Western Hognose Care: Heating Temps, Substrate & Overcoming Hunger Strikes

Western hognose snakes (Heterodon nasicus) make fantastic small pet snakes, but proper temperatures and substrate depth are essential for reliable feeding and digestion.

Here is an overview of baseline husbandry guidelines:

Temperatures & Heating

• Warm Basking Spot: 88°F to 92°F (31°C - 33°C). Use an overhead deep heat projector or halogen flood bulb connected to a dimming thermostat.
• Cool End Ambient: 72°F to 76°F (22°C - 24°C).
• Night Drop: Down to 68°F (20°C) is completely safe.

Substrate & Burrowing Hognoses are fossorial burrowers with rostral scales built for digging. Provide at least 3 to 4 inches of shredded Aspen bedding or a dry soil-sand mix so they can build stable tunnels. Maintain ambient humidity between 30% and 50%, and provide a damp moss hide during shedding cycles.

Overcoming Hatchling Hunger Strikes: If a young hognose refuses frozen-thawed pinkies:

1. Downsize the tub: Move shy hatchlings to a secure 6-quart tub with deep substrate to reduce stress.
2. Scenting: In the wild, hognoses feed naturally on amphibians and toads. Scent frozen-thawed pinkies with tuna juice (canned in spring water), salmon juice, or boiled egg yolk.
3. Drop feeding: Place the scented pinky inside a small cardboard toilet paper tube overnight in the dark.