Your Reptile and Amphibian Resource and Information Site

Back to Hognose Snakes Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area  

Hognose Snakes Forum

Crocodylus   Nate180   Dane_Zoo   Dane_Zoo   Dane_Zoo   Emeraldman   JackAsp  
 Member  Message

 #1417493


Crocodylus
View Profile

 Found a Hognose. Keep it?

Hello all,

I think I’ll introduce myself for starters before anything. I live in Michigan (southwest), I have 2 mountain horned dragons, and I am fairly new to keeping lizards and snakes. My brother was working outside and found an Eastern Hognose out here. It’s a decent size, I’d say between 16 and 20 inches (I’m horrible at estimating lengths). I’ve always wanted to keep a snake, and I remember catching and wanting to keep a smaller 8 or 9 inch hognose, but it refused the crickets I gave it, so I put it back outside. (I now know if I would have put a frog or toad in there all would have been well .)

My question is, Should I keep it or just let it go? I’m currently researching it’s species information and any help I can get as to the outcome of my decision is greatly appreciated.

If I keep it:
Where can I find food? I won’t be able to just go find things all the time now that I’m going to school.
What’s a good substrate?
Any tank size recommendations? I was thinking a 20-long, would that work?

Thanks for any help.
See you around!
-Trav
08/24/07  01:40pm

 #1417633


Nate180
View Profile



   Message To: Crocodylus   In reference to Message Id: 1417493


 Found a Hognose. Keep it?

I wouldn’t keep it since it is hard to find food for it. Toads and frogs are hard to track down all the time. Not to mention that wild caught snakes usually have parasites. If you wan’t a hognose I would buy a Western Captive Bred since you can feed it f/t mice and has a way less chance of having parasites.
08/24/07  03:49pm

 #1417651


Dane_Zoo
View Profile



   Message To: Nate180   In reference to Message Id: 1417633


 Found a Hognose. Keep it?

I really dont mean to be rude but, im sick of people saying "wild caught snake usually have parasites" if it was true we wouldnt have snakes in the wild! just say there is a possibility of parasites

anyways I would have to say no on keeping it unless you can get it to eat mice that you scented with a toad
08/24/07  04:01pm

 #1417657


Dane_Zoo
View Profile



   Message To: Nate180   In reference to Message Id: 1417633


 Found a Hognose. Keep it?

I really dont mean to be rude but, im sick of people saying "wild caught snake usually have parasites" if it was true we wouldnt have snakes in the wild! just say there is a possibility of parasites

anyways I would have to say no on keeping it unless you can get it to eat mice that you scented with a toad
08/24/07  04:03pm

 #1417661


Dane_Zoo
View Profile



   Message To: Dane_Zoo   In reference to Message Id: 1417657


 Found a Hognose. Keep it?

sorry on the double post, anyways, i forgot to mention that if you really want a hoggy your best bet would probably be buying a western hog, they are super friendly, that wild caught one is prob. a lil jumpy
08/24/07  04:07pm

 #1417672


Emeraldman
View Profile



   Message To: Nate180   In reference to Message Id: 1417633


 Found a Hognose. Keep it?

Thanks for the help nate.

I released the hognose a little while ago. I wasn’t about to go searching for frogs and toads all the time when I can get a Western and just buy pinkies and fuzzies.



08/24/07  04:15pm

 #1417751


JackAsp
View Profile



   Message To: Emeraldman   In reference to Message Id: 1417672


 Found a Hognose. Keep it?

Of course wild snakes usually have parasites. How would that mean there would be no snakes in the wild? When they’re outside they have the ability to move around and leave them far behind, so the level doesn’t tend to go up dangerously very often unless they’re confined, that’s all, but you can still expect there to be some in there. The outside world is full of all kinds of things that are harmful to snakes, one or more of which eventually kills them, but as long as they live long enough to breed once or twice nature considers it a success.
But, more on topic, I agree with both
a. If feeding it is a problem, then you have to let it go, and
b. Captive-bred westerns are available at every reptile show I’ve ever seen, and apparently do fine on a rodent diet. Easterns, even if you can retrain them, have trouble digesting and passing mice because of the hair, and may even have issues with mammalian fat content, which would rule out pinkie rats, for example. Westerns don’t get as big as easterns, but they come in some nice color options, they have the same personality, and I figure if you want a hognose then you’re not really after the biggest snake in town anyway.
08/24/07  05:06pm


Back to Hognose Snakes Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area