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breading season

Nyoka77

Nyoka77

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Is it true that it is breeding season? My female hoggie has stopped eating again. It's been about 2 months. She seems happy and hasn't lost any weight. Just trying to look for an answer.
 
yes, this is breeding season, but that shouldn't cause a female to go off food (they should want more, in fact)
 
hhmoore said:
yes, this is breeding season, but that shouldn't cause a female to go off food (they should want more, in fact)
Click to expand...
Unless she's been with a male and is gravid OR thinks she was with a male and is carrying slugs, both of which would be cause for her to go off feed.

Do you just have the one snake?
 
No, shes my only one. I've had her about a year now and last year about this time she didn't eat for about 3 or 4 months. Shes always been a picky eater, but she started eating regulary, now stopped again. Shes always very nervous and hides. Maybe shes just still little? I hardly take her out because i'm afraid shes scared of me :(
 
No, shes my only one. I've had her about a year now and last year about this time she didn't eat for about 3 or 4 months. Shes always been a picky eater, but she started eating regulary, now stopped again. Shes always very nervous and sleeps most of the day except to drink. Maybe shes just still little? I hardly take her out because i'm afraid shes scared of me :(
 
You could try scenting them. Get a toad, and rub the pinky all over the toad. The toad can be kept frozen, and used over and over.
 
ok, i think ill try that. Can I get the toads pre frozen? I'm not sure where they sell them.
I think my hoggie might be in shed mode...that could be another reason why she hasn't eaten.
 
If she's already eating pinks don't go to toads unless as a last resort. Can you post a couple pics of your snake?
 
A strictly all mouse diet is not the best diet. Supplementing a toad or small gecko is a very advisable idea. I like to supplement my hoggys with a small gecko once every six feedings or so. I have had several friends lose hogs that were on a pure mouse diet. There is something about toads or geckos having a vitamin or mineral that mice don't have that promotes good health in the hognose. Remember that mice are not the natural food source for hoggys. Think out is like a "Flintstone vitamin" or treat every once in a while.

But I think in your case, it may be that she is shedding, but scenting a pinkie will not pose any problems getting her to continue eating mice. My male is a picky eater even when he isn't shedding, and scenting a mouse to get him to eat has not posed any problems with taking an unscented mouse the very next feeding.
 
99Vengeur said:
A strictly all mouse diet is not the best diet. Supplementing a toad or small gecko is a very advisable idea. I like to supplement my hoggys with a small gecko once every six feedings or so. I have had several friends lose hogs that were on a pure mouse diet. There is something about toads or geckos having a vitamin or mineral that mice don't have that promotes good health in the hognose. Remember that mice are not the natural food source for hoggys. Think out is like a "Flintstone vitamin" or treat every once in a while.

But I think in your case, it may be that she is shedding, but scenting a pinkie will not pose any problems getting her to continue eating mice. My male is a picky eater even when he isn't shedding, and scenting a mouse to get him to eat has not posed any problems with taking an unscented mouse the very next feeding.
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Wrong wrong wrong. They do NOT need anything other than rodents. I've got a dozen western hognoses and over the years have had dozens of others. I've NEVER fed any of them, other than stubborn starters and only while very young, anything but rodents. Mice and rats are just fine for western hognoses from birth to death of old age.

It may well be different for eastern or southern hogs, but westerns do NOT need anything other than rodents to live long and prosper, having lots of healthy eggs and happy lives.
 
Hmmm....Maybe it's a Midwest thing. I've heard horror stories from people losing many hognose on all mice diets. Maybe they didn't give the full details about the circumstances (ie disease and/or poor habitat conditions), but I have heard many breeders tell people to give a toad every once in a while. :shrug01:
 
99Vengeur said:
Hmmm....Maybe it's a Midwest thing. I've heard horror stories from people losing many hognose on all mice diets. Maybe they didn't give the full details about the circumstances (ie disease and/or poor habitat conditions), but I have heard many breeders tell people to give a toad every once in a while. :shrug01:
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Who might these many breeders you speak of be? Were they breeding Westerns? Were they speaking of wild caught animals?

A healthy Western Hognose does not need anything other than rodents for food.
 
The one that comes to mind right away is Don Soderberg from South Mountain Reptiles in Texas. I called him shortly after I got my pair of hogs and the male wasn't eating.
 
As for a picture of my hoggie, shes been hiding for days now, i don't want to disturb her. I posted pics of her in my previous posts. I guess it couldnt hurt to see if she desires a toad. However, if she is shedding, she eats about a week after. So, we'll see if she keeps up her 'schedule' then. :)

I was thinking about purchasing liquid vitamins that are mixed with her water. So even though shes not eating, she will still get some nutrients. I haven't heard much about them being good or bad. Any thoughts?
 
Nyoka77 said:
I was thinking about purchasing liquid vitamins that are mixed with her water. So even though shes not eating, she will still get some nutrients. I haven't heard much about them being good or bad. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Not a good idea, unless the vitamins are specifically for reptiles. The amount of vitamin A that is normal for mammals can kill a snake.

Hold out for a while, as long as the snake shows no signs of starvation. She will probably take a pinky, when she gets hungry enough.
 
Just wondering what everyone's hoggie does when he/shes not hungry and a mouse is in the cage with them.
Mine seems to attempt to attack it, then stares at it, and then plays with it. Such as burrowing under it and slithering over and over it, for hours. Its wierd, any thoughts?
 
Mine eat F/T and they either eat the prey of they act like it's not there. I've had them go off food for short periods, but they always come around (that is if they have eaten regular at any point). Check your temps and make sure the snake is properly hydrated.

As for the thing about rodents, I have heard of easterns having problems with a full rodent diet. Some say that they have a problem with hair lining the intestine and blocking the uptake of nutrients, and that they develop fatty liver disease from the higher/different fat content in rodents. I doubt however that it is as much as a problem as toad feeders and internal parasites. I have also heard of some people either switching to hairless breeds of rodent, or feeding rat pinks as opposed to haired mice. I have heard that westerns are also susceptible to fatty liver disease if they are push fed or overfed, but it's not a huge problem if they are fed properly.
 
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