Western Hognose Care

Axanthix Western Hognose Snake next to Kalanchoe

So you've decided to welcome a Western (Plains) Hognose or Heterodon nasicus into your life. Whether this keeled-scale companion is for you or your kids, understanding its needs can be challenging.

How do you get the best bang for your buck when setting up an enriching snake enclosure? In this guide, we'll navigate the best products for western hognose snakes.

This advice can be adjusted to suit any size enclosure but we'll focus on standard size bins and glass vivariums. From budget-friendly bin setups to hognose snake racks to bioactive hognose enclosures, we'll cover it all. Keep scrolling for a deep understanding, or skip right to product recommendations and printables by clicking the links below.

Western Hognose Tank Supplies - Printable Checklists and Product Links
Western Hognose Enclosure Upkeep
Western Hognose Feeding Guidelines
Western Hognose Behavior and Precautions

Many Routes to Great Care

There are several paths to exceptional hognose care. Keeping any exotic pet is a commitment of time and money, but having a western hognose doesn't have to break the bank.

Both expensive enclosures as well as affordable hognose enclosures can provide a high quality of life for your snake -- when they are set up properly. But I'd be a liar if I didn't tell you that I wholeheartedly believe that everyone reading this will one day own their very own bioactive vivarium, even if they go through a few different types of hognose enclosures on the way there. I certainly did!

Here are a few things to keep in mind.

  1. Remember, western hognose snakes can live up to 20+ years when well cared for in captivity. Set yourself up for success with your equipment, don't get scammed by cruddy products or impulsivity.
  2. The second is to take your own habits into consideration. The best supplies for your western hognose, are the supplies that you are going to A) Use, B) Use Correctly, and C) Use to maintain the proper parameters, which will ensure your hognose's quality of life.

    Proper Parameters for Western Hognose Snakes

    • Basking spot of 88-95F
    • Cool zone of 70-75F
    • Humidity of 30-50%

      Pros and Cons of Bin/Tub Enclosures for Western Hognoses

      The pros of a bin, tub or plastic enclosure for hognose snakes are that it is a secure and affordable method for housing your western hognose that maintains heat well. Bins are a good solution if you want to move up in enclosure size as your snake ages (especially if they are a fast growing species). Bin enclosures are also great to have on hand as a backup enclosure or in case of an emergency or travel.

      To be clear, bin cages are not Kritter Keepers, bug houses, or any other cheap plastic container made for kids to catch ‘creepy crawlies.’ Those types of containers will not keep your snake secure and are not appropriate to house snakes in for any length of time. Bin or tub enclosures are thick plastic tubs (think sterilite, or rubbermaid) with locking mechanisms that have been modified by hand to accommodate a snake.

      There are several cons of using plastic tubs for western hognoses.

      1. The first and foremost con of bins is that visibility is obscured. Yes, the plastic is 'clear' but it's not anything like the glass doors of my tanks that are so clear I accidentally smack into them.
      2. Following that con, plastic bins also don't allow for dramatic lighting, uvb supplementation, or the use of ceramic heat emitters.
      3. You also have to modify the bin yourself, which isn't very hard, but does require a few tools. Since hognose snakes are an arid species, you will need to drill plenty of holes in order to maintain a low-medium humidity for these sun-loving danger noodles.
      4. Plastic bins or tubs also aren't the most attractive option to display your western hognose so if you're looking for a slice of nature, or to display a designer morph snake, opt for glass vivarium.

      In my opinion, plastic reptile enclosures are best used as short-term housing, travel enclosure, or back up housing for your hognose snake. In most cases, I think it's better to opt for front-opening glass enclosures. That being said, some snakes prefer the security of a bin. Keep in tune with your animal to learn its preferences. 

      Western Hognose Glass Tank Size

      The best tank size for your snake will depend on its age and sex. These are the relative sizes I recommend for long term cost efficacy and health of your snake.

      Just Hatched Western Hognose Snakes Some Still in Egg

      Hatchling Hognose Tank Size

      You can opt to keep your baby or hatchling hognose in an enclosure as small as a plastic shoebox in a rack or a 10 gallon aquarium. However, it is more cost effective, and provides more enrichment, to offer a larger enclosure right from the start. The key to keeping hatchling hognose snakes comfortable in a large tank is to have plenty of clutter and enrichment. If you have a large size discrepancy (like a hatchling in a 40+ gallon) I would strongly recommend having a smaller, backup bin setup just in case.

      Male Conda Western Hognose Snake

      Male Hognose Tank Size

      20 gallon to 35 gallon (or larger) glass tank or 15 to 32 quart (or larger) locking bin or rack bin. I find that males can be incredibly exploratory, and will likely use more space if it's given to them.

      Normal Western Hognose Female

      Female Hognose Tank Size

      35-40 gallon (or larger) glass aquarium or 32 quart (or larger) locking bin. My adult female hognoses are gorgeous and happy in these Reptizoo 50 gallons.

      Best Substrate for Western Hognose

      Western hognoses are fossorial, or burrowing, snakes. Don't let that thought spook you -- western hognoses are very entertaining snakes to keep in your home, even if they do burrow several times a day. Due to their burrowing nature, the best substrate for western hognoses is one that they can burrow in. Aspen fibers, bioactive hognose substrate (30% playsand + 70% organic topsoil), Biodude's Terra Sahara, or any other arid species substrates are all great options. The key is burrow-ability.

      The Best Western Hognose Supplies

      Believe me, I've had just about every reptile product in the book. I've kept exotic pets since childhood, snakes for the past 8 years, and I worked at an upscale pet store for two years... needless to say that employee discount was well utilized. While the links in this article are affiliate links, all of my opinions are my own. Affiliate links cost nothing to you but they enable me to run this website and provide these materials free of charge.

      Best Western Hognose Tanks

      Best 20g Reptile Tanks

      Best 35-50g Reptile Tanks

      Best Locking Reptile Bins

      Best Western Hognose Substrates

      Best Thermometer Hygrometer

      Sensorpush for Snakes in a Bioactive Enclosure

      Best Heating Setup for Hognose

      Let's talk about heat - and light! Reptile heating bulbs marketed as 'daylight blue' or 'nighttime red' are nearly useless. I have never owned one personally, but I can tell you from my experience working at the pet store, that the people who used those lights were in the store about every 4-6 weeks to replace them. Many people whose snakes had feeding issues switched from red/blue lights to CHE setups and had great success. Why? Well, red light and blue light are still light. Reptiles see light, in fact they can even see UV light, which we humans cannot. Like most creatures, reptiles have a circadian rhythm, and periods of nighttime darkness are essential for their health. So what is the solution? Can you still use pretty lights? To remedy our nighttime darkness issue there are a few routes.

      Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE)

      The first route, and my favorite, is to use a ceramic heat emitter (CHE). These are heating elements that do not emit light, and provide great heat penetration. They are suitable for daytime and nighttime use. I recommend using these either with a thermostat (with your cords properly affixed and not loose in the enclosure), or a dimming ballast so that you can have more control over the temperature. Especially important if you live somewhere with significant variations in weather. What's another perk? I have never had a CHE die on me. I am still using my very first CHE in my enclosures today after 8 years! They do have an hour-life listed on the packaging, but mine have aged fabulously, likely due to my use of dimmers and thermostats which I assume reduce their wear and tear.

      So what are the cons of a ceramic heat emitter? You have to follow a few best practices…

      • Firstly you can only use wire ballasts with ceramic fixtures. There are many on the market that are made of plastic which are intended for use with poultry, these are not safe. A CHE would melt the plastic.
      • Second, you cannot put the CHE directly in the enclosure, or it would burn the snake. This also means that you must use heat tolerant lids, like metal screen as well as take the proper fire safety precautions. I highly recommend a thermostat or at least a dimmer.
      • Third, top-opening enclosures and CHEs are a risky combo. You don't want to have to handle, or find a place to set down, a CHE -- they are very hot.
      • The fourth con is that you'll also need a light source when using a CHE. Which we'll discuss below.

      Reptile Heat Mat & Thermostat

      Heat Mat/Pad and Thermostat - Another option is a reptile heat mat or heat pad and a thermostat. The pro of this setup is a reduced fire risk, and the ability to use a variety of enclosure materials like plastic or PVC. Many keepers make the mistake of using a heat mat without a thermostat, which is a bad idea. Thermostats must be properly affixed, with the probe taped, siliconed or hot glued to the heating pad itself, or immediately above it. The heat pad itself should be affixed outside the enclosure. There must be a thermometer directly above the heat pad, inside the enclosure, or affixed directly to the heat pad itself outside the enclosure, to monitor their temperature.

      Why? Well, without a thermostat, heat pads are prone to overheating and risk burning your reptile. A thermostat will ensure that your reptile remains safe, ensure that there is little to no fire-risk, and that the temperature is perfect. You will also need a second thermometer for the inside of the enclosure itself because there is inevitably a reduction in heat due to the space between the heat pad and the probe, and it is always good to have a secondary measurement source to make sure everything is reading correctly.

      The biggest con of reptile heat mats is that you cannot use a glass tank with a heavy substrate like soil (aka - you cannot have a bioactive enclosure) with a reptile heat mat. This is because there is significant risk of your enclosure cracking due to stress from the heat and weight.

      Best Vivarium Lighting Equipment

      There are quite a few options for lighting your reptile. If your house has many windows, you may be able to do without a light entirely. However many of us choose to have lights to beautify our enclosures, grow plants or provide supplemental UVB. In the past, I have used homemade lights out of waterproof LED tape, which are an affordable option in a pinch, but I live with an electrician so that option isn't for everyone. When I upgraded my enclosures, I decided to try out some of the fancy prefab lighting options available today, but I didn’t want to break the bank going for a fluval or another pricey brand. Long story short, I found some winners on Amazon!

      Albino, Axanthic and Normal Western Hognose Snakes in various lighting

      Hygger Smart Aquarium Light with App Control

      I LOVE this light. The light colors and timing are fully customizable and connect to your phone via bluetooth and an app. If you use the above link, make sure to choose the correct size for your tank, the link goes to a 36" light. The lighting control itself allows you to set a variety of ‘modes’ and 3 custom modes using RBG and/or Color Temperature sliders in the app. I use it to set a custom 8 section timeline for my snakes. My custom settings are typically like this -- a sunrise, dim morning, early afternoon, mid day bright light, dim evening, sunset, moonlight and then darkness for the night. However, I do change them around based on the season. Check it out here.

      Hygger 24/7 Aquarium Light

      This was the first iteration of light that I tried, and while it was not right for me, it could be a great contender for other people. It has a decent 24/7 lighting feature with darkness at night. However the timing wasn't as customizable as I would have liked, and you could not customize the lighting color at all. It was rather purple in its 'daylight' setting. It is a fantastic affordable option for snake lighting if you aren’t picky though..

      I have not tried many other commercially available lights but many are suitable and plenty of options exist, but these two took the cake for me.

      Best Reptile Accessories

      The enclosure, substrate, heating, and lighting aren't the only things that you need! Your western hognose snake will need enrichment, hides, water dishes and more. We'll discuss some of my favorite options as well as how to clean them.

      Best Reptile Hides

      There's a lot of fantastic options for reptile hides. If you are creative and frugal, you can likely find suitable options at the dollar store. I once used a soldering iron to make entrance holes in a set of plastic dollar store bowls.

      A favorite source of mine is to stop by restaurant supply stores if you happen to be in or traveling through a place that has them. I use sugar holders as hides for my hatchlings, and I paid $1 or less per piece. Those are great options if you’re planning to breed, or have a rack. But for most people here I imagine you’ll be more interested in the following options,

      Toffee Superconda Hognose in a Zilla Rock Lair

      Zilla Rock Lair

      Available in small, medium and large, this hide is sure to be a winner. This works great for daily use and even better when your snake is in shed, I've even used it as a lay-box for my breeding females. A clump of moist moss placed inside creates the perfect humid hide and the outside has a gentle grit to it, which is great to aid in shedding. The Zilla Rock lair holds up well in the dishwasher.

      Western Hognose on Cork Bark

      Cork Bark

      There are many sources for cork bark. I like buying it in bulk at expos or online, but this 3-pack (sometimes in stock on Amazon) from Zoo Med is a great option as well. I recommend only using halves or flats as hides. Ensure that any rounds you choose can easily accommodate the width of your snake tripled (I once wrenched a too-tight cork round off of my ball python - 0/10 experience, don’t recommend), and check it often as your snake grows. Cork bark can be cleaned by boiling it.

      Zilla Durable Dens

      This is a great affordable reptile hide, if you don't mind the plain look. Durable Dens also hold up great in the dishwasher.

      Best Reptile Water Dish

      Water dishes are another option that you find in many places, the dollar store or even your own dish cabinet are potential sources. My favorite dishes for hognose snakes are heavy, and shallow. Hogs love to tip their water over, and having a heavy dish can help deter that. Younger western hognose snakes can be prone to drowning, so keep the depth of the bowl proportional to the size of your snake.

      Fluker's Reptile Bowl Medium with Albino Western Hognose Snake

      Fluker's Reptabowl

      Medium, Large and Extra Large. This is my favorite reptile dish for hognose snakes. It is an attractive rock/resin composite that tolerates the dishwasher well. Its texture also aids in shedding. They come in gorgeous colors that are convincingly ‘natural’ but with a touch of artsy flair. The medium is pictured above, so I don't recommend going any smaller. 

      Stainless Steel Pet Dishes

      These are great for a long lasting, easy to clean approach. They don't quite fit in with naturalistic decor, but I love them anyway. These are especially great for large snakes. Check them out here.

      Best Reptile Fake Plants

      Faux Cacti

      These faux cacti on amazon are under $1/piece and work great in western hognose enclosures. Check them out here. You might be able to find these at your local dollar store, but they are cheaper online. The great news is that all of those options hold up to the dishwasher.

      Zoo Med Naturalistic Flora

      Best Bioactive Vivarium Supplies

      Western Hognose Snake on Driftwood

      Assorted Driftwood for Reptiles

      I wasn’t sure about Amazon driftwood at first, but it’s affordable, and has worked great in my enclosures. I give it a good scrubbing with dawn and water, check for and sand any sharp bits, and then soak it in clean water overnight before adding it to my enclosures. 

      I would advise against trying to source your own driftwood from nature if you’re a beginner keeper, there are a lot of invisible hitchhikers on sticks who would love to wreak havoc on your enclosure.

      Organic Oak Leaf Litter

      A thinner, but still hardy and very attractive leaf litter.

      XYZ Live Oak Leaf Litter

      This oak leaf litter is thick and holds up for quite some time in a bioactive.

      Rocks

      Good old free rocks. Make sure to check the rock type and wash them thoroughly. Rocks help aid in shed and provide basking areas.

      Forest Moss

      I use this sparingly in humid hides when snakes are in shed. I also blend it into substrates, very sparingly, on occasion.

      ExtremeMIST Mister

      If you have just one enclosure, this mister may work great for you. 

      3 Gallon Pump Sprayer

      If you have multiple enclosures, just get the big 3 gallon pump sprayer, you can thank me later. 

      Best Plants for Western Hognose Snakes

      Western Hognose Snakes and Air Plants

      Air Plants

      Air Plants, especially the drier climate species, like Tillandsia, do great in Western Hognose enclosures. I find they can tolerate the hot or cool side, and don’t mind being near the light as long as they are misted daily and soaked every now and again. I get my Air Plants for Hognoses from Amazon. Be aware, when you source plants for reptiles from Amazon, you must do a peroxide or potassium permanganate dip and clean water soak before adding to your enclosures. If this worries you, opt for plants from a place like NE Herp or Josh’s Frogs. You’ll still want to do a clean water dip, but there shouldn’t be any pesticides from either of those sources. 

      Florist Kalanchoe and Western Hognoses

      Florist Kalanchoe

      Florist Kalanchoe are a fantastic choice for western hognose snakes. These attractive flowering plants are available locally during the late winter/early spring months and come in a wide variety of colors and flower types. Make sure to opt for Kalanchoe blossifeldiana, not the mother of thousands plant (K. daigramontiana).

      When you source plants for reptiles from Amazon, you must do a peroxide or potassium permanganate dip and clean water soak before adding to your enclosures.

      Anthurium and Western Hognose Snake

      Anthurium

      Anthurium offer a hardy, long lasting red flower. They also have a woody root structure that keeps the plant upright well, despite the burrowing snake’s best effort. The older leaves can yellow if over-fertilized (AKA danger noodle takes a poo too close to the plant). 

      You can get them here. When you source plants for reptiles from Amazon, you must do a peroxide or potassium permanganate dip and clean water soak before adding to your enclosures. 

      Jade Plant

      This is a great and interesting plant that adds a pop of jade green to the enclosure. Although it doesn't look it, the leaves don’t pop off easily. They also come in a variety of attractive variants.

      You can find jade plants here. However, when you source plants for reptiles from Amazon, you must do a peroxide or potassium permanganate dip and clean water soak before adding to your enclosures. 

      Hawthoria Succulents

      I find that hogs trample most tender succulents, but hawthoria can handle the heat of the hot side and the weight of snake.

      Check them out on Josh’s Frogs or on Amazon. However, when you source plants for reptiles from Amazon, you must do a peroxide or potassium permanganate dip and clean water soak before adding to your enclosures.

      Western Hognose and Money Tree

      Money Tree/Bonsai

      Money trees or bonsai are a great choice for larger bodied snakes that have a habit of trampling their plants. They also provide a nice canopy that you can plant low-light plants under. I usually find money trees on the discount shelf of the hardware store and do a peroxide or potassium permanganate dip. It is difficult to gauge if they will fit inside of your enclosure from a website, so get these in-person or from a seller who will cater to your specific height requirements. 

      Pothos

      Pothos should be a later addition to your enclosure because they like lower light. Plant these underneath your money tree or let them trail along your backdrop. Pothos come in a variety of attractive variants. My favorites are the blue pothos and the silver/satin pothos. However, the silver satin doesn't grow as quickly as the others in my experience.

      *Note that most of these plants are toxic if ingested, so take the proper precautions to prevent ingestion (aka - don’t put the chompy snakes in there - or just feed them in an upside down hide or reptirock). 

      Western Hognose Supplies and Checklists

      15-32 Quart Plastic Snake Tub Supplies Printable Checklist

      Affordable Snake Bin Supplies List

      Naturalistic Snake Bin Supplies List

      Got whatcha need? Click here to skip the lists and move on to the next section. 

      20-30 Gallon Hognose Tank Supplies Printable Checklist

        20-30 Gallon Hognose Tank Supplies List

        Bioactive 20-30 Gallon Hognose Tank Supplies List

        Got whatcha need? Click here to skip the lists and move on to the next section. 

        40+ Gallon Snake Tank Supplies Printable Checklist

        40 Gallon Hognose Tank Supplies List

        Bioactive 40 Gallon Hognose Tank Supplies List

        Western Hognose Enclosure Maintenance

        Regardless of your choice in enclosure, you will have some regular maintenance to do. This things include feeding on an appropriate schedule (usually weekly or twice weekly), refilling water daily, spot cleaning daily, and deeper cleaning monthly or weekly. You will also have to adjust your humidity when your snake is in shed.

        Click here for a free Printable Hognose Feeding and Maintenance Calendar.

        Western Hognose Feeding Guidelines

        There are several schools of thought on how often to feed western hogs, but I have fared well with roughly following this chart, which typically feeds either once weekly or twice weekly based on each snake.

        I say “roughly following” because each hognose snake is an individual and there are many periods of time where they may go off food for a while, they may also have individual preferences pertaining to the size of prey or color. This is one of many reasons why being attentive to your snake is so important. Here are a few different preferences that I have witnessed,

        • Some hognoses prefer to eat prey that is a size down from the average
        • Some hognoses will not eat during/around shed
        • Some hognoses like their prey to move, some like their "chins" rubbed with prey, some like prey left in their enclosure, some like to drink off of their prey
        • Some prefer wet prey, some prefer dry
        • They may have a color preference
        • Some hognoses will be more picky during the summer season
        • They may eat less during/around breeding season (Feb-April)

        Click here for a free Printable Hognose Feeding and Maintenance Calendar

        Bringing Home a New Hognose - What to do Now?

        The best thing you can do for your new snake is leave it alone to get settled in its new enclosure for a few days before handling it.

        It is common for snakes to refuse food for several weeks when brought into a new environment.

        Western Hognose Behavior

        Western Hognose (Heterodon nasicus) snakes are a charismatic species with many notable and entertaining characteristics. Hognoses are fossorial snakes, they burrow in their substrate. In fact, their upturned rostral (snout) scale is what assists them in digging. Although they burrow, they are active during the day, and are a great pet for casual viewing. Please give your hognose a burrowing substrate.

        Hognoses are mildly venomous, with a non-lethal, slow acting venom similar to that of a garter snake. Hognose venom poses no significant risk to your health, but you should familiarize yourself with its effects nonetheless.

        Hognoses rarely bite, but are known for being sassy. They will often false-strike, hiss, or flatten their heads to mimic a cobra. Some even "play dead," writhing and sticking their tongue out. All that said, I have never been bitten by any of my snakes. I expect it will happen someday, you can’t win em’ all!

        I hope you enjoyed this huge guide to western hognoses. If you have questions, just reach out here.