| Western Hognose snakes are a wonderful, small | | | | if you can put pressure on an item to knock it down, |
| species of snake with lots of character. They have | | | | an adult Western Hognose snake is also capable of |
| become more and more popular over the years and | | | | doing this. When positioning rocks or heavy objects, |
| are now a commonly available species in the pet | | | | make sure they are completely secure. If it is still |
| trade. In the wild they are known to feed on toads, | | | | uneasy, screw them or use superglue to fix them |
| lizard, snakes, eggs and even insects. In captivity | | | | securely. If it is not possible, the rule is simple: Do not |
| however, they will regularly take to rodents. There | | | | place the item in the vivarium! |
| are 3 subspecies of Western Hognose; the Plains | | | | If you decide to go for a large enclosure, you must |
| Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus nasicus), the | | | | provide plenty of cover and hiding areas. A hiding |
| Dusty Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus gloydi) and | | | | place can be anything from an ice cream tub with a |
| Mexican Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus | | | | hole cut out to a naturalistic piece of cork bark. |
| kennerlyi). The Plains Hognose snake is the most | | | | There are many brands of fake plants and |
| commonly seen in captivity, the care for all three | | | | décor you can use which is both safe for the |
| species is virtually identical. Males grow to around 18", | | | | animal and pleasing to the eye. Cork bark is available |
| females up to 30". This is an excellent species of | | | | from almost any reptile pet shop in the UK, and can |
| snake to keep in captivity, its small size, good nature | | | | be ordered in if they do not have it in stock. This is |
| and feeding response makes it a good beginners | | | | excellent cover for any reptile and is 100% natural. |
| snake. | | | | One thing you must consider when thinking about the |
| Housing | | | | size of the vivarium, is the bigger you go, the more |
| When keeping any snake as a pet, you generally | | | | hiding areas you must provide. I recommend at least |
| want to be able to view the snake from the outside | | | | one hiding place per foot in length of the enclosure. |
| of its enclosure, in the most natural surroundings you | | | | NOTE: Never use sticky tape in an enclosure; this is |
| can offer. This will be more aesthetically pleasing and | | | | an accident waiting to happen. Believe me; removing |
| also aid in the general condition of the snake. If the | | | | sticky tape from any snake is no easy task! |
| snake likes its surroundings, it will have a better | | | | Heating |
| feeding response and generally grow quicker. A larger | | | | Western Hognose snakes require a thermal gradient, |
| vivarium also offers more interest to the snake's life, | | | | meaning they must be allowed to move around the |
| and by adding branches and other natural products | | | | enclosure to find their required temperature. The hot |
| you will enhance the quality of life the snake has, and | | | | end of the enclosure should be 84-88ºF while |
| stop it from becoming lethargic and overweight. Also, | | | | the cool end should be approximately 74-76ºF. |
| being stronger it should have more of a resistance to | | | | During the night, the temperature should drop to a |
| any viral infections or any other problems that it may | | | | more constant overall temperature of 72-74º. |
| encounter later in life. | | | | In my opinion, the ideal way of heating a Western |
| For an adult Western Hognose snake, a vivarium | | | | Hognose enclosure is to use a power plate. This is a |
| 60cm Length x 45cm Width x 45cm Height is ample. | | | | small thin square plate, about 25mm thick which is |
| Contrary to popular belief, and propaganda spread by | | | | screwed into the top of the vivarium. It does not |
| various campaigners, you can actually have too large | | | | need to be protected, as there is no way a snake |
| of an enclosure for many snakes. The reason for | | | | can grip onto it. It is almost invisible to the eye as it |
| this, is that snakes are very prone to stress, and | | | | simply sits on the ceiling of the vivarium. The only |
| being in an excessively large enclosure can scare | | | | brand available in the UK is HabiStat Reptile Radiator; |
| them. Imagine in the wild they are constantly hiding | | | | it is 75 Watts and is sufficient for any vivarium up to |
| from predators, then, when they feel it's safe in the | | | | 4ft long and possibly larger. It produces no light and |
| dark of night, they will venture out to hunt for food. | | | | therefore in a vivarium you will need a form of |
| Once they find their food, they will return to the | | | | lighting as well. A power plate should be used in |
| safety of their secure hiding place until the next time | | | | conjunction with a HabiStat Pulse Proportional |
| around. Many species will not even hunt for food; | | | | Thermostat, which will stop the power reaching the |
| rather, they will sit and wait for their prey to come | | | | power plate as soon as the temperature goes above |
| along. They may also leave their den for sloughing | | | | the setting, and turn back on as soon as it is too |
| their skin or finding a mate at certain times of the | | | | cool. This is one of the most accurate thermostats |
| year. Many individual snakes feel very comfortable in | | | | on the market today. |
| captivity, although this generally comes with age and | | | | Ceramic heaters, spot bulbs and heat mats are also |
| lots of handling. Snakes like these will often thrive in a | | | | ways of heating a vivarium. These all have their |
| larger than usual enclosure. | | | | advantages and disadvantages, but in my opinion, |
| Snake enclosures can be made from a number of | | | | none quite weigh out to be as good as a power |
| materials. Most commonly used is a melamine coated | | | | plate. |
| wood which covers all sides except the front, which | | | | Lighting |
| has glass sliding doors. Aquariums can also be used, | | | | Western Hognose snakes are diurnal, meaning they |
| although a specialist lid should be bought or made | | | | venture out in the day time. This is when their prey |
| rather than the original aquarium lid. It is essential | | | | is awake. They will often bask in the sun, so lighting |
| when thinking about what type of enclosure you use, | | | | should be offered. |
| you think about these 6 'SSSHHH' factors: | | | | Having artificial light in a vivarium is aesthetically |
| 1) Safety - Can the snake or owner injure itself from | | | | pleasing to the owner, and is a good addition to a |
| the enclosure or any appliances held within? | | | | snake's enclosure. They will use this as a |
| 2) Secure - Can the snake escape through any small | | | | photo-period, and their regular time clock will generally |
| hole or cavity? | | | | adjust to the settings on which you have your light |
| 3) Size - Will the enclosure be appropriately sized? | | | | set to. |
| 4) Heating - Is the enclosure able to regulate the | | | | They do not require any form of special lighting, such |
| temperature properly? | | | | as a D3 Ultra-Violet light commonly used for lizards. |
| 5) Humidity - Will the enclosure last well in humid | | | | An Arcadia Natural Sunlight Fluorescent Lamp is a |
| conditions? Is there enough ventilation for the | | | | good form of lighting. This comes in lengths of 12" up |
| moisture to escape? | | | | to 48" and I suggest you use the largest size able to |
| 6) Hygienic - Will the enclosure build up a lot of | | | | fit inside your vivarium. |
| bacteria in small cavities? Is it easy to clean? | | | | Humidity |
| By following the steps above, you can have a | | | | Western Hognose Snakes are generally not exposed |
| suitable enclosure made from a variety of materials. | | | | to a high humidity range in the wild, and in captivity |
| Décor | | | | you should not worry about controlling this. A fairly |
| Décor in your tank serves two purposes. First | | | | dry environment should be provided, although raising |
| being extra cover for your snake and second, | | | | the humidity when the snake is coming up to a |
| allowing for a more natural and pleasing appearance. | | | | slough may aid in shedding its skin properly. |
| When choosing décor, think about the safety | | | | Feeding |
| of the snake. Make sure that whatever you decide | | | | Hatchlings should be offered pinky mice, and as they |
| to use, it is securely fixed and that no rocks, wood | | | | grow the mice should become larger. An adult |
| or anything heavy can fall and possibly injure, or even | | | | Western Hognose snake should be fed on large size |
| kill the snake. You must also make sure that | | | | mice or small weaner rats. Hatchlings should be fed |
| everything used is parasite free. If anything has been | | | | on a regular basis, every 4-5 days is ideal. Their |
| picked up from outside, or has originally come from | | | | metabolic rate is very high and as they are growing, |
| outside, such as cork bark, you should either boil it, | | | | they need a lot more food to keep them going. Adult |
| or place the item in the oven at 200 degrees | | | | Western Hognose snakes need feeding once every 2 |
| Fahrenheit for approximately 30 minutes. Freezing | | | | weeks on 2 large mice, perhaps one for males. The |
| works for some parasites, however others have | | | | only exception when they should be fed more is |
| been known to survive months in freezing conditions. | | | | bringing them out of hibernation, getting them into |
| Some parasites found in English conditions last winters | | | | condition for breeding and then, fattening up females |
| in minus temperatures, so it is not entirely effective. | | | | for egg production. An egg-laying female should be |
| Once all your décor is parasite free, it is then | | | | fed more often than normal, once a week on 2 large |
| safe to place inside your enclosure. As a general rule, | | | | mice. |