Looking to getting a hognose...

[Kanadi]

Hello!

Brand new to the site and the world of reptiles. Just recently acquired a bearded dragon and found that I now want to get a snake. I've been told I'd like a hognose for its squished face, funny quirks, and relative ease of care. After reading up on them and handling a few at my local vivarium I've found I've fallen in love with them~

Anyway, I recently acquired a ZooMed terrarium 18x18x18 that was originally intended for a pacman frog, but I really want to get a hognose. Would said terrarium be ok to house a fully adult male? Don't have any experience with cuboidal tanks so I dunno how a snake would behave in such a set up.

Thank you kindly.
=)

[Minkness]

Hey! Welcome to the site! I have 5 hoggies and love every one of them! They are a great starter snake for someone with patience as they may be stuborn feeders sometimes. But it's nothing I've had a truely bad experience with. Other than that, their care is straigh forward, handling is easy, and they are loads of awesome stuffed into a tiny body!

As for the tank goes. Yes, that would be fine for a male OR female. However, unless you are getting a full grown adult, that is way too big for a baby. I kept my babies in showlebox tubs with small UTHs. 2 males are still in tubs, 1 male is in a 10 gallon tank, 1 female is in a 20blong and another is in a 20 gallon rubbermaid tub lol. (Nonreason, just convenient for me).

All of my guys do great though, and 1 has a really bad attitude so he's fun with all his hissy displays lol. The other's are all super laid back, but the females go nuts on feeding day!

You will have LOTS of fun when you get one. =)

[Kanadi]

Hello and thank you~

Yeah, I'm really hoping for an adult. I'm over the baby thing. XD but thank you for the information! How would I go about lighting? Do they need a hot and cold side? UVA/UVB lighting? Is orchid bark substrate ok for burrowing?

And if I do happen to get a baby, would cutting the enclosure in half with, say, cardboard be sufficient for them until they mature? I have so many questions! Just really nervous/anxious cause I don't want to accidentally end my snakes life due to poor husbandry. I've never set up a cube before, only rectangles, so it's a little unnerving. >_>

[Minkness]

No lights, I use a UTH and reptibark for my adults and 'lizard litter' which is like sanichips and available at petco. Mine don't really burrow that often. Only 1 does and it's always under his water dish even though he has a hide lol.

One female alsoblikes climbing, so when you get your hoggie just try a few things and see what they like and change as needed. They are hardy so unless you freeze them or cook them they are pretty easy. Babies and tough feeders should be kept on the warmer side of things as it seems to stimulate feeding better. (Proven as I took on a female that hadn't eaten in a year and got her eating within a month just by upping her temps A LOT. Returnedher to her owner and kept it up and she's been strong ever since!).

I find that these snakes have the most diverse personalities in my experience so far. So just have fun with it!

[ThirteenRavens]

Hi! I have a hoggie and he is a character lol. I keep mine on aspen chips as he loves to burrow, he does have a hot and cool side (they like it a bit hotter than other snakes), he has a hide on the hot side, one in the middle and one on the cool side. They don't need any specific lighting to my knowledge. I started mine out in a 5 gallon Zilla Critter Cage(he was a baby) and bumped him up to their 10 gallon (see below, hopefully the link works)...not saying you need to get that for him, just showing you what I keep mine in :) I've not used the cube type vivs before for my snakes.

https://www.amazon.com/Zilla-28010-10-Gallon-Critter-20-Inch/dp/B00176GBUE

Mine can be a fussy eater and went off feed for months before I figured out what worked for him...after that, no issues. My former roommate had one that never would eat for her so she rehomed him with a reptile rescue.

He is also a hissy little bugger but he's all bluff. Once I pick him up he's fine. He's only played dead once lol.

[Kanadi]

Ok, that makes me feel a little more comfortable. I originally intended for a ball python but after reading about their care I got turned off-- not that the care they need is over-the-top, but a little more than I can afford/provide at this time.

Ok, so no light, UTH (got one), and reptibark for my snake. Perfect. There was a thread I saw here two days ago about a cuboidal set up for a hognose that really inspired me and I wanted to emulate that. It had a cool log vertically up the back of the tank, some artificial (maybe?) greens hanging off the sides, and some leaf litter at the bottom. From what poster said his hoggie loved it and I figured I could easily do that, but I just wanted confirmation that a cuboidal set up is ok for a hog.

Also, what's the temp requirements for both hot and cool sides? And any UTH you'd recommend? And should it stick to the bottom of my tank of to the side? Dunno how the heat would penetrate through an inch or two of Reptibark to warm a snake.

[Albert Clark]

Make sure to grab a thermostat or rheostat to regulate the heat off the pad or mat.

[Kanadi]

Make sure to grab a thermostat or rheostat to regulate the heat off the pad or mat.

Yes, that is one thing I got first when I got my beardie cause I couldn't decide on a thermometer for his tank.

[ThirteenRavens]

Dunno how the heat would penetrate through an inch or two of Reptibark to warm a snake.

I like the Zoo Med brand of UTH which you can find at most Petco/PetSmarts. I stick mine to the bottom of the tank directly (although I've recently read of some people using heat tape, not the flexwatt stuff, to tape it to the tank so you can remove it if there's an issue...once they are stuck on they are stuck)...they do love to burrow so chances are likely yours will also, which is why the thermostat/rheostat is a good idea...if he ends up on the glass directly you don't want him to burn his belly.

As far as the cube viv goes, I wouldn't see why not as long as there are ample places to hide and enough room for him to move around and you can keep his requirements met? I've seen some pretty neat setups myself, I guess it would just be personal preference :)

[Kanadi]

I stick mine to the bottom of the tank directly

Perfect. So I'll do that. If the temp is not high enough on the warm side with the UTH on the bottom, should I stick another on the side? I live by the ocean and its now starting to get frosty.

[ThirteenRavens]

I noticed you were from San Francisco? Lucky! My uncle lives in Alameda :) I love SF!

I would test out the one on the bottom, that usually provides enough heat for my little guy...you don't want to overdo it. I use a rheostat to regulate their temps, although I've been looking into picking up some actual thermostats...I have 6 snakes and 1 on the way and they all require something just a bit different from each other.

I certainly wouldn't have his viv right next to an exposed window, obviously that will cause it's own issues (too hot, too cold, etc...accidently killed a goldfish many moons ago by leaving its bowl in direct sunlight...ahhh...live and learn)

[Kanadi]

I love SF!

I HATE SF. Well, hate isn't the correct word, but I so miss SoCal. Can't wait til we can move back~

I am planning on getting a thermostat for regulating the temp and stuff. Had one for my hedgehog and it was AMAZING. It'll definitely help make sure I don't kill my little dude when I get him/her. =)

[EL Ziggy]

I've used Zoomed and Ultratherm uths. I prefer the Ultratherms by far. They don't get nearly as hot as the Zoomed brand so even in the event of a thermostat malfunction your snake won't get burned. And because you tape them to the bottom of your enclosure they can be transferred from one to another. For thermostats Herpstats are top of the line. If you're looking for a less expensive but reliable option you can go with a Hydrofarm.

Ultratherm Heat Pads (http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads)

https://www.amazon.com/MTPRTC-ETL-Certified-Thermostat-Germination-Reptiles/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1470539470&sr=8-2&keywords=Hydrofarm