Mexican hognose snake (Heterodon kennerlyi)

Short answers

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

80×40×40 cm.

Mexican hognose snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot 32 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Mexican hognose snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not required.

Mexican hognose snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 12–18 years.

Mexican hognose snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

32 °C

Humidity

40–55 %

UVB

Not required

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×40×40 cm

Substrate

Sand-loam 8–12 cm for digging, a cork hide, a water dish

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice of a suitable size

Feeding interval

1×/week

Key facts

Adult size

40–60 cm

Life expectancy

12–18 years

Origin

Southern Texas, northern Mexico

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; despite its rear fangs, practically harmless to people

Brumation

A winter rest of 8–12 weeks at 12–16 °C

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Snakes are solitary and do not seek company — a shared hide is competition for the best spot, not social behaviour. The concrete reason is the feeding accident: if two animals grab the same food item, one can swallow the other along with it. On top of that, once they are kept together you can no longer tell which animal has eaten and which is losing weight. For breeding, put them together under supervision and separate them again afterwards.

Notes

Split from H. nasicus in 2014, a little smaller and lower in contrast. Like all hognoses a burrower – deep substrate matters more than climbing structure. When threatened it plays dead.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Mexican hognose snake (Heterodon kennerlyi) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos) – Intermediate
• 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
• Russian rat snake (Elaphe schrenckii) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Mexican hognose snake (Heterodon kennerlyi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×40×40 cm), substrate (Sand-loam 8–12 cm for digging, a cork hide, a water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.