western "mexican" first hognose... what to feed

ashleynicole · 12-16-12, 07:58 PM

So we picked up a 2 year old mexican western hognose at repticon in orlando. My silly husband doesnt remember what size mice the seller said he was eating. I did hear him say frozen thawed mice. I bought a bag of fuzzies as I have a few smaller kings amd corns on fuzzies. But I also got some hoppers and weanlings. This guy looks like he could take a ho pper maybe even a weanling but as this is my first hognose I want to be careful. Also how often do I feed him? He is smaller than most snakes im used to and I read every 3-5 days due to fast metabolism.

Setup... aspen substrate. A water bowl on the cool side with a hide. Humid spagmum moss hide in the center. Under tank heater and another hide on the warm side. Temp on the glass om the warm side aprox 90 f.

He is very active also and im wondering if I should move him to a lower traffic area? As soon as a light comes on or we walk by he puffs and hisses. (I like him!... lol) I just don't want him overstressed. I guess I could throw a towel over his viv.

Thanks for any info!

ashleynicole · 12-16-12, 08:26 PM

Oh and he is temporarily in a 10 gallon but I was planning on upgrading to a 20 long if that womt be too big?

Also how do I scent the mice with lizard scent? The seller mentioned scenting for his hatchlings but said this one didnt always need his mice scented. I have a bearded dragon... could I use him to somehow scent the mice? I know it sounds like a weard questiom but in 10 years of keeping corns, kings, and a ball python ive never had to scent except I scented a rat by rubbing it on a mouse for my ball python once.

ashleynicole · 12-16-12, 10:58 PM

Im sorry... one last question. ... because this snake doesnt eat adult mice due to its small size... do I meed to be concerned about calcium or vitamin supplements? I ask because I know the bones arent competely ossified in pinkies and fuzzies so I would ne concerned about long term nutrition. .. or should I be? Will he ever get big enough to eat adult mice?

Gregg M · 12-17-12, 07:32 AM

Do you have a photo of him next to something for a size reference.

ashleynicole · 12-17-12, 08:08 AM

I have picture of him in the cup he came in. Its a medium size deli cup.

ashleynicole · 12-17-12, 08:09 AM

The picture isnt working ...

http:// https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.n...71165083_o.jpg

ashleynicole · 12-17-12, 08:48 AM

sorry about the multiple replies, I tried to go back and edit but it informed me you can only edit the post within 30 minutes, so I have to post again. I was trying to upload from my GS3 phone and it wasn't working so now I am on my laptop.

Here is a picture just taken from my husbands hand. He doesn't have very large hands either just as a reference.

ashleynicole · 12-18-12, 02:24 PM

Can anybody answer any of these questions?

Ryodraco · 12-18-12, 03:17 PM

Well the general rule I've heard is to try to keep the snake's food no wider than the widest point of their bodies, and here I've read with hognoses it is better to not push the limits when it comes to food size. As for calcium supplements, even if the bones aren't fully ossified there should still be a lot of calcium I would assume. Don't take my word for it, but I've never heard of hognoses needing supplements when eating mice.

ashleynicole · 12-18-12, 03:57 PM

Thanks for the response. He still wont eat. I offered him a fuzzy sunday and another today. All he does is hiss constantly even while we are handling him. Should I offer him food every 2-3 days until he eats? I tried dangling with tongs and he did a lot of hissing and closed mouth striking. My concern is that he continues to hiss and flatten his head while being handled. Should I be concerned?

Gungirl · 12-18-12, 03:59 PM

Stop handling him.. leave him completely alone for 4-5 days then offer food in his viv. All you are doing by touching him is stressing him out more and more. Hands off completely until it is eating for you.

EmbraceCalamity · 12-18-12, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashleynicole

Thanks for the response. He still wont eat. I offered him a fuzzy sunday and another today. All he does is hiss constantly even while we are handling him. Should I offer him food every 2-3 days until he eats? I tried dangling with tongs and he did a lot of hissing and closed mouth striking. My concern is that he continues to hiss and flatten his head while being handled. Should I be concerned?

If your snake constantly hisses while you're handling it, why would you continue to handle it?! Stop pissing off and scaring your snake for your own amusement.

~Maggot

Ryodraco · 12-18-12, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

Stop handling him.. leave him completely alone for 4-5 days then offer food in his viv. All you are doing by touching him is stressing him out more and more. Hands off completely until it is eating for you.

This is about my hognose rather than the original poster's but it is pertinent. That is what about digging him out of the substrate when feeding is attempted? I'm leaving mine be for a good week to settle in but when I do try to feed should I wait until he is on the surface? And what if by the time the mouse is thawed he is below the surface again?

Mine I haven't actually seen since I removed the background described in the "hognose update" thread, but hopefully he is just settling in or in shed.

Gungirl · 12-18-12, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryodraco

This is about my hognose rather than the original poster's but it is pertinent. That is what about digging him out of the substrate when feeding is attempted? I'm leaving mine be for a good week to settle in but when I do try to feed should I wait until he is on the surface? And what if by the time the mouse is thawed he is below the surface again?

Mine I haven't actually seen since I removed the background described in the "hognose update" thread, but hopefully he is just settling in or in shed.

Place the food Item in the enclosure and walk away. If your snake is hungry it will get the food. You do not need to show it the food it will smell it out. If your snake is a really shy eater you can even cover the viv with a towel to make it feel more secure.

Cover the viv with a towel then an hour later toss in the food Item and recover the viv. Leave it alone for 10-12hrs. When you return if the snake has not eaten toss the prey Item and try again in 4-5 days ( I am guessing hogs need food more often than other snakes. I normally say wait 7-10 days someone correct me on my time frame if it is not right please)

Gregg M · 12-18-12, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

If your snake constantly hisses while you're handling it, why would you continue to handle it?! Stop pissing off and scaring your snake for your own amusement.

~Maggot

Hognose snakes, Mexicans moreso, hiss often and most Mexicans never stop hissing and hooding. It is just how they are.

To the OP, this time of year many hognose go off feed. It is normal for them to not be feeding this time of year. Males are more prone to do so than females. If I were you, I would cool him down for a few weeks.