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 #1429426


Occ1123
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 Looking for Opinions...Which would you pick...Southern or Mexican Hognose?

Hey Guys,

I’m looking into either getting a Mexican or a Southern Hognose snake, but I can’t decide which to choose.
I’m aware that their habitat and feeding requirements are very different, but they are my two favorite.

Please tell me...if you had to choose one, which would it be, and why?

I would greatly appreciate it!


Thanks,
Alex
09/02/07  03:45pm

 #1429465


Occ1123
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   Message To: Occ1123   In reference to Message Id: 1429426


 Looking for Opinions...Which would you pick...Southern or Mexican Hognose?

BTW If you have another hog species/color phase that you like significantly better than the two that I mentioned (that is not hundreds of dollars), I’d love to hear what it is as well!



09/02/07  04:21pm

 #1429886


JackAsp
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   Message To: Occ1123   In reference to Message Id: 1429465


 Looking for Opinions...Which would you pick...Southern or Mexican Hognose?

Mexican. They’re a subspecies of western, and will therefore do fine on rodents. Southerns sound like more trouble than they’re worth.
09/02/07  11:39pm

 #1430040


M4tt
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   Message To: JackAsp   In reference to Message Id: 1429886


 Looking for Opinions...Which would you pick...Southern or Mexican Hognose?

Yeah there comes a point where you have to go with what is more suitable over what you like the best. Something may look cool but then when it comes to caring for it and you start having problems all of a sudden its not so cool anymore. This happens to people with alot of pets in general. Good luck with getting a Hognose though I hope you find one you like.
09/03/07  02:48am

 #1430266


Occ1123
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   Message To: M4tt   In reference to Message Id: 1430040


 Looking for Opinions...Which would you pick...Southern or Mexican Hognose?

Yeah, I totally agree with what you guys are saying...

But the only reason that I am even considering a southern is because
1. I can buy one that eats scented pinks, and will within about a year should be eating unscented, and
2. Living in south Florida, there are a lot of toads, frogs, and lizards that I could catch, freeze, and then use for an emergency food source if the southern all of the sudden refused to eat rodents.

The only problem with catching stuff (which JackAsp has mentioned before) would be potential parasites, and I really would hate to take a risk like that with such an expensive animal.

BUT the breeder did tell me that it will be eating toad scented pinks by the time he shipped it, and that it will go to unscented in time.

The questions in my mind that are sill unanswered are:
1. Does feeding only pinkies (or rodents of some kind...most likely pinkies) to a southern hog have any effect on its lifespan?
2. How long would a southern live under ideal circumstances, in captivity? (Is it worth the money?)
3. Do other people even feel that there is anything better about a southern as compared to a mexican hog? (Do other people think that southerns look any better than mexicans?)


Thanks,
Alex
09/03/07  11:25am

 #1430715


M4tt
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   Message To: Occ1123   In reference to Message Id: 1430266


 Looking for Opinions...Which would you pick...Southern or Mexican Hognose?

It sounds like Southern’s are sort of like Eastern’s in the way that they first take to amphibians for their diet. One guy on here has some Eastern’s and he was saying how it is best to keep them on an amphibian diet because a rodent diet is too fatty. I do not know if this applies to southerns as well but it sounds like Eastern’s and Southern’s are both similar to each other. I would say a Southern captive Hognose would live around 10+ years like most other species of Hognose that are well taken care of. Like JackAsp said the Mexican Hognose is a subspecies to the Western Honose so with that you get a snake that is more likely to feed successfully on rodents. As far as looks go it is really just preference, there can be nice looking patterns in either species.
09/03/07  05:44pm


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