Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

[John_White]

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Nice pic! Is that a narrowmouth toad being consumed?
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[John_White]

Jay,

No, it's an American toad. This eastern hog is one of the largest (at about 4 feet) that I've seen.

Thanks,
John
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	Hog Island Boa hogg

[captainmorgan]

Cool, my friend says he has a problem with these around his house. He's had 3 of them relocated from his backyard in the past 2 months. I'm looking forward to acquiring one of these lil guys hopefully soon. I think I'm going to take the yellow rats I currently have to the serpentarium for a donation or something. The 2 yellow rats are both integrades of yellow and black rats. You can see the distinct checkered pattern along with the yellow rats striped...'
Or maybe I'll just get another cage.....
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[captainmorgan]

do they eat just toads or frogs as well??? and do they eat like lizards and stuff or just toads?
[addsig]

They are pretty much strictly toad eaters, which obviously presents a problem in captivity. Wild caught ones will starve before they eat non toad items.
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[Ravnos]

Captive ones will eat frogs, I frequently feed mine bullfrogs and leopard frogs... but frogs move fast, and hognose aren't exactly quick acting snakes - so in the wild they usually won't eat them unless they come across one that is easy pickings. Many people have actually had good luck scenting mice with green tree frogs... though, a rodent diet is not a good idea in the long term - I'll use it to bulk them up after winter, not to mention, when my toad supply is low.

Rav
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[John_White]

Eastern Hognose snakes are almost exclusively toad eaters, however they are know to take other prey including true frogs (Rana spp.), red-spotted newts, plethodontid salamanders, spotted salamanders, pinkie mice and pinkie chipmunks.

I've had success starting neonate e. hogs on live pinkies. *Some* wild caught adults can be tricked in to eating thawed mice. First wash the mouse and then having a live toad pee on the mouse. (It's rarely difficult to get a toad to pee.) On a fairly longterm project, I had success using a toad paste made from toads placed in a blender. Freeze the mixture and thaw only enough to paint a dead mouse.

I agree with Jay, that keeping an eastern hognose snake in captivity is fairly difficult. Western hognose snakes tend to do much better in captivity.

John
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	Hog Island Boa hogg

[captainmorgan]

thanks for the info....we have plenty of toads around here. I catch em nightly or at least see them nightly. did I read that right?? toad paste??? ground up in a blender??? EWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!! That's disgusting...I must say you're dedicated!!!!!
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