My Hog just changed colors!

[Nichalia]

My w. hognose (who is appx 2.5 yrs old now) has, over the past month, turned a verry interesting shade of yellow. The dark brown turned tan, and what used to be a light beige is now very yellow.

He's beautiful! But I'm wondering what happened. I'm hoping he's not sick.

The color change started about 3 weeks ago or so, and happened really quickly. He's still acting perky, and eating well. He actually chewed on me for the first time a few days ago- it was adorable. Even more adorable because I caught him before he broke skin, so no harm done.

The other hognoses are just peachy.

The lowest substrate is a green and yellow calcium-enriched sand. But it's never effected his coloring before.

Bottom line, I'm terribly confused.

Should I post a picture? I'll stick a picture up here of him next to the other male I have (who uses the same substrate, btw) to show the change.



Does anyone know what could be going on?

-Thanks,
Nikki

[oscar]

i've never heard of a hog changing colors like that. it especially seems to weird him being so old. i'd personally love to see a pic of you dont mind posting.

[Nichalia]

Okay! Here are a few pictures of the hognose that decided to go yellow. I put him with another hognose I have who is the usual brown for contrast. For some reason the camera didn't really pick up his color too well- he's actually a touch more yellowish. And the other hognose isn't quite that pinkish- but oh well. Close enough.
<img src="http://www.stripesandflowers.com/images/hognose1.jpg">

<img src="http://www.stripesandflowers.com/images/hognoses1.jpg">

<img src="http://www.stripesandflowers.com/images/hognoses2.jpg">

Anyone have any idea??

[sircat]

well, different colors do exist...I think that kind is called blond...you can research on line and see about matching up the color...I know alex hue has had some like that

[Nichalia]

There are different color phases, that's true... Do you think that maybe he's just colored up rather suddenly? I got him from a pet store in Lawrence, Kansas when he was about a month old for $45- certainly not as a well-bred phase, just as a pet. I've never seen a hognose sold since for so little; that's why I'm surprised that I could've gotten anything but the most normal of snakes out of it.

I guess my real question is are there any diseases or disorders that would make a snake change colors to a more yellowish? I know in people liver failure causes symptoms like that. I just don't know if there's some similar condition that can occur in snakes.

[Colchicine]

I really wouldn't worry about it, many snakes have ontogenic color changes (just look at corn snakes). The best thing to do, as with any captive herp, is to closely monitor their feedings and get a digital scale to monitor weight.

[lvl0rg4n]

It looks like you colored him/her with a highlighter lol. Very pretty though.

[THEUNDEAD1974]

Hi I'm new so ill give this a try try changing your bedding try Aspen bedding the sand you are using sounds familiar Ive used it when it first came out but i had the blue sand i had lep gex on it when the lizard got damp from the fla hum the liz turned blue. Change the bedding and wait till it sheds see if it turns back to its normal colors. Doesn't hurt to try.