My western hognose - Winston

[Norm66]

We got this little guy about a month ago. He ate right away, then we lost power and our house got really warm so he took about a week and a half off but he's eaten really well the last two times for us. We're keeping him in a 6 quart tub on a pad with thermostat. It stays about 82 on the cool side and 93-ish on the warm side. He rarely uses the warm side though. We feed him a pinky mouse every three days. So far he hasn't shown any inclination to hiss, bite, flare up or play dead. Mostly he eats, hides and looks cute. ;)

We named him Winston after Winston Churchill. He's my first colubrid and to be honest, I'm hooked. I could see having an anaconda and an albino or two. LOL.

Here's a couple pics from when we first got him:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SsyImwlml3k/T-ZfHsDQKQI/AAAAAAAABjs/oSlOAuzKUZQ/s512/Untitled.jpg

His belly:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GtDgRDdkLG4/T-ZfTi3eKqI/AAAAAAAABj8/E4Ge63_1ZgU/s512/Untitled.jpg

Eating:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AC4m40s4BYc/T-j3WMw3vqI/AAAAAAAABkw/ApTH0AJkZ9o/s640/Untitled.jpg

Here's a feeding video:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bxZtkQu0zYs/UAdlz8TO8RI/AAAAAAAABl8/hsFtDEchsKQ/s640/Untitled.jpg


and a couple from last night:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2kfQ1KY-Ti0/UAdlTnO3S6I/AAAAAAAABlY/dvVIB7bsFcU/s512/Untitled.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xc7l7OsRhdw/UAdlZfjaPzI/AAAAAAAABlg/yH9BBQOsqPg/s512/Untitled.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yxP9wGqRr58/UAdlhADBI3I/AAAAAAAABlo/xM-HuZUXdKU/s640/Untitled.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bxZtkQu0zYs/UAdlz8TO8RI/AAAAAAAABl8/hsFtDEchsKQ/s640/Untitled.jpg

Here's a short video I did last night:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bxZtkQu0zYs/UAdlz8TO8RI/AAAAAAAABl8/hsFtDEchsKQ/s640/Untitled.jpg

[SSSSnakes]

He is really cute. I got my baby western hog nose as a rescue. When I got him I was told he would not eat any thing that had hair. I brought him home and had to offer him a fuzzie that he ate with no hesitation. Since then he will eat hard boiled egg white, silver side fish and hoppers. Only once since I have had him did he refuse food and that was when he was shedding.

[MoreliAddict]

Nice! A western is the only tiny snake I'd consider, I'll probably get one some day. They have an authentic venomous look. If only they were the SIZE of a rattlesnake too...

[LISA127]

He's adoreable! I want a western hognose!!

[Norm66]

Thanks everyone. I really like this guy.

He is really cute. I got my baby western hog nose as a rescue. When I got him I was told he would not eat any thing that had hair. I brought him home and had to offer him a fuzzie that he ate with no hesitation. Since then he will eat hard boiled egg white, silver side fish and hoppers. Only once since I have had him did he refuse food and that was when he was shedding.

The week and a half Winston didn't eat not only had a temp upset with the power outage but he was also in shed. Most of my snakes eat pretty well even in shed, it'll be interesting to see how he reacts during a normal shed when the temps aren't 90+ constantly.

Regarding food, my guy came from the breeder well-started on mouse pinkies. I know that it's common to feed hoggies pinks, but I wonder if it is beneficial to feed a variety like you mention there. But part of me would be afraid that once he got the taste for fish or whatever it would be hard to keep him on mice as a staple.

So do any experienced hognose keepers have any input on this? Personally I'm hoping it's 100% ok to feed them mice for their lifetime as it's obviously the easiest for me.

[SSSSnakes]

Thanks everyone. I really like this guy.



The week and a half Winston didn't eat not only had a temp upset with the power outage but he was also in shed. Most of my snakes eat pretty well even in shed, it'll be interesting to see how he reacts during a normal shed when the temps aren't 90+ constantly.

Regarding food, my guy came from the breeder well-started on mouse pinkies. I know that it's common to feed hoggies pinks, but I wonder if it is beneficial to feed a variety like you mention there. But part of me would be afraid that once he got the taste for fish or whatever it would be hard to keep him on mice as a staple.

So do any experienced hognose keepers have any input on this? Personally I'm hoping it's 100% ok to feed them mice for their lifetime as it's obviously the easiest for me.

It is OK to feed them rodents all the time. The easterns sometimes have to be tricked into eating rodents as they want frogs. I was only pointing out all the different foods that they will eat. I have had many Hog Noses over the past 30 years. Some of them were picky eaters, while others would eat almost any thing.

[Norm66]

Cool, thanks!

[jaleely]

Very, very cute! Uh oh, you have the hoggie bug! Like me! lol
They should be fine with rodents. One of mine decided he liked fish, and he's being a pain in the butt about always wanting it now!

[Rogue628]

Cute hoggie! :D

All these recent pics of hoggies is giving me hognose fever again lol

[Gregg M]

Awesome hog Norm. Great color.
Once a hognose is an established rodent feeder, it is a good idea to keep them strictly on rodents. No need to vary their diets.

[marvelfreak]

Very nice looking Hogg congrats.

[Norm66]

Thanks! We love the little guy.

And thanks for the reassurance Gregg.

[Norm66]

A month later and Winston continues to thrive. He's up to 3 pinkies (I'd swap to fuzzies, but we have pinkies) and probably 4 soon every 3 days. Right now 3 leaves just a modest food bump. We'll likely go to 4 in the next week or so.

His weight has gone from 12 grams up to 20 grams as of 8/6. I'm sure he's heavier now but we haven't weighed him lately since we usually do all our snakes monthly.

The only time he won't eat is at any stage of the shed cycle except 'not in shed'. LOL. He just flat refuses form initial blue stage until a day after he's actually shed. He's shed 3 times for us, perfect every time. The last time it was 9 days from blue to shed so he missed 3 feedings.

I've also managed to get myself bit. Right on the pinky. My fault entirely as I'd just handled his pinks before getting him ready to eat; apparently you have to wash your hands really well to get the smell off. He latched on to my pinky finger but didn't even come close to breaking the skin. One side he had fingernail and the other a callous from playing bass. I pushed him off pretty easily. He's normally a pretty laid back guy though. He only hisses when there's food involved, but it's really cute. lol

Anyway, just thought I'd update the thread.

[jaleely]

LOL thank you for the update!!!
I too learned the washing hands well the hard way. You may have seen my photos from that!
One of my guys (the one that's bitten me twice) hisses before every meal, it is SO cute lol

[Norm66]

Yep, I did see your photos. :). The reasons I wanted him off quickly when h bit. ;)