Scaly friends count too.
Western Hognose Snake
Heterodon nasicus
Also called Plains hognose snake, Prairie hognose snake, Blow snake, Bluffer, Spoonbill snake
From North American plains: from southern Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) through the central United States to northern Mexico. Favours sandy or gravelly ground in prairies, floodplains, scrub and semi-desert.123
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Stout body with keeled scales and an upturned snout
A short, chunky snake with a distinctive turned-up nose scale that it uses like a little shovel. Wild-type animals are greyish-brown or olive with rows of darker blotches, a pale head with dark bands, and a dark underside to the tail.21
Personality what they are like
Generally docile. When it feels threatened it puts on a big show, flattening its neck like a cobra, hissing and making closed-mouth mock strikes, and may finally flip over and play dead. Real defensive bites are very uncommon.124
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Active around dawn and dusk and a keen burrower. A deep, diggable substrate and room to move around are important. Wild snakes rest underground through the winter.25
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Provide a humid hide around sheds. Short, calm handling sessions suit it best, and owners should expect occasional dramatic bluff displays.64
Home where they are happiest
Minimum enclosure for an adult male about 76 x 33 x 33 cm (20 gallon), for an adult female about 91 x 46 x 41 cm (40 gallon); bigger is better. Basking zone 32-35 °C, mid-range 24-29 °C, nights not below 16 °C. Humidity 30-50%.56
Food basics what goes in the bowl
In the wild mostly toads, plus frogs, lizards, reptile eggs and occasionally rodents. In captivity a varied whole-prey diet works well, for example chicks, quail, frozen-thawed lizards or reptile-based sausages. Juveniles eat every 4-7 days, adults every 1-2 weeks.217
Company who they like around
Solitary in the wild except when breeding; best kept one per enclosure.25
The story where it all began
Baird and Girard described the western hognose in 1852 from specimens taken along the Rio Grande in Texas. Its compact size and expressive behaviour made it a favourite in herpetoculture, where breeders have since produced well over 50 colour morphs.31
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
When bluffing fails it rolls over, opens its mouth and plays dead, sometimes flipping back over if turned right-side up.1
- 2
The upturned snout is a digging tool that makes it an expert burrower.1
- 3
It has an unusually large adrenal gland, thought to help it cope with the toxins of the toads it eats.2
- 4
Its colouring and blotches resemble a small rattlesnake, which may help deter predators.1
Recognised by the official bits
- The Reptile Database
- Accepted species Heterodon nasicus Baird & Girard, 1852, with subspecies nasicus and gloydi.3
- IUCN Red List (as reported by Animal Diversity Web)
- Least Concern.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Western Hognose Snake. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Fresh waterevery day
- Temperature checkCheck the warm and cool endsevery day
- Humidity checkevery 2 days
- Spot cleanevery 2 days
- FeedingHow often depends on species, age and sizevaries
- Shed checkNote each shed in the diary; a complete shed is a good signvaries
- Weigh inevery month
- Full cleanevery month
- Vet check-upFind a vet who sees exotic petsevery year
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Western Hognose Snake?
Juveniles should be fed every 4-7 days, while adults can be fed every 1-2 weeks. Furry Diary's starting plan suggests feeding based on the species, age, and size of your snake, so adjust as needed.217 Furry Diary plan
What does a Western Hognose Snake eat, and what should it never eat?
In captivity, a varied whole-prey diet works well, such as chicks, quail, frozen-thawed lizards, or reptile-based sausages. Never feed it live prey that could injure it, and avoid any foods not listed in the provided sources.217
How much space does a Western Hognose Snake need?
A minimum enclosure for an adult male is about 76 x 33 x 33 cm (20 gallon), and for an adult female about 91 x 46 x 41 cm (40 gallon); bigger is always better. This gives them room to burrow and move around.56
What temperature, light or water does a Western Hognose Snake need?
Provide a basking zone of 32-35 °C, a mid-range of 24-29 °C, and nights not below 16 °C, with humidity at 30-50%. Always have fresh water available, and check temperatures daily as per Furry Diary's plan.56 Furry Diary plan
How often should I clean a Western Hognose Snake's home?
Spot clean every 2 days and do a full clean every 30 days, as suggested in Furry Diary's starting plan. This keeps the enclosure fresh and healthy. Furry Diary plan
Can a Western Hognose Snake live with others?
Western Hognose Snakes are solitary in the wild except when breeding, so it's best to keep one per enclosure. They do not need company.25
How long does a Western Hognose Snake live?
They can live between 10 and 20 years with proper care. This is a long-term commitment.24
Can I handle a Western Hognose Snake?
Yes, with short, calm handling sessions, as they are generally docile. They may put on dramatic bluff displays like hissing or playing dead, but real bites are very uncommon.1246
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Western hognose snake - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for names, range, size, behaviour, diet, morphs, fun facts
- Heterodon nasicus - Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.orgused for range, habitat, length, weight, lifespan, colour, behaviour, diet, conservation
- Heterodon nasicus - The Reptile Database reptile-database.reptarium.czused for accepted name, distribution, subspecies, history
- Hognose Snake Care Guide - ReptiFiles reptifiles.comused for lifespan, temperament, morphs
- Hognose Snake Enclosure Size - ReptiFiles reptifiles.comused for enclosure size, cohabitation
- Hognose Temperatures, Humidity and Lighting - ReptiFiles reptifiles.comused for temperatures, humidity
- What Do Hognose Snakes Eat - ReptiFiles reptifiles.comused for diet, feeding frequency
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.