i think i want a hognose

[Bartman]

Im thinking i might want to buy a hognose, prefferably male since they get smaller. I didnt want a big snake since i already have to handle my bp and im not so big into snakes, but ive liked hogs for quite a while. Just a couple questions,

1) are they hard to care for?
2) what size enclosure would a full grown male hog need?
3) they will never need to eat rats right?
4) Is 18 inches the average for males?
5) Are their any really reliable caresheets for hogs?
6) how is their temperments?

thanks!

[Dani33]

Here's a good site - http://www.hognose.com/
Hoggies are great! I love my little guy, good luck.

[snakehunter]

1) Hogs are insanely easy to care for, i almost wish i had bought one instead of that fussy bp! (I still love ya fark:))

2) I have my pair in rubbermaids about 2.5 ft Lx1 ft Wx8 in H I may leave the male in her for life, but the famale i will have to step up.

3) Hogs, especially males will remain on mice for the duration of their life

4) Yeah, 18 sounds about right definitely in the 1.5-2 ft range.

5) hognose.com is all i can say. this is by far THE best care sheet ANYWHERE

6) My male is pretty even keeled, he only hoods and hisses when i open his 'maid, but as soon as i get him out he's peachy-keen. My female on the otherhand wishes to kill me, but she is slowly but surely beginning to tolerate my existance.

Good luck if you get one of these guys, they sure are neat, and a gas to work with. Just be sure to get a real pig, my female is a bit fussy when it comes to eating, but the male cant eat fast enough, WHAT A HOG!
-Jacob

[Beardonicus]

Western Hognoses do not get big regardless of sex. I think 2 feet is as big as they get period.

1)No, not at all. Just get an established feeder and you should be fine.
2)I'd think something roughly the size of a 10 gallon tank would suffice.
3)Not unless you want to feed them very small rats. :)
4)I'm not 100% sure, but I think you're close.
5)http://www.hognose.com/pages/care/
6)For the most part they are very reluctant to bite but will bluff (hiss, puff up) on occasion. The only bite I've sustained was a result of a stupid feeding mistake on my part, lol.

They are awesome litle snakes and I enjoy mine very much.

[Bartman]

their rear fanged right so bites are really nothign? doesnt this also mean their sort of venemous or is it nothing to humans?

[Bartman]

which species of hog or most commen to find the the trade or at a show or something...western right?

[Dani33]

Yup, western.

[Auskan]

Yes, they are venomous but I don't believe anyone has ever died from a hog bite. If you're allergic to things like beestings you will probably react more to a hog bite than a person who is not allergic. I'm not sure of all the reactions, but I think a typical reaction is severe swelling in the region of the bite that lasts for several days. Not much pain, I don't think. However quite a bit of bleeding at the time of the bite (the venom possibly contains an anti-coagulant making it difficult to stop the bleeding).

[sapphire_moon]

SOME females can get up to 3ft. Western hognose are the most common, definitly get an already established eater. My male only hoods and hisses when I offer food on the tongs (he prefers I just drop it in his feeding bowl)

Definitly do research on yahoo and google. But hognose.com is the best place to go for info on them

I have had my male in a 10 gal tank since we got him, and he will probably stay in the 10 gal tank the rest of his life.

Yes they are rear fanged and from what I read they are venomous, but only mildly. It is not an injected venom, it kind of runs down grooves in their fangs and into the wound.....from what I understand.

You can be allergic to it, and you can react badly to it.

Not all w.hognose are bluffers though, I have seen some follow a hand around with the mouth open, Actively trying to bite the guy.

[Bartman]

great thats perfect..im about to make a rather big purchase, at least for my bank account lol..so im gonna hold off until most liekly after the summer so i figured id get some research in before i got him...thanks for all the links and info guys!

[Beardonicus]

I've been chewed on my my male Hognose and I had no reaction whasoever. I'm certain the saliva has an anti-coagulant in it though because the bite bled like a stuck pig for about 15 minutes, lol.

[Bartman]

can they be calmed easily by handling them?

[sapphire_moon]

I don't think they are real bitters, more bluffers. I was just saying that not all of them are bluffers. Mine will crawl all over my hands, then just sit there, and crawl around some more. the only time he gets hissy is when I try to feed him off the tongs. lol

[Beardonicus]

You're not likely to get bitten unless you smell like food. They are very reluctant biters.

[scalawag]

It's like a mosquito bite, as long as you're not allergic.

[sapphire_moon]

they are wonderful little snakes, and if I had found them BEFORE I got my second bp I would have like 3 w.hognose already! lol