Western Hognose Playing Dead Question

[Tcollector]

I was about to get a red tail boa but I just dont want to take a chance with having no space . So I ordered a 5" baby western hognose. I know that when you get a new snake you should let it get use to its enclosure for about a week. When these play dead when you go to handle them is it okay to pick it up if its doing that?:?

 

[JColt]

Tame one's won't do that. In fact most captive bred wont

 

[Tcollector]

I thought they did that as hatchlings?

 

[JColt]

Of the one's I had, I never had one do that. Just a bunch of hissing and coil hiding

 

[Devil'sRival]

I have one that's around 7" and he has never played dead during the 8 months I've had him. He was bought as a cb. He hasn't hissed at me or anything like that either. The only problem I had was getting him to eat pinkie mice. He went 6 months refusing to eat but now he takes them everytime. Good luck with your new hognose.

 

[pitbulllady]

I've never seen a Western Hog play dead, and they don't have nearly as impressive a hood as the Easterns, either, but on a positive note, they're much easier to switch over to mice. Many breeders sell CB babies that are already eating pinkies, but unless the breeder guaranteed that the snake is eating rodents, unscented, I wouldn't buy it.

pitbulllady

 

[Tcollector]

Thanks for the replys. I thought allot of them did that though thats why I asked. The one im getting has allready been switched to mice, and I think has allready had 5 feedings with pinkies

 

[secular]

My CB Western hognose has never played dead. She will coil, hiss, puff out her hood, and put on a show if she feels bothered. It works very well on most people, especially those without much exposure to snakes. Not so much on me, since I know she's all bark and no bite.

Enjoy your new pet.