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Care sheet

Western Hognose

Heterodon nasicus

Also known as: Plains Hognose

Colubridae · Squamata

BeginnerIUCN LC
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Temperament
Docile
Adult length
15–36 in
Adult weight
70–350 g
Lifespan (captivity)
15–20 yrs
Native range
Great Plains and southern Canada — arid grasslands, sandy soils

Care guide

Overview

Western Hognose (Heterodon nasicus) — Small, personable, highly theatrical. Famous for their defensive display: flattening the neck into a hood, hissing, bluff-striking, and then rolling belly-up and playing dead if the threat persists. They are mildly venomous rear-fanged colubrids — envenomation in humans is rare and localized; not considered medically significant. Males stay small (around 15–24"); females reach 30–36". Hognoses are fossorial and need deep substrate to burrow.

Environment

Climate

Cool side
70–78 °F
Warm side
78–85 °F
Basking spot
85–90 °F
Nighttime
65–72 °F
Humidity (ambient)
30–50%
Shed-cycle boost
55–65%

Environment

UVB lighting

Required?
Optional / beneficial
Fixture type
T5 HO
Distance to basking
12–18 in
Replacement interval
Every 12 months

Housing

Enclosure

Orientation
Fossorial (burrowing)
Bioactive setup
Suitable
Minimum size by life stage
  • HatchlingShoebox or 10 gallon
  • Juvenile20 gallon long
  • Adult36"L x 18"W x 12"H minimum; larger for females

Housing

Substrate

Depth
3–5 in
Safe options
aspen shavingsplay sand/topsoil mixcoco husk
Avoid
cedarpinecalcium sand

Nutrition

Diet & feeding

Dietary type
Strict carnivore
Prey size by life stage
  • HatchlingPinky mouse
  • JuvenileFuzzy to hopper mouse
  • AdultAdult mouse
Feeding frequency by life stage
  • HatchlingEvery 5–7 days
  • JuvenileEvery 7 days
  • AdultEvery 7–10 days
Prey ratio by body weight
Stage
Body weight
Prey (% BW)
Interval
  • Hatchling
    up to 20 g
    10–15%
    5–7 days
  • Juvenile
    21–80 g
    10–12%
    7 days
  • Subadult
    81–200 g
    8–10%
    7–10 days
  • Adult
    201 g+
    5–8%
    7–10 days

Feed prey roughly the listed percentage of the snake's current weight, at the listed interval. Use it as a starting point — adjust based on body condition, not the calendar.

Feeding thresholds
Typical hatchling weight
5–15 g
Power-feeding line
> 15% body weight
30-day weight-loss concern
> 10% in 30 days
Supplementation

Whole prey adequate. Hognoses are toad specialists in the wild; captive-bred animals typically accept mice, but some refuse rodents and may need scenting with toad or fish. Hognoses are mildly venomous rear-fanged colubrids; envenomation in humans is rare and almost always results from prolonged chewing bites, not defensive strikes. Reactions are typically localized swelling. Not considered medically significant in keeping contexts, but noted for completeness.

Care

Water & behavior

Water

Small bowl; keep the enclosure overall dry. Provide a humid hide with moist sphagnum for shed cycles.

Brumation (optional)

Brumation not required for pet animals. Required for breeding; protocols involve 55–65°F for 60–90 days.

Defensive displays
flattening head (cobra-like hood)hissingbluff strikes (often closed-mouth)playing dead (thanatosis)musking

Legal & ecology

Conservation

IUCN Red List
LC · Least Concern

Genetics

Morphs

Morph market
Active
Complexity
Moderate

Citations

Sources

Every husbandry parameter on this page is backed by the references below. Click through to read the originals.

  1. Western Hognose Snake Care

    Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center

    veterinary

    Veterinary husbandry reference for Heterodon nasicus.

    Published: 2023-01-01

  2. Hognose Temperature, Lighting & Humidity Requirements

    ReptiFiles

    breeder community

    Husbandry ranges with citations for Heterodon nasicus.

    Published: 2023-01-01

  3. Western Hognose care sheet and maintenance

    The Bio Dude

    breeder community

    Bioactive-oriented care reference for Heterodon nasicus.

    Published: 2022-01-01

Western Hognose (Heterodon nasicus) care sheet — Herpetoverse