The joy of the male western hognose.

zactay22 · 11-09-15, 05:52 PM

Here is the story
On the way to repticon my girlfriend decides she wants a hognose. The hour and a half it takes to get there I warned her about hognose feeding complications. All she says is their cute. I personally don't care for smaller snakes but different strokes for different folks. So she holds him and I see the look all women get when their heart melts for cute things. She purchased him, a 2013 male blonde western hognose in January. Takes a few weeks to get him to eat, normal for a snake to get acclimated. Around a month he starts eating f/t fuzzies like a machine. Than the fast begins. I know its normal, but I own a ball python and boas who always eat. After 7 months I start trying the tricks for feeding. No luck. I live in Florida so there is toads everywhere. I hate feeding live to snakes. So he eats the toads like how americans eat mc donalds. Now I have to catch a toad for a stuntman. He sits still than the hognose comes to eat I place the fuzzy in the way, works every time. Overall I have fallen in love with the little guy. She named him Sir Blaclic.

havoc_vulture · 11-09-15, 06:42 PM

I must say these hog nose are really starting to get my attention

Jim Smith · 11-09-15, 09:34 PM

I love the way you solved the feeding problem. Very sneaky and very creative. Nice work!

Humble308 · 11-10-15, 03:58 PM

Awesome trick for yalls hoggie! I've been weaning mine off scented pinks, but I also keep American Toads so that'd be great way to get new additions to take meals. Really great looking western, I love his colors

reptiledude987 · 11-10-15, 06:12 PM

Clever feeding trick. Im glad youre not feeding live wild toads due to potensial parasites ect. So does this mean you also have a pet toad used for feeding purposes now as well?

zactay22 · 11-10-15, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reptiledude987

Clever feeding trick. Im glad youre not feeding live wild toads due to potensial parasites ect. So does this mean you also have a pet toad used for feeding purposes now as well?

I caught several then released them in the front beds. Usually some hopping around once the sun goes down.

Cmwells90 · 11-13-15, 11:27 AM

My GF also fell in love with these guys and now I take care of him. I've come to the understanding that these guys will go off feed every year from Aug to as late as march sometimes. I weigh my snakes regularly, and as long as he's not losing a considerable amount of weight then I'm not worried. He'll start eating again in the spring. I breed Boas during this time so the break is much appreciated because they eat so often. But it's nice to know if I have any issues that this will work!