Hognose burrowing!!

[goku12qw]

Hey everyone,

I had set up a bioactive tank with soil and live plants and kept the temperature at 27 degrees celsius using a heat lamp. The hognose I got is a baby (only a couple months old) and it just burrowed in the soil (for like 6 hours now). Is that normal? Do they burrow all the time or is there anything i can do so that hes comfortable on top of the soil?

Thanks!

[goku12qw]

Oh I also can't tell where he is in the tank

[Andy_G]

Hognose snakes love to burrow and he's probably comfortable. No sense in interfering with that as they're just doing what is natural. :)

That's a great ambient temp for hognose, but hopefully you have a hot spot so he/she can digest properly as well?

[sockSnek]

Yup. Their faces are basically shovels.

[goku12qw]

Hey!
@Andy G the corner of the tank is hottest at around 29 degrees celsius but he hasnt resurfaced since yesterday when he had burrowed. The breeder had told me to make sure he knew where the water dish was cause hes been drinking out of puddles versus a water dish before. Also do they stay burrowed for a long time? Like should i be worried if he doesnt come up today as well? Also how would i find him when he needs to be fed and shown the water bowl?

Thanks for any help guys!

[BillyCostume]

I wouldn't worry. Burrowing is completely normal just let him settle in. As for the water dish he should find it on his own. Also your hot side temps are a bit low you should get them up a few degrees :) enjoy your new friend!

[Andy_G]

No don't be worried. Let him do what he wants in his cage. You also do not have to make sure he knows where his water is because they can find it by flicking their tongue. As far as a hot spot goes it should be present in 1/3 of his enclosure so he can thermoregulate properly and it should be around 32.2 degrees.

[ThirteenRavens]

I rarely see my hog as he is forever burrowed unless he feels the need to come investigate something or refuse his food...I love to watch him burrow after putting fresh substrate in his viv lol...he has to work to make all of his tunnels again