Dj, my first Hognose

[HerpDerp3005]

Hey everyone! Randy here, and this is my very first snake ever, DJ (Snake) the Western Hognose. I picked this little guy up on Monday and got him into his 5 gallon tank fully set up with a hide on both ends, a piece of wood for climbing, and a water bowl all on aspen snake bedding. I do have experience with other reptiles and to be quite honest, I was terrified of snakes a little over a month ago. Then i discovered these little guys and what is there to be afraid of (besides the bluffs)?!?! I've already got a couple hissy shows from him when i first transferred him to his new home and an attempt to feed. I am currently waiting until this upcoming Monday to try and feed once more in a separate container left in the dark.

I followed the advice from the breeder I acquired him from with temperatures in the hot side at about 92~94 degrees (temperature on the glass) regulated with a thermostat. Cool side is about 78~80.

Well that ties up my short intro. Nice to meet you all and any advice, tips, comments or questions will be appreciated! Enjoy in some photos of my set up and DJ below! (You guys can ignore my textbook that's being used as a paperweight [literally])

P.s. Picture of him in the plastic tub is a picture from the breeder!

[Tsubaki]

Gorgeous little guy! Great that you got over your fear of snakes, now we'll see if you manage to stick to just one snake once you get to know the great snakes on this forum :D (many have tried, most have failed haha)

[Andy_G]

Welcome to the forum/hobby! Nice little hoggie you have there! The breeder from what it sounds like gave you some awesome advice, but if you ever need help then you've come to the right place! :)

[macandchz]

awww! he's cute! good luck with him.

[EL Ziggy]

Welcome and best wishes Randy. Very nice hoggie. It sounds like you're off to a great start. Your setup seems well dialed in. I would only suggest not feeding the snake in a separate container. There's really no need to do so. It stresses the snake and may increase the likelihood of getting bit or regurgitation. I'd also secure the lid with clamps instead of weights. I lost a ball python years ago due to an improperly secured lid. Other than that enjoy the new addiction and keep those pics coming! :)

[Minkness]

Yay! Another hognose! And a pretty cute one at that!

Congrats and welcome to the forum!

[ThirteenRavens]

Welcome! What a handsome little guy :) Congrats! I used to be terrified of snakes when I was young...run away, arms flailing screaming like a little girl afraid lol...then I came upon my first ever snake (r.i.p.) as a tiny little pink worm at a petstore (he was a snow cornsnake) and fell in love...I realized then there was nothing to be afraid of, and now I have 3 corns, 1 western hognose, 1 rubber boa, 1 ball python and 1 sunset hog island boa :)

[HerpDerp3005]

Gorgeous little guy! Great that you got over your fear of snakes, now we'll see if you manage to stick to just one snake once you get to know the great snakes on this forum :D (many have tried, most have failed haha)

Thank you! I can't wait to see how he turns out as an adult! I'm glad I got over the initial fear, I just gotta get over this little jumpy feeling when he hisses! I know what you mean though, I've looked into supercondas and im holding myself from jumping the gun right now haha

Welcome to the forum/hobby! Nice little hoggie you have there! The breeder from what it sounds like gave you some awesome advice, but if you ever need help then you've come to the right place! :)

Thank you! The breeder is insanely helpful with information right now since I did tell him this was my very first snake. I'm keeping him updated so he knows when DJ has his first meal and gets well started. Nice to have someone local and all of you guys as well for loads of information and help! :)

awww! he's cute! good luck with him.

Thank you!! Much appreciated :)

Welcome and best wishes Randy. Very nice hoggie. It sounds like you're off to a great start. Your setup seems well dialed in. I would only suggest not feeding the snake in a separate container. There's really no need to do so. It stresses the snake and may increase the likelihood of getting bit or regurgitation. I'd also secure the lid with clamps instead of weights. I lost a ball python years ago due to an improperly secured lid. Other than that enjoy the new addiction and keep those pics coming! :)

Thank you!! I had this tank set up for a few days before picking up DJ and adjusted it according to the breeders advice and just added the fake leaves in yesterday to be honest but everything in this 5 gallon seems to be tip top and i'm keeping a close eye on the set up to make sure its running fine for the little guy! I will definitely get a hold of some clamps for his lid as soon as I can! More pics to come as he grows :)

I did have one question, if I do feed him in his enclosure, do I just leave the f/t pinky in a shallow dish throughout the day until it's gone? I don't want him to be eating his bedding or anything. I don't want to stress him out anymore than he already is with the move either so I will probably go with this option on monday.

Yay! Another hognose! And a pretty cute one at that!

Congrats and welcome to the forum!

Thank you!!

Welcome! What a handsome little guy :) Congrats! I used to be terrified of snakes when I was young...run away, arms flailing screaming like a little girl afraid lol...then I came upon my first ever snake (r.i.p.) as a tiny little pink worm at a petstore (he was a snow cornsnake) and fell in love...I realized then there was nothing to be afraid of, and now I have 3 corns, 1 western hognose, 1 rubber boa, 1 ball python and 1 sunset hog island boa :)

Glad to know I'm not the only one who was previously afraid of snakes. Sorry about your first snake though, I've lost my first crested gecko but that was what brought me into the reptile world and I went from him to 4 more crested geckos and 1 red eyed crocodile skink and now my hognose. I doubt ill have just this little guy. I saw how amazing supercondas look and already making plans to find one but I have to hold off on jumping the gun right now and absorb as much information as i can first! This is going to be one crazy addiction

[ThirteenRavens]

This is going to be one crazy addiction

Oh my yes lol! I'm up to 7 snakes (and yes there will be more lol). As far as feeding goes, there are two camps...feed in viv, feed in separate tub. I'm a separate tub feeder, (with the exception of my rubber boa, she won't eat in a separate bin so she has a little ceramic bowl in her viv underneath her plants) makes it easier to clean out their vivs, check them over, not ingest bedding, etc. Some feel this puts undue stress on the snakes so it's really personal preference...I'm sure others will chime in on this.

[Magdalen]

Yay for more Hognoses! I got my first hognose a month or so ago. They can be on again off again feeders. So feeding him in the enclosure is going to be less stress for him as well as making him feel more comfortable to eat. If you want to reduce any aspen getting eaten, you can put his food into an empty towel paper roll. Also keeps his food from being so out in the open. Putting paper on the back and sides of the tank will also help make him feel secure since he's such a small guy. But go with what your snake is comfortable with. Some have no issues feeding in a separate tub.

I also am wanting another hognose but once I know what I am doing ... this is my second snake. My first was a Kenyan Sand boa that I got years ago. Join date is 2003 but I haven't really been active until the last month or so. I even forgot I had an account. My first snake I was very nervous around, not sure why she was super calm and laid back. I'm not so scared now. Dealing with my fear of horses certainly made me a lot braver in a lot of aspects of my life. The hissing made me jump a few times, only because I wasn't expecting it haha.

[Andy_G]

If you were using chipped aspen or coco husk i'd say skip the dish, but since you're using shredded, the chunks are a bit large for a baby snake to safely pass. With older hogs a bit of bedding won't hurt, with babies they can be a bit more delicate though so it's worth the precaution with the shredded/shaved aspen. Just put it in there in the dish and let him do the rest. Also, make sure the prey item is dry. :)

[HerpDerp3005]

As far as feeding goes, there are two camps...feed in viv, feed in separate tub. I'm a separate tub feeder, (with the exception of my rubber boa, she won't eat in a separate bin so she has a little ceramic bowl in her viv underneath her plants) makes it easier to clean out their vivs, check them over, not ingest bedding, etc. Some feel this puts undue stress on the snakes so it's really personal preference...I'm sure others will chime in on this.

If you were using chipped aspen or coco husk i'd say skip the dish, but since you're using shredded, the chunks are a bit large for a baby snake to safely pass. With older hogs a bit of bedding won't hurt, with babies they can be a bit more delicate though so it's worth the precaution with the shredded/shaved aspen. Just put it in there in the dish and let him do the rest. Also, make sure the prey item is dry. :)

Yay for more Hognoses! I got my first hognose a month or so ago. They can be on again off again feeders. So feeding him in the enclosure is going to be less stress for him as well as making him feel more comfortable to eat. If you want to reduce any aspen getting eaten, you can put his food into an empty towel paper roll. Also keeps his food from being so out in the open. Putting paper on the back and sides of the tank will also help make him feel secure since he's such a small guy. But go with what your snake is comfortable with. Some have no issues feeding in a separate tub.

I am currently leaning more towards feeding him within the enclosure so this way I don't have to move him to a separate container every single feeding so i feel it would be easier on both of us. I am definitely worried about the aspen bedding being ingested but I do have a reptiworm dish I can put the pinky in and maybe dig it into the bedding to level it with the surface a little?

As for sani chips and a background. I have seen sani chips in some videos with hognoses on youtube. I heard they help a lot with dust and odor being more absorbent than shredded aspen correct? Only downside I noticed is that the snake may not be able to burrow and create little tunnels as well with sani chips? I noticed that DJ loves being underground at the moment (probably adjusting to an entirely new environment and needs more cover to feel secure)unless he totally escaped... Kidding! I will be going to my local pet shop and buying background to tape onto the sides and back of the enclosure to hopefully make him feel safer and comfortable to coming up from beneath his bedding.

[HerpDerp3005]

Also this is my plan for feed on Monday, since I wake up at around 8 AM for class and that is soon after the light cycle starts for the little guy, begin thawing the pinky and place in the enclosure on a shallow dish and let him do his thing. I'm hoping it would be eaten by the time i return home from class around 11:30 AM and if not id leave it in there up until his light shuts off again at the end of the night. (10 P.M.)

(if you guys are wondering about the light, i do have a 13w UVB from my old red eyed croc skink that i'm using for the hognose. My house is generally a bit on the cold side (at 68~72 degrees Fahrenheit so I figured this would help keep the ambient temperature in the enclosure up. It is also on a set timer with a 15 hour (on) and 9 hour (off)

P.S. sorry for all these questions! I am a bit inexperienced with snakes so I just want to make sure all goes well. So far i am loving the feedback and advice from all of you. Amazingly active forum!

[Andy_G]

Hognose snakes love sani chips and they'll burrow just as much in them. They don't care if the tunnels remain. It doesn't have any dust to it whatsoever and it clumps nicely, but the aspen definitely smells nicer. As far as the dish and placement goes, that sounds fine, but be aware that your little hoggie may drag the food around quite a bit, so it's much more imperative that you dry off the food item. Very little bedding will stick to dry food.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/Andy_G/Western%20hognoses/DSC01977.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Andy_G/media/Western%20hognoses/DSC01977.jpg.html)

[HerpDerp3005]

Hognose snakes love sani chips and they'll burrow just as much in them. They don't care if the tunnels remain. It doesn't have any dust to it whatsoever and it clumps nicely, but the aspen definitely smells nicer. As far as the dish and placement goes, that sounds fine, but be aware that your little hoggie may drag the food around quite a bit, so it's much more imperative that you dry off the food item. Very little bedding will stick to dry food.

You just sold me on the sani chips! It would also be a huge plus since they are considerably smaller in size compared to shaved aspen correct? I will be picking up a pack off amazon as soon as im done with this small bag of aspen bedding.

I'll definitely double check to make sure i dry off the pinky before placing it in the dish and offering it. Love the feeding picture by the way, brings me a little ease of mind and what a great lookin kiddo

[HerpDerp3005]

I just wanted to leave you with this picture i just took. I'm getting ready for work and I noticed something in the bedding.. Little did I know it was just DJ!

[valkea]

Congrats on your hog! They're awesome little snakes.

I'm sure this advice won't apply to you (or at least not for a while) but if ever you do want to breed you may want to be careful with the chipped bedding. A breeder in Canada has lost three or four males due to it getting caught in their hemipenes. But I've never heard any issues other than that! And it could be something she's done maybe as I haven't heard anyone else having that issue.

[Magdalen]

OMG that is cute! I'm still learning morphs. Is he a normal?

[HerpDerp3005]

Congrats on your hog! They're awesome little snakes.

I'm sure this advice won't apply to you (or at least not for a while) but if ever you do want to breed you may want to be careful with the chipped bedding. A breeder in Canada has lost three or four males due to it getting caught in their hemipenes. But I've never heard any issues other than that! And it could be something she's done maybe as I haven't heard anyone else having that issue.

Thank you! I can already tell that these little guys are awesome. DJ always comes out in the morning and roams his enclosure for awhile before burrowing into his tunnels for the rest of the day. I hope he comes out more often sooner or later!

Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely keep that in mind if I ever decide to breed. :)


OMG that is cute! I'm still learning morphs. Is he a normal?

I am still learning morphs myself! What the breeder told me is that he is a het snow. Not exactly sure what that means to be quite honest but does anyone else want to chime in on this? Here is a picture of him again.

[valkea]

Het snow would mean he's a normal and carries albino and axanthic. Very nice

[HerpDerp3005]

Alright guys quick update, i've left a f/t pinky overnight (9/4/16 12 midnight) until now (9/5/16 4:25 pm) and DJ hasnt eaten her or shown any interest since it was still in the very center of the dish untouched. Should i conintue to wait or try feeding in a seperate tub?

[Minkness]

Up the temps a few degrees if possible and just wait another week before offering again. Leave him in his container and don't handle hom or mess with him other than refreshing his water.

Hoggies go off of food a bit easily imo, just be patient though and he will get on track.

[ThirteenRavens]

What Minkness said. Mine went off food for quiiiiite a while and eventually I found out how he liked to be fed and once I did that, he's eaten like a little pig since.

[HerpDerp3005]

Up the temps a few degrees if possible and just wait another week before offering again. Leave him in his container and don't handle hom or mess with him other than refreshing his water.

Hoggies go off of food a bit easily imo, just be patient though and he will get on track.

I have my thermostat set at 93 degrees set at the bottom of the tank (in contact with the glass). The temperatures read from 90~96 on the hot side. Ambient temperates range from 78-80 on the surface of the bedding. Is this all okay? I have not handled him besides my last feeding attempt.

[HerpDerp3005]

Hey everyone, so I tried feeding DJ again yesterday by leaving the f/t pinky in his enclosure the entire day and over night. This morning, I checked on him and still hasn't eaten. I was wondering if my set up might be causing him a little stress with the temperatures? I have my thermostat set at about 93* and it would range from 90*~95* underneath the aspen chips. On top of the aspen would be about 86*-88* in the center of the hot side. The cold side is about 78*-81* on top of the aspen. Should the temps be bumped? I don't want the glass to be getting too hot if it may burn the snake. Also there is about an inch of aspen chips as bedding.

[valkea]

I wouldn't panic too much, it's not unusual for them to go off food. Do you have a scale and have you been weighing him? If not then stop by walmart or wherever and grab one. Great to make sure they're not losing weight. Of course you also don't want to be messing with him too much with handling / weighing as Mink suggested but still good to be aware of weights.

I'd probably leave him be a while longer but that's just me. Less is more sometimes when it comes to picky eaters. The more things are changed the more stressed he'll be.