Western Hognose

Western Hognose care at a glance

Adult length

40–90 cm (16–35 in)

Adult weight

60–800 g (2.1–28.2 oz)

Lifespan

15–20 years

Basking / warm side

32–34 °C (90–93 °F)

Cool side

24–27 °C (75–81 °F)

Night minimum

20 °C (68 °F)

Humidity

30–50%

UVB

Optional (low-level is beneficial)

Diet

Rodents

Activity

Diurnal

Lifestyle

Terrestrial (burrower)

Females grow far larger than males.

Typical values from common keeping practice, not yet reviewed. Individual animals and setups vary. See the enclosure size guide.

Western Hognose morphs and genes

7 genes in our list. Log your animal's genetics and Reptilytics builds its morph name for you, or try the western hognose genetics calculator.

Western Hognose research

29 published papers in the HerpAtlas library. Most cited below, or see the latest research →

• Non-front-fanged colubroid snakes: a current evidence-based analysis of medical significance.

  Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology · 2013 · cited 42 times

• Orientation to the Sun by the Iguanid Lizards Uta stansburiana and Sceloporus undulatus: Hourly and Monthly Variations

  Copeia · 1980 · cited 28 times

• Range, Habitat Use, and Seasonal Activity of the Yellow Mud Turtle (Kinosternon flavescens) in Northwestern Illinois: Implications for Site-Specific Conservation and Management

  Chelonian Conservation and Biology · 2006 · cited 22 times

• Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Influence Expression of Defensive Behavior in Plains Hog‐Nosed Snakes ( H eterodon nasicus)

  Ethology · 2013 · cited 17 times

• The Squamate Reptiles of the Inglis IA Fauna (Irvingtonian: Citrus County, Florida)

  Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History · 1982 · cited 15 times

• The Embeddedness of a North American Snake in the Wildlife Pet Trade and the Production of Assemblage Biogeographies

  Annals of the Association of American Geographers · 2013 · cited 9 times

• Comparison of Three Methods for Measuring Dietary Composition of Plains Hog-nosed Snakes

  Herpetologica · 2022 · cited 9 times

• Cryptosporidium spp. in captive snakes from 26 provinces in China: Prevalence, molecular characterization, and symptoms.

  Parasite (Paris, France) · 2024 · cited 6 times · open access

Western Hognose natural history notes

Field and captive observations published in Herpetological Review's Natural History Notes. Each is a single observation, summarized by us, with a link to the original.