2 years) never attempted to bite me.
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