Hoggy not feeding

[Seere121]

Hello, Two weeks or so ago I got a really cute western hognose snake at a reptile show in Puyallup. I was told that he was pinkie trained and after letting him settle into his new inclosure for about 5 days I offered him a pink and he did his typical "Im a big, bad cobra-puff adder-rattlesnake" and made plenty of fake strikes at the pink but wouldn't bite it. Let him calm down another day or two and tried again with the same results, and He did the same thing today during my routine feeding of all my other guests. I've read that they are frog eaters so I'm gonna try that "IF" I can find any frogs this time of year but other than that, or force feeding, which I don't want to do, would there be anything else that I could try with him?

[Lori P]

I'm having trouble with my hoggies too. So I'll be reading this thread for ideas... I've been told they are garbage disposals, should just eat anything in front of them, but mine are very on and off feeders. Really finicky. Good luck with your guy, wish I had advice!

[drache]

have you tried leaving him alone with his food?
my hog has times when he's a shy eater

[Garter_Gertie]

Did you get an understanding from the sales person if your Hoggy was "trained" on live or f/t pinkies? And what did you offer your Hoggie? Did you offer him a f/t pinkie, or a live one?

Do you know if your Hoggy is captive bred (CB) or wild caught (WC)? If WC, do you know how long the sales person had the snake and his history of eating? Do you know how old the snake is?

Frogs are way more important to the health of an Eastern Hognose. Westerns can thrive on pinkies. It's not what you're presenting to him to eat, but what he's been used to based on captive bred, how long the 'breeder' accustomed to pinkies; or if he's wild caught.

Hope this helps. Please don't be intimidated. There are many people here than can help you!

Oh! And WELCOME! Nice to have you join us!

[Garter_Gertie]

I'm having trouble with my hoggies too. So I'll be reading this thread for ideas... I've been told they are garbage disposals, should just eat anything in front of them, but mine are very on and off feeders. Really finicky. Good luck with your guy, wish I had advice!

Lori, I've never heard from anyone that breeds and has an abundant amount of Hoggies that they're "garbage disposals."

But the opposite. Hoggies will go off feed if you look at them the wrong way. They are VERY finicky eaters. They can go on f/t for, gosh... I don't know how long, and then turn that DARLING, PRECIOUS, KISSABLE Hoggy nose up and won't eat anything but live.

They're neurotic and basket cases. BUT I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lori P]

Hmmmm, Gertie, you sound like the perfect hoggy mom to me....

[Garter_Gertie]

Lori, you're effin' Goofy! I'm not perfect in any way, shape or form.

But, I did have to do crash course on Hoggies when I was 'expecting' - just like I did with garters.

Too, Niizh and Kenabec came from a Hoggy breeder and he's in my back pocket.

I've just spent a lot of time reading, picking brains, reading... And then, yeah, I've put my own spin on things.

But... Hoggies are turds when it comes to eating. Little jerks.

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That sweet nose - that I could just bite off ittiz SO CUTE - and their 'personalities' more than makes up for them being buttheads about eating.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A HOGGY!!!!!!!!!!

[Lori P]

You know who just told me they are garbage disposals? The Superconda guy at the expo. Maybe just HIS are huge eaters.

[Garter_Gertie]

Deleted. Please see below.

[Garter_Gertie]

Oh.

Well.

Ah.

Again, I have to say, what inbreeding had to occur with the "Acondas" that allowed - SO QUICKLY - the Supers? Why is NO ONE talking abut the 100% hets?

This is ONLY my OPINION, but the Super guy is no better than Justin Mitcham and has decided to put himself in a pissing and shouting match with aforementioned *******.

So, I'd not listen to ANYTHING that guy had to say and would be very leery of him.

Just my two cents, which is worth ****.