Tri-color Hognose Caresheet
TRI-COLOR HOGNOSE CARESHEET
LATIN NAME COMMON NAME
Lystrophis pulcher Tri-colored Hognose
ORIGIN
SIZE:
Hatchlings start out at about 4 to 8 grams in weight and about 7 inches long. Both sexes grow on average to between 18 & 24 inches. Females tend to be a little longer than males and are much heavier. A full grown adult female can easily exceed 500 grams in weight.
FOOD:
Frogs, fish, reptiles & small rodents are the natural food of the tri-colored hognose. Some hatchlings may need a little work to take pink mice. They often need starting off on tiny pinkies scented with fish or toad, I have had good success with green tree frog scenting. Once started onto pinks, there is no stopping them, they have very good appetites and will happily feed every 3 to 5 days.
Provide your snake with a temperature gradient from the low 70’s to mid 80's degrees F. Many keepers also feel it is helpful to provide a small nighttime drop of about 5 to 10 degrees.
House adults in separate cages with about 24” X 18” of floor space on 2 to 3 inches of dust free wood shavings with a humidity box filled with damp moss, the humidity box is vital all year not just at egg laying. Males and females should only put together for mating.
BREEDING:
No brumation is necessary, but a drop of 5 to 10 degrees for 4 to 6 weeks is enough to induce mating. Egg laying takes place 5 to 7 weeks later with 5 to 12 eggs being laid. Multiple clutches are often laid from one mating, and females will often feed up to a week before laying and as often as the day after. Eggs take around 10 weeks to hatch at 80-82 degrees F.
VENOM?:
Tri-colored Hogs are rear-fanged snakes, however they are very docile and apart from the rare head butt and a consistent tail rattle, they are totally non-aggressive in nature. Due to its good nature and tiny mouth, bites have rarely been reported and usually result in a mild reaction.