Eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

Short answers

Eastern hognose snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 115×60×60 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, hognose snakes).

Eastern hognose snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot 32–35 °C, at night 18–21 °C.

Eastern hognose snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB not essential, weak UVB (Ferguson zone 1–2) recommended.

Eastern hognose snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 10–15+ years.

Eastern hognose snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

18–21 °C

Basking spot

32–35 °C

Humidity

50–60 %

UVB

UVB not essential, weak UVB (Ferguson zone 1–2) recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 115×60×60 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, hognose snakes)

Substrate

Loose sandy substrate they can dig in (a sand-soil mix), at least 10 cm deep

Feeding

Food

A toad specialist in the wild; in captivity rodents (usually offered scented) plus frogs and toads

Feeding interval

adults every 7–10 days, juveniles every 5–7 days

Key facts

Adult size

males approx. 50–70 cm, females approx. 80–115 cm

Life expectancy

approx. 10–15+ years

Origin

The eastern USA and south-eastern Canada (forest, grassland, sandy soils)

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; no special EU requirements

Brumation

Brumation is recommended (they come from a temperate climate): several weeks at about 8–13 °C, mainly to prepare for breeding

Cohabitation

Keep them singly (territorial, with stress and competition over food when housed together). Never keep males together; only for supervised breeding

Notes

Opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged), with a mild Duvernoy's secretion – usually harmless to humans, and only rarely an allergic reaction. It can play dead or show a threat display as a bluff. Feeding problems are common (a specialised feeder) – hence advanced. The size differs strongly between the sexes.

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Related species

• Mexican hognose snake (Heterodon kennerlyi) – Beginner
• Southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus) – Intermediate
• Western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus) – Beginner
• Blonde hognose snake (Leioheterodon modestus) – Intermediate
• Malagasy giant hognose (Leioheterodon madagascariensis) – Intermediate
• Geay's hognose snake (Leioheterodon geayi) – Intermediate
• Tricolor hognose snake (Xenodon pulcher) – Intermediate
• Common egg-eating snake (Dasypeltis scabra) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 115×60×60 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, hognose snakes)), substrate (Loose sandy substrate they can dig in (a sand-soil mix), at least 10 cm deep), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.