Eastern Vs Western Hognose Snake: Key Differences in Appearance and Care (2024)

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You’ll notice distinct differences between eastern and western hognose snakes in appearance and care.

Eastern hognose snakes sport vibrant colors like black, yellow, and red, while westerns have muted earth tones. Both species have upturned snouts for burrowing.

Easterners tend to have more potent venom for subduing prey like frogs and toads.

As pets, provide proper enclosures with hiding spots and regulate temperature/humidity. Handle gently and feed frozen prey.

Westerns may be slightly calmer, but both make great first snakes for reptile enthusiasts.

Want to learn more about their unique defensive behaviors and ideal habitats?

Habitat and Distribution

Eastern and western hognose snakes have distinct geographical distributions, with some overlap.

Eastern hognose snakes range from southern New Hampshire to southern Florida and as far west as Texas, Oklahoma, and Minnesota.

Western hognose snakes are found in the Great Plains region, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, and as far east as Minnesota and Texas.

Both species prefer dry, sandy habitats like fields, woodlands, and coastal areas.

Understanding the habitat and distribution of hognose snakes is essential for their proper care and conservation.

Physical Characteristics

Both eastern and western hognose snakes share the distinctive upturned snout and wide head adapted for burrowing and digging. However, they exhibit variations in color and scale patterns, with eastern hognose snakes typically displaying a more vibrant mix of colors like black, yellow, and red, while western varieties often have more muted earth tones like browns and grays.

Upturned Noses and Wide Heads for Digging

Hognose snakes have an upturned, wide snout perfect for digging in loose substrates like sand or soil. Their broad heads and strong jaws allow them to burrow into the ground to hunt for prey or escape predators .

1. Hognose snakes use their digging snout to:
   • Excavate burrows and tunnels
   • Unearth toads, their primary food source
   • Dig into loose substrates for shelter

Variations in Color and Scale Patterns

Eastern and Western Hognose Snakes exhibit distinctive variations in color intensity, pattern diversity, and scale texture due to regional differences and genetic variations. Understanding these unique characteristics is essential for identifying and appreciating the beauty of each hognose snake species.

Average Adult Size: 2-3 Feet

Western and eastern hognose snakes typically reach 2-3 feet in length as adults, with females often larger than males due to sexual dimorphism. Captive breeding has produced a variety of color morphs, but wild snakes display geographic variation in appearance.

Lifespan: 5-20 Years, Depending on Species

The lifespan of hognose snakes ranges between 5-20 years, varying by species. Factors influencing longevity include geographic distribution, species diversity, and captive breeding. Careful age determination is essential in understanding and enhancing hognose snake lifespan in captivity, particularly for eastern and western hognose snakes. (Source)

Defensive Behavior

When threatened, both eastern and western hognose snakes exhibit a unique defensive behavior – they’ll play dead by rolling onto their backs, opening their mouths, and emitting a foul-smelling musk. Additionally, these snakes can flatten their necks and produce a loud hissing sound, but despite this intimidating display, they’re generally docile and unlikely to strike unless seriously provoked.

Play Dead and Emit Foul Smells to Deter Predators

Hognose snakes have evolved unique adaptations to deter predators. When threatened, they:

1. Flatten their necks and hiss loudly
2. Emit foul-smelling musk from their cloacas
3. Roll onto their backs, open their mouths, and play dead convincingly

These strategies, combined with their mild venom, help hognose snakes survive in their habitats.

Unique Hissing Sound

Hognose snakes emit a unique hissing sound when threatened, with eastern species hissing more frequently than western ones. The hissing varies in volume and range, with some snakes hissing loudly while others make softer sounds. Hissing is often triggered by perceived danger, such as when the snake feels cornered or handled.

Can Be Defensive When Threatened, but Generally Docile

Hognose snakes are generally docile but can display defensive behaviors when threatened. They may:

1. Flatten their heads and necks
2. Hiss loudly
3. Secrete foul-smelling musk from their anal glands (Source)
4. Rarely, they may strike with their small, rear-facing fangs

   Despite their dramatic displays, hognose snakes are harmless to humans and make great pets for responsible reptile enthusiasts .

Diet

You’ll want to feed adult eastern and western hognose snakes an appropriate carnivorous diet consisting of frogs, toads, mice, bugs, and eggs. While adult snakes can be fed once a week or every two weeks, baby hognose snakes require more frequent feedings, ideally every five days with a diet of insects, small rodents, and amphibians.

Carnivorous, Eating Frogs, Toads, Mice, Bugs, and Eggs

As a carnivorous species, both Eastern and Western Hognose snakes have diets consisting of frogs, toads, mice, bugs, and eggs. This diverse diet is essential for their health and natural behaviors .

Baby Hognose Snakes Eat Insects, Small Rodents, and Amphibians

Baby hognose snakes thrive on a varied diet of insects, small rodents, and amphibians. Provide appropriately sized prey every 5 days to support rapid growth.

• Crickets, mealworms, pinky mice
• Frogs, toads, salamanders
• Varied diet prevents nutritional deficiencies
• Adjust prey size as baby grows

Feed Adult Snakes Once a Week or Every 2 Weeks

When feeding adult hognose snakes once a week or every 2 weeks, vary prey to include pinky mice, ensuring proper digestion. Consider prey availability and meal size to prevent issues like hognose snake not eating.

Feed Baby Snakes Every 5 Days

Feed baby hognose snakes every 5 days . Offer appropriately-sized prey like pinky mice or frog micro links . Avoid handling for 1-2 days after feeding to prevent regurgitation .

Avoid Handling Snakes for 1-2 Days After Feeding

After feeding baby hognose snakes every 5 days, avoid handling them for 1-2 days. This practice aids in prey digestion, reduces stress, and promotes health. Maintain their enclosure for good health and monitor their well-being closely. (Source)

Venom

Hognose snakes have mild venom that isn’t dangerous to humans, but effective on their small prey.

The venom is delivered through grooved rear fangs and helps immobilize toads and frogs.

Notably, hognose snakes have some resistance to the venom of their prey, allowing them to safely consume venomous toads.

The venom composition varies by species, with Eastern hognoses having more potent venom compared to Western hognoses.

However, hognose snake venom poses no serious threat to humans and isn’t used for defensive purposes against predators.

Habitat Requirements as Pets

As pet owners, you’ll need to provide a secure enclosure with appropriate temperature and humidity for hognose snakes. Hiding spots and climbing opportunities should be included, and frozen prey, rather than live, should be used for feeding.

Require a Secure Enclosure With Appropriate Temperature and Humidity

Hognoses thrive in a 24-inch vivarium with aspen substrate. Maintain 40-50% humidity. Use a heat mat covering 1/3 to 1/2 of the enclosure, regulated by a thermostat to 88-90°F on the warm end and 75-82°F cool end. Provide a water dish, but keep humidity moderate to prevent respiratory issues .

Provide Hiding Places and Climbing Opportunities

Provide ample hiding spots and climbing branches to recreate their natural habitat. Use a substrate that retains humidity like cypress mulch. Maintain proper lighting and temperature gradients for their health and wellbeing. Guarantee access to clean water at all times. Carefully consider enclosure size based on the snake’s age and size.

Use Frozen, Not Live, Prey for Feeding

When feeding your pet hognose snake, opt for frozen prey alternatives such as mice or rats.

Thawing methods include placing the frozen prey in the refrigerator overnight.

To avoid running out, store prey in a freezer, making sure to rotate your stock to maintain freshness.

Adjust prey size according to your snake’s age and size, and feed adult snakes once a week or every two weeks.

Handling as Pets

Hognose snakes make excellent pets for both reptile enthusiasts and first-time snake owners due to their generally docile nature and manageable size. When handling them, it’s essential to be gentle, support their body properly, and avoid overfeeding, as this can lead to obesity and related health issues.

Suitable for Reptile Enthusiasts and First-time Snake Owners

Hognose snakes make great pets for reptile enthusiasts and first-time snake owners alike.

Their unique personalities and low-maintenance care requirements make them ideal companions.

Proper handling techniques, such as supporting their entire body and avoiding sudden movements, guarantee their safety and yours.

Providing enrichment like hiding spots and climbing opportunities keeps them mentally stimulated.

While most hognoses are docile, individual temperaments may vary.

Feeding frozen-thawed prey on a regular schedule helps maintain their health.

With the right care, your hognose can thrive as a lifelong friend.

Handle Snakes Gently and Avoid Overfeeding

When handling hognose snakes, it’s paramount to prioritize gentle and careful techniques to safeguard their well-being. Here are strategies to facilitate a positive interaction:

1. Approach snakes calmly and smoothly, minimizing sudden movements.
2. Support their bodies adequately to prevent unnecessary stress.
3. Avoid overfeeding by adhering to the recommended feeding frequency.
4. Provide enriching activities and hiding spots in their enclosure to cater to their behavioral quirks.

Differences in Temperament

Eastern and Western hognose snakes have distinct temperaments.

Westerns are generally more docile and tolerate handling well with proper socialization.

Easterns can be more defensive, hissing, flattening their necks, and even playing dead when threatened.

However, both species calm down with regular, gentle handling.

Westerns are often recommended for beginners due to their easygoing nature.

Proper socialization is key for both species to develop a calm temperament.

With time and patience, hognose snakes can make engaging, interactive pets for reptile enthusiasts.

Differences in Appearance

While both Eastern and Western hognose snakes share similar upturned snouts, their appearances differ in several key ways.

Easterns tend to be darker in coloration, with large black markings behind their eyes resembling ears. Westerns are typically lighter brown with a more distinct pattern.

Size-wise, female Easterns grow larger than males, while Westerns are more evenly sized.

Habitat-wise, Easterns have a wider range across the eastern U.S., while Westerns are found in the central plains.

Both use their upturned snouts for burrowing and their striking patterns for natural predator avoidance.

Conservation Status

You’ll be pleased to know that both the western hognose snake and the eastern hognose snake are classified as species of Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List, indicating that their populations are stable and not threatened at the moment.

However, it’s still important to monitor their habitats and make sure responsible practices are followed to maintain their conservation status.

Western Hognose Snakes: Least Concern

Western hognose snakes have a wide distribution across the American Midwest, South, and Northern Mexico . They’re slightly larger than their Eastern cousins, reaching up to 36 inches as adults . Lifespan is 5-20 years . While both species have mild venom, Westerns are less defensive and less likely to bite . See the table below for a quick comparison:

Trait	Western Hognose	Eastern Hognose
Range	Midwest, South	East, Southeast
Size	Up to 36 inches	Up to 36 inches
Venom	Mild, less likely to bite	Mild, more defensive

Eastern Hognose Snakes: Least Concern

Eastern hognose snakes are classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, but conservation efforts are still essential.

Their geographic range spans from southern New Hampshire to Florida and as far west as Texas and South Dakota.

Subspecies like the southern hognose snake face greater threats.

Breeding habits and genetic studies help guide conservation strategies.

While their status is stable overall, protecting habitats and mitigating human impacts remain important for ensuring the long-term survival of these fascinating snakes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)