Western hognose help!

[edie]

I'm doing a very FAST trade tonight with a local snake breeder.. I will be getting a young western hognose in the trade and was wondering if someone could recommend a good care sheet.

Any help will be greatly appreciated! I'm so busy today! I got the terms of this trade down maybe 12 hours ago so I haven't had much time to prepare, I will settle down in an hour or two to do some internet research, but I'm trying to get cages set up for the new additions right now.

Thanks in advance for any help, I really appreciate it!

[qiksilver]

http://www.hognose.com/pages/care/west.htm

[edie]

Thanks a lot for that link, lots of good information on there.

Would aspen be alright to use as substrate for this snake? Or would you suggest something else?

And the breeder I'm getting the snake from (hes mainly a RTB breeder I believe) said that he pre-secents the mice with a toad for the snake.. the article you sent touched breifly on this topic.. is this something people have to do often?

[qiksilver]

western hognoses are usually strong rodent feeders once eating, so I would try without toad scenting and see how it works, not saying it will, but usually Westerns aren't too picky eaters. And yeah aspen works.

[edie]

Okay great thanks. I think hes bringing me the toad, so I will continue using it for the first 2 weeks the snake is here, then try without scenting and I'll see how it goes

[Hardwikk]

Okay, here's a link... Nah, I'll tell you the info myself . The cage furnishings are the same as a lot of snakes except for one thing. For substrate, use crushed english walnut (because it's "diggable" and still firm). When it's time to feed him/her (I sure hope you got a female), put something above the substrate that has short sides (like the top of a shoe-box turned upside-down) and place the mouse and the snake in the short-sided object. Hognose snakes also require very low humidity
(%30-%40) so don't raise the humidity to aid them in shedding. Besides those two things, a Hognose snake's care is just like any other snake (but Hognoses themselves aren't). These chubby snakes have attitude (they hiss, make mock strikes, and form a hood like a cobra), something most snakes never do! Also, you can count on NOT getting bitten by one, b/c they won't bite you. Ever (unless you smell like food). You made a great choice to get one!

[Hardwikk]

Thanks a lot for that link, lots of good information on there.

Would aspen be alright to use as substrate for this snake? Or would you suggest something else?

And the breeder I'm getting the snake from (hes mainly a RTB breeder I believe) said that he pre-secents the mice with a toad for the snake.. the article you sent touched breifly on this topic.. is this something people have to do often?

Nope, I have never done that for my Hognose and most people don't have to.

[qiksilver]

it's all personal preference, honestly I would never use crushed walnut

[edie]

Okay, here's a link... Nah, I'll tell you the info myself . The cage furnishings are the same as a lot of snakes except for one thing. For substrate, use crushed english walnut (because it's "diggable" and still firm). When it's time to feed him/her (I sure hope you got a female), put something above the substrate that has short sides (like the top of a shoe-box turned upside-down) and place the mouse and the snake in the short-sided object. Hognose snakes also require very low humidity
(%30-%40) so don't raise the humidity to aid them in shedding. Besides those two things, a Hognose snake's care is just like any other snake (but Hognoses themselves aren't). These chubby snakes have attitude (they hiss, make mock strikes, and form a hood like a cobra), something most snakes never do! Also, you can count on NOT getting bitten by one, b/c they won't bite you. Ever (unless you smell like food). You made a great choice to get one!

Hey, thanks a lot for that info. Is there a huge difference between the males and females in case mine is a male? I'm sure the breeder will let me know when he gets here, we did this trade set up really fast so I did not have time to ask tons of questions.. I just really wanted the female RTBs which I'm getting, this little guy is just a perk!

[waltah!]

I have not had to scent anything for my hoggie to eat. I would see what his feeding response is a few days after getting him home. He may not eat right away. Mine has an amazing feeding response. I use aspen and it's working well. It's easy to spot clean and he can dig like crazy in it. Good luck!