Hognose vs BRB

[Minkness]

I believe in research before ownership, and know that O want a 2nd snake very soon, however I am having a bit of difficulty staying with one type. I first couldn't decide between a garter or a hoggie, and after researching both I decided on a hoggie. However, after stumbling onto some beautiful BRBs I am once more at a stand off. So, I'd like to give ideas of what I want in my next snake and would like your opinion. Then, I would also like some pros and cons of both western hogs and BRBs.

So, what I am looking for would be a heavier bodied snake that also stays fairly small and able to stay in an enclosure about the size of a 20 gallon long tank for at least 2-3 years. (The snake would also get alot of out of tank time for exercise and enrichment). Something that is relatively active and easy to handle. (I know this can vary from animal to animal but a generalization).

I'm not trying to hold a popularity contest, just looking for educated opinions and information from experienced keepers.

Thanks! =)

[Akuma223]

I don't know about Brazilians but my Columbian rainbow boa is a sweet as can be. She eats great, never tries to bite, and is active and curious. My hognose on the other hand hides 24/7, hasn't eaten since the Friday after I got him (Oct 12), and seems to hate my guts. He puts on quite the impressive display of hissing, hooding, and striking which wouldn't bother me if I could watch him move about his cage which I can't because he never comes out of hiding. Hard for me to like a snake that doesn't eat, move, or tolerate my presence :/ This is just my personal experience however.

[kwhitlock]

I have never had or even held a Hoggie, but they seem pretty personable over your average snake.

However, BRB's I can speak for. I love mine. He's a champ when it comes to eating. I love the coloring, patterns and iridescence. When he's out he seems incredibly curious and always moving around. He's never struck at me, however that's not always the case with BRB's especially when they are young. I don't often seen him moving around he's kind of sediment but I figure part is due to his age and I believe his small enclosure at the moment (waiting for the constrictors NW one I bought to be finished and delivered) I think then he will be much more active.

[Charis]

Let's see, we have both and they are rather hard to compare.

The BRBs are very pretty, calm moving and fun to hold. Ours tend to eat well and have only skipped a meal here or there. I personally like ours that we got as babies, not so much the one(s) we got as adults, one of which passed away a few months ago. The adults were/are sometimes nippy and a full grown grumpy BRB is pretty intimidating, personally I think it's best to get a young one and learn it's moods as it grows, the babies can be nippy but handling them frequently usually tames them right down, much easier to tame a baby!
Ours hide pretty much all day. The husbandry is very different, it can be a challenge to keep the humidity high enough for the BRB and it will outgrow a 20 g in around 2-3 years.

I love our hoggies! They are also fun to hold and their rough scales are quite interesting feeling. My two males are our most visible snakes and are generally out and about most of the day, rarely hiding. They require much higher temps than the BRBs and way less humidity. A 20 g will be big enough for one's whole life. Our baby eats very well but the adult goes on feeding strikes at least several times a year and that can be annoying. The adult is also very hissy and mean sounding with everyone else but likes me. He's pretty intimidating sounding but has not actually tried to bite anyone. The baby is very calm and could be handled by most people.
They are much harder to get started eating, so very important to find one from a breeder you trust that can assure you it is eating well. I only have experience with males but have heard that they are quite sexually dimorphic, both in size and in temperaments. One breeder I know says they are almost like different species in temperaments.

[Brylee1233]

I've always wanted a Hoggie, but I guess thats for another day ;)

As for BRB's I own one (and very proud of it:D)

I got my BRB last year in.... January.... Actually.... I've had him for a whole year now... look at that... anyway, he is my first reptile and I love him to death! He has only skipped a meal once, never nipped and gets even more gorgeous with every shed. He has a pretty iridescence (like all BRBs). I personally don't think they are that hard to keep once you get everything going, which isnt that hard either. I am currently keeping him in a tub but he will be upgrading to a converted china cabinet once that project gets done. (It wont be done for awhile.) They do need bigger enclosures than hoggies...

Also if you are worried about keeping the humidity up, thats not hard at all. There's plenty of tricks people have thought up. For example, I found this awesome humidity trick on another forum (I think?). I don't know the specifics any more, but if you want to know them, I'll figure it out! :) anyway, I bought this bubbler set up thing that is for fish tanks and I put it in my water dish and all I have to plug it in and it will start bubbling thus putting water in the air, creating humidity. It boost your humidity to 20% to like 90% in no time! The only down side to it is you can't have it on all the time because it uses up your water fast.

Umm... Temperament isn't a problem, at least not with Bruno...

When BRBs are older they apparently come out more and are semi aboral, which is always interesting having a snake hanging on something. (I fed my snake once while he was hanging on some vine stuff I had in the enclosure, that was pretty cool)

Their enclosure can be either intricate or simple, whatever you prefer. Like they can be kept on paper towels or some fancy bio dirt (ha).

They live 20-30yrs, if life span is a factor...

All in all I really like my BRB and I am completely happy with the way he has turned out.

I'm actually off to feed him right now! :) I'm sure with whatever you choose it will be a great choice! :)

[Minkness]

Right now, as much as I would LOVE a BRB, space may be an issue as I am all ready in a jam packed room of tanks and not allowed to put any tanks anywhere else.

Sooo...looks like I'll be sticking to a hoggie for now. I just hope they have some nice ones at my repticon in march!

[Cmwells90]

Sooo...looks like I'll be sticking to a hoggie for now. I just hope they have some nice ones at my repticon in march!

Just remember they're picky eaters most of the time, so you'll really get use to them refusing food for a month here and there for almost no reason. But I would put my money on the fact that it wont bite, and if it did, wouldn't do much because they're rear fanged (even if they're slightly venomous).

[Minkness]

I'm used to picky feeders thanks to my geckos lol

I also will be looking for something a little bigger without it being full grown so that I know it feeds.

The first time I went they hat hoggies and I just didn't want to get attached because I couldn't have a snake at that time. However he had each baby labled which one was eating f/t pinkies or live pinkies and was responsible about asking people if they had access to live. If the answer was no, then he would try and sell them one that was on f/t.

I hope that guy is back this year lol.

[Derek1]

I love our hoggies! They are also fun to hold and their rough scales are quite interesting feeling. My two males are our most visible snakes and are generally out and about most of the day, rarely hiding. They require much higher temps than the BRBs and way less humidity. A 20 g will be big enough for one's whole life. Our baby eats very well but the adult goes on feeding strikes at least several times a year and that can be annoying. The adult is also very hissy and mean sounding with everyone else but likes me. He's pretty intimidating sounding but has not actually tried to bite anyone. The baby is very calm and could be handled by most people.
They are much harder to get started eating, so very important to find one from a breeder you trust that can assure you it is eating well. I only have experience with males but have heard that they are quite sexually dimorphic, both in size and in temperaments. One breeder I know says they are almost like different species in temperaments.

What do you consider to be the ideal temps and humidity for your Hogs and what is your setup? I read different stuff, but I trust you.

[Charis]

Pretty much have them set up like the corns, just with the hot spot around 90-95 degrees F. The humidity is around 20-30%.

[jjhill001]

I think you'll find that regardless of what snake it is when you see one you'll want it. Depending on how you keep your snakes, I keep mine in natural looking terrariums, I used to keep them in paper towel land back in the day but my thoughts on that have changed. I would say at least with a natural terrarium in mind pick whichever snake the terrarium sounds more fun/challenging to design. Because I've never met a hobbyist who a new snake that said, boy I wish I would have gotten that other snake. Usually down the road you just figure a way to get the other one as well.

If I were you, because it sounded like you might be relying on a 20 gal for a while I would go with the hognose for sure, you never know what may happen in the future and it's never fun to have a snake rapidly outgrowing an enclosure while you have no money for it. In a year or two if you have the money then get a Brazilian.

[Minkness]

I really like the more jungle looking set ups honestly, which technically I could do for any bake with the right materials lol. But yes, space is a slight issue now. Male or female I have an extra 20 long now that will fit them in the future. I am talking to someone right now who may sell me an exo terra front opening enclosure that is 36"x18"x18" that will fit the BRB for a while, but the way I work is that I won't get something small unless I have the means to care for it when it gets big.

So...looking forward to a hoggie in march and will have everything set up for it before I leave for repticon lol. That way when I get home with it, I can just plop it in it's new home!

And if I get the large exo terra enclosure, it will house my MBK when she is full grown. =)

[jjhill001]

I really like the more jungle looking set ups honestly, which technically I could do for any bake with the right materials lol. But yes, space is a slight issue now. Male or female I have an extra 20 long now that will fit them in the future. I am talking to someone right now who may sell me an exo terra front opening enclosure that is 36"x18"x18" that will fit the BRB for a while, but the way I work is that I won't get something small unless I have the means to care for it when it gets big.

So...looking forward to a hoggie in march and will have everything set up for it before I leave for repticon lol. That way when I get home with it, I can just plop it in it's new home!

And if I get the large exo terra enclosure, it will house my MBK when she is full grown. =)

I'm always on craigslist looking for deals myself. I'm just getting back into Reptiles after my time in the military but when I was a kid one of the best places to find cages was garage sales.