Heteredon nasicus

 

Area: The southwestern of the United States

 

Length: max. 85 cm (males are smaller)

 

Feeding: mice, little rats and amphibians

 

English name: Western Hognose

This species owes its common name to its display. Hognoses have a big scale at the upper part of their nose. They are light venomous snakes, the poison is not fatal but can cause a light pain and can produce a swollen finger.

Small terrarium is oke. Hognoses have a intermittent appetite. They stay small. Females are larger and longer then males. Hognoses looks like rattlesnakes (vibrate with their tales). This works sometimes in their advantage but also sometimes in their disadvantage.

 

Upkeep: This hognose is easy to keep. The temperature is day over 30 degrees, at night 18 degrees. As substrate we use wood strings on the bottom. A small shelter will do. You can use artificial plants and a little piece of wood. A small water dish makes it complete.

 

Breeding: They need a mild, brief brumation period in the months November, December and January. They mate in the spring and they lay eggs max 15.

You can incubate the eggs in wet vermiculite. The incubation time will take from 48 till 51 days, at an average temperature of 28/29 degrees. The hatchlings sometimes refused baby mice, they only eat amphibians (frogs). If they grows you can switch them to mice.