Buyer question
Is a hognose snake good for beginners?
Yes: our Animal Library rates the Hognose Snake 4 out of 5 for beginners (good small first snake).
Source: the Normal hognose snake page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Hognose Snake in the Animal Library
The detail
The normal western hognose is the wild-type form of a small, stocky snake from the North American plains, named for the upturned snout it uses to dig. It is famous for theatrics: hooding, hissing, bluff strikes and playing dead rather than biting.
- Best fit
- First snake, small spaces
- Handling
- 3 out of 5 (Bluffs, rarely bites)
- Setup complexity
- 2 out of 5 (Small, simple setup)
- Feeding ease
- 3 out of 5 (Some need scenting)
What to weigh
Hognoses are rear-fanged with mild venom, and a rare chewing bite can cause local swelling in some people. Many, males especially, go off food in fall and winter.