New to hoggies and snakes in general! Questions...
 

Hi I'm Michael!

I am brand new to having a pet as a snake and just acquired a baby hognose Tuesday. He's beautiful and i'm obsessed already. I did my research and had everything set up (hide, water bowl, heating pad, aspen shavings). I've let him be as I read you're supposed to give them a week or two to let them acclimate to their new environment. He has basically stayed burrowed in the aspen the whole time. I know this is probably mostly expected, but I would like to enjoy observing him at least, will this change in a day or so? I plan on feeding him Friday as he was last fed this previous Friday. Any advice for first feeding him, and for handling him next week?

Thanks! :)

The only time I get to observe my hognose is when he's hungry and looking for food or actually eating. I find that most hognose are really easy to feed, place food in tank and presto (although this time of year they can be a little more picky because they like to bruminate, I just brought my male back up to temp a week ago since he's still just a little guy). I would put down a small square of paper towel over the aspen and put the defrosted pinkie on top of that to prevent him from eating aspen shavings (nothing wrong with him living in them, I just like to make sure my hog isn't going to eat a splinter).

I would wait til he poops before handling him the first time, expect him to put on a hissy fit when you go to pick him up and he might 'strike' at you with a closed mouth (they do bite now and then but mostly they bluff), however once in the hand they usually calm right down.

Welcome to hognose! They are the best!!

Here is a video of my hognose doing the hissy fit. I intentionally pissed him off a little here, I wanted to show that even though he puts up a big stink about it the second he's in my hand he instantly calms.

https://youtu.be/ECGShZ_QoPA

What a great little video that is! And,I assume, very helpful to the new hognose owner. I love the way he puffs himself up, and what a beautiful black belly he has. I don't have hognose, but I find them totally endearing, and this is just fun to watch. :thumbsup:

They are so much fun, especially when they are playing dead. Nice video Lauren!

No hogs were harmed in the taking of this picture.

Great photo! I've never had mine 'play dead'!


Thanks! The best part of having a hognose is the bluff! Soooo much attitude in such a small package. The black belly is due to the fact that he is an anaconda color morph. I've never loved a snake the way I love him. He's got a great personality for a reptile ;)

My first snake ever - Eastern Hognose, field collected, circa 1965:

http://www.shell-central.com/pic_lin...ed-snake01.jpg

The link didn't produce the pic...stupid internet...

http://www.shell-central.com/pic_lin...ed-snake01.jpg

I give up...looks like it won't hot link...I need a new host...copy/paste the url to view the pic...dang.

http://www.shell-central.com/pic_lin...ed-snake01.jpg

Welcome to the land to Hoggies. I too am new to them, but not to snakes. I will say that they can be very addicting :).

I have two and they are polar opposites of each other in personalities. My female is a real doll, never hisses, never plays dead etc while my male has been hissing and mock striking since he has been here (over a year).

Neither have ever bit me despite my males' "display" to. Both are great eaters and love to hide, except when it is dinner time.