Feeding a frozen mouse
If you have a small terrarium for your Western Hognose Snake, you should not feed it a frozen mouse right away. This can cause problems for your snake. It can also cause health problems. A frozen mouse is a poor food source for a snake.
Western Hognose Snakes can shed their entire skin in one fell swoop, but they shed it much faster as babies. Their eyes will turn cloudy or blue as they shed. When they shed, their skin can become too wet, so it’s important to keep their enclosure dry. A large water dish is essential for their well-being, and it must be large enough for them to easily escape.
If your hognose is having problems feeding, try supplementing his diet with Benebac. Sprinkle the solution on the prey item and in the water. Some breeders have found this to help the snake. Also, you should change the water more frequently than normal. You can find Benebac in the Recommended Equipment and Materials section.
A proper diet for your Western Hognose snake will help it avoid the common illnesses that are common in this species. The most common one is blister disease, which is caused by filth and damp environments. The disease will lead to swollen scales and scutes. The infection can be caused by fungi or bacteria. To treat it, you must make sure that the habitat is thoroughly cleaned. You should also administer antibiotics and topical treatments.
Feeding a frog-leg filet
The Western hognose snake is classified as a venomous reptile, but its bite is harmless to humans. Its saliva contains a proto-lipase enzyme cocktail that aids in the digestion of food. Although the delivery system is primitive, Western hognose snakes’ saliva is completely harmless to humans. Their teeth are also useful, as they may use them to hold onto their food.
Frog-leg filets and mice are a great diet for a captive western hognose snake, but you should also offer your pet pre-killed prey as well. Frog-leg filets can be purchased at most Asian grocery stores. However, don’t feed your pet frog bones unless they’re treated with calcium powder. Some reptiles don’t eat frog bones, and this can lead to serious problems for your pet.
The female western hognose snake must be around 250 grams before she begins breeding. Once she reaches this weight, she will begin to show signs of swollen lower half. This means she’s receptive to breeding. After a month or two, the female will begin laying eggs. The eggs should hatch 28 to 45 days after breeding.
When feeding hatchling Western hognoses, it can be difficult to get them to accept pinky mice. One trick that can help is thawing the mice, or “braining” them. This involves making a small pinhole in the skull and squeezing the brain matter out.
Maintaining a humidifier for a hognose snake
Western hognose snakes should be kept in an environment that has a low to moderate humidity level. The ideal humidity level is thirty to fifty percent. To monitor the humidity level, you can use a digital hygrometer. Place the probe in the middle of the enclosure to measure the relative humidity. If the humidity level is too low, you can use an Exo Terra 2qt Mister to raise it. This will also moisten substrate and water any plants in the enclosure.
Western hognose snakes do not need to be bathed. They soak in water provided. However, you should be very careful while handling them because they may confuse your hands with food. For this reason, it is important to wash your hands before handling your snake.
The humidity level in the cage should be thirty to fifty percent. In a dry climate, you may have to add water to the substrate to keep it moist. In humid climates, you may have to maintain humidity levels between fifty and sixty percent. Eastern and southern hognose snakes need higher humidity levels, usually 50 to sixty percent. For this reason, they prefer a moist substrate.
While you are maintaining the humidity level in the enclosure, you should also make sure the snake has adequate water for shedding. This will help it shed more easily. Besides keeping the water level appropriate, you should also place it under a plastic container lined with warm wet paper towels. The high humidity in the container will help loosen the snake’s skin.
