Question for Roy or anyone else that can answer (Hognose breeding)

[Linds]

I'm just wondering if when I put my pair together I have to supervise or not. I have been looking around online and it doesn't say that they cannibalize eachother, but I wasn't sure since they eat amphibians and lizards in the wild.

[Simon]

I have not seen/hear/experienced any cannibalize with western hognose.

But I guess there is always a chance that it would...

but I really think that the chances are slim~~

[Matt]

i've breed mine and supervision wasnt needed, they were fine together

[DragnDrop]

Wonder if they prefer privacy or mind a peeping Tom. :)
Seriously though, does it bother them if you watch (for safety reasons)? I know some of my geckos object, and stop dead in their tracks, others couldn't care less. I've always wondered if the cannibalistic snakes mind an audience.

[Stockwell]

Linds, I leave mine together quite a bit throughout the breeding season,as I do with many snakes.
There is a slight risk, but I've never had a problem,although I have heard of "accidents".
Female hogs get ravenous pre ovulation, and will jump at anything that moves, so certainly don't feed them in the same bin, but I don't need to tell you that.
Linds, Hognose are more known for eating their own eggs than their mates. You need to get the eggs out fast with some of them.
That's one reason albinos are still so expensive.
My friend Steve Hammack in Texas was the first guy breeding albinos well over a decade ago, but his female kept eating her own eggs, and that kept demand high and supply low.

Hogs should be mating in April to May with first clutch eggs common in May . They often double clutch.
I don't know if you recall but last year I got two clutches totalling 47, in a one month period, from the same female... That is an extreme however.
Unfortunately this species also seems prone to egg binding which causes breeders a fair bit of grief.
Here's my two clutches from last year
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/18011590hogeggs03-med.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/18011590Hogsinwinter-med.jpg
Above are some of mine during winter brumation
and below a hatchling....the whole reason I keep them.
//www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/18011590hoghatch03-med.jpg

[gonesnakee]

Great pics Roy! Mark

[Clownfishie]

Who could resist that face?? :D

[Simon]

Roy
those pics are great!!

I love that last shot!!
What a cutie face!!

[snakehunter]

GOD i love hoggies

[Jeff Hathaway]

Hey Linds,

I don't think you'll have any problems. We keep our pair together year round (I know, don't anyone start about keeping everything individually), and have done so for about 8 years now. We even feed them within the same enclosure (gasp) and haven't had any problems. Of course, we do supervise them at feeding time.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[Linds]

Thanks for all the advice! That's a relief to hear. Nothing is less fun than having to pry one snake off another :rolleyes: