Can I Take Care Of A Hognose Snake?

Can you provide a 20-gallon tank with a secure lid for a hognose snake?

Can you provide a basking area at around 85 to 90 degrees F and a cool area that doesn't drop below 70 degrees F?

Can you provide full-spectrum UVB lights on a 12-hour cycle in the snake's enclosure?

Can you maintain the humidity level in the enclosure around 30 to 60%?

Can you provide a prey item for a hognose snake every week?

Do you have an exotics veterinarian that specializes in reptilians?

Hognose snakes don't grow very large, and a tank that allows them to stretch the entire length of their body is sufficient for them. A 20-gallon tank is often a good size for one snake, depending on how large your animal grows. Prioritize floor space over height, as these snakes don't typically climb. But a secure lid is still recommended to keep your snake safe in its enclosure.

Within the enclosure, you should provide a temperature gradient with a basking area at around 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and a cool side that doesn't drop below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. To achieve these temperatures, you might need to experiment with different wattages of heat bulbs at varying heights. For an accurate reading, remember to measure the temperature at the level of your snake in the enclosure, not at the top of the tank.

Many owners opt to provide full-spectrum UVB lights on a 12-hour cycle in the snake's enclosure to mimic the natural day-night cycle. This isn’t essential, as these snakes get most of their vitamin D from their diet. But the lighting can help their bodies produce vitamin D, ensuring that they don’t become deficient.

Hognose snakes need a humidity level from roughly 30 to 60%. The level varies slightly among the species, and the snakes tend to prefer a little higher humidity when they’re about to shed. The water dish in the enclosure will provide humidity, but you also can lightly mist the enclosure if you need to raise the humidity level. Monitor the humidity with a reptile hygrometer.

Hognoses will start out eating gut-loaded crickets (crickets fed nutritious foods) dusted with calcium powder. As they mature, they'll start eating pinkies, fuzzies, and possibly adult mice, depending on how large the species grows. Young hognose snakes need to be fed a few times a week, and fully grown snakes typically do fine being fed one prey item a week.

You can take care of a hognose snake as a pet!

Like most reptiles, hognose snakes are susceptible to respiratory infections, which show symptoms of wheezing, drooling, and general lethargy. Another common ailment that afflicts snakes is mouth rot or infectious stomatitis. If you spot saliva bubbles and inflammation around your snake's mouth, those are classic symptoms of mouth rot. Hognose snakes also are prone to fungal infections, which can cause problems with shedding and discoloration of the skin. All of these conditions should receive attention from a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles.