Western Hognose Snakes for Sale

Western hognoses are compact, burrowing snakes whose needs are simple once the setup is right. Here is the general picture:

• Enclosure: a secure tank with more floor space than height, plus hides at both ends. Adult females need more room than males.
• Heat: a warm side in the high 80s °F with a cooler end in the mid 70s is a typical approach, run through a thermostat.
• Humidity and substrate: fairly dry conditions with a deep, loose substrate such as aspen they can dig into.
• Diet: most captive-bred westerns eat appropriately sized frozen-thawed mice, offered every 5 to 10 days depending on age.
• Handling: short, calm sessions. Hissing and hooding are bluffs, and most settle quickly once picked up.

For full temperature ranges, brumation notes and feeding charts, read the ReptileAds western hognose care guide.

A few questions to ask the seller will tell you a lot about the snake you are considering:

• Is it eating frozen-thawed mice on its own, and how many consecutive meals has it taken?
• What is the hatch date and current weight?
• What are the parents' genetics, and which genes are visual versus possible hets?
• Was the sex determined by probing or popping, and at what age?
• How will the snake be shipped or handed off, and what happens if weather delays shipping?

Clear photos from the top and belly, plus a recent feeding log, make it much easier to compare listings fairly.