Several Hoggie Questions

[Minkness]

Going to make this a bit brief as I really just want some answers (and I'm mega tired lol).

1. Are western hognoses shy? 3 of my 5 seem to flat out refuse to use their hides. And one sprawls out in the open!

2. How active are they usually? Out of my 5, I have one that seems to not stop moving if being handled, or for a good while after being put back in her tank. She will also be very active at randome times in her tank.

3. Do they need heat? I have UTHs on all their tanks, but none seem keen to lay on them. (87 hot spot)

4. Do snakes actually get hairballs? (Found one in the active female's tank this evening). How oftendoes this usually occur?

5. I have one who seems to have extra dry scales. To ensure her next shed is a good one without bumping her humidity too much into the 'danger zone', what can I do? She doesn't seem to be uncomfortable amd doesn't soak. But her scales are VERY dull and just look super dried out.

6. What causes wet poop other than a diet of non-furred things? (Will have to snap a pic next time I see it).

Also, anything else you think I should know or watch out for. Please keep in mind that 4 of these guys were rescued between 1 and 2 weeks ago with little more info than their gender and morph types. 2 will be seeing a vet tomorrow for any possible issues. (Mostly concerned about possible RI).

ThNks in advance! I look forward to lots of answers!

[Minkness]

Bump and also another question.

7. How often to hoggies 'go'? I have several that seem to urate or deficate on a regular basis. (Almost every day)

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Minkness

Going to make this a bit brief as I really just want some answers (and I'm mega tired lol).

1. Are western hognoses shy? 3 of my 5 seem to flat out refuse to use their hides. And one sprawls out in the open!

2. How active are they usually? Out of my 5, I have one that seems to not stop moving if being handled, or for a good while after being put back in her tank. She will also be very active at randome times in her tank.

3. Do they need heat? I have UTHs on all their tanks, but none seem keen to lay on them. (87 hot spot)

4. Do snakes actually get hairballs? (Found one in the active female's tank this evening). How oftendoes this usually occur?

5. I have one who seems to have extra dry scales. To ensure her next shed is a good one without bumping her humidity too much into the 'danger zone', what can I do? She doesn't seem to be uncomfortable amd doesn't soak. But her scales are VERY dull and just look super dried out.

6. What causes wet poop other than a diet of non-furred things? (Will have to snap a pic next time I see it).

Also, anything else you think I should know or watch out for. Please keep in mind that 4 of these guys were rescued between 1 and 2 weeks ago with little more info than their gender and morph types. 2 will be seeing a vet tomorrow for any possible issues. (Mostly concerned about possible RI).

ThNks in advance! I look forward to lots of answers!

Originally Posted by Minkness

Bump and also another question.

7. How often to hoggies 'go'? I have several that seem to urate or deficate on a regular basis. (Almost every day)

1. Not really. I found hognoses to prefer the open or burrowing over hides.

2. Active. I find most snakes to be active once put back after handling. These guys may move around a little more than boas and pythons.

3. Western hognose snakes are native to the US so they need "less" heat than most boas and pythons. They won't bask often but keep the heat. I'd bump the heat up to 90ish. I like to keep things a little hotter than most people do. A friend of mine kept his at 90 and above and they did really well!

4. Yes. Sort of. It's just undigested and comes out the back end. Fur cannot be digested.

5. Humid hide.

6. Parasites. Birds prey I've heard do.

7. Colubrids usually go more ofte than most snakes so everyday isn't really out of the normal.

[Minkness]

Oh! Thanks so much for those answers! I thought of the parasite thing with the runny poop earlier and took some that was fresh when I got home today to the vet for an exam. Came back clean. I'll take another from each of them if I have to. No reason to worry myself over nothing if I can just have it tested!

[Obsidian_Dragon]

My colubrids still don't go more than twice a week--even my garter. But I don't know about hoggies in particular.

(you still need to mail me one, Mink!

[Minkness]

I think maybe the extra poops are due to being sick. I had the fecal done so I'm not worried about it too much until I see something like blood in the stool or some foreign object or something.

And who knows.....maybe...just maybe... I'll breed them in a few years XD

[Joshchimera]

Hognose snakes are the most active snake out of all my snakes, they are not shy! My King snake is very shy and comes out only ay night. My Hognose seems to prefer the cool end most days, which is 75F. Yes, 90F is the proper warm side of a Hognose's gradient.

[jossh27]

wait, wet/slimey poo isn't normal? i don't think my king has ever had a dry one.. at least i haven't witnessed a dry movement since ive had her... should i be worried? maybe get her into a vet?

[Minkness]

She's probably fine, I am just over reacting I'm sure XD