However, it has been observed that they eat better preys which are still warm. What do the eastern hognose snake eat? Hi! However a hognose snake usually will eat when it is ready. The eastern hognose snakes primarily eat frogs and toads but they will also eat small mammals and birds. Does anyone have any tips on what i can do to transition his food to mice? He eats toads as of now, but for the winter we need to switch him to mice. Eastern hognose snakes (Heterodon platirhinos) are the most-confirmed toad-eaters of the three species in North America. … For Eastern hognose snakes, amphibians are also the prey of choice — usually in the form of frogs. They are One of The Easiest Snake Species To Care For. However, this isn’t the diet they have evolved to eat over millions of years. I own an eastern hognose. The main item sought after by hognose snakes is toads. Hognose snakes are not like other ball pythons which heavily depend on warmth and scent to locate or identify the prey. I'd keep him on toads but they are hard to find in town and no pet store sells toads for feeding purposes. Their irregular color and pattern help them adapt themselves to the multi-colored surroundings. I have tried soaking the pinkie mouse in tuna juice and rubbing it on a frog but still nothing.. please help! Of all the species of hognoses, easterns are the most difficult to get on mice. I have read that certain fish can cause problems but I don't recall the specifics. Wiki User April 29, 2009 3:41PM. Despite their unique appearance, they are occasionally mistaken for various water snakes, as well as rattlesnakes due to their defensive posture. They rarely eat rodents. I always try to avoid force feeding, the time before I only resorted to such a stressful method because she was losing energy and becoming listless; I worried for her life. I know a successful hognose breeder on another site, I could ask his input or see if he'd be willing to pop in here. It has to be strongly scented. I have to catch frogs and toads for it to eat normally. Nor do I plan to. Yes, hognoses (especially Western) have been habituated to a predominantly rodent-based diet in captivity. They are also more visually-dependent compared to other snakes. This week we feed two different hognoses than we did last time- one of which is little but has a HUGE appetite! There are various species of hognose snakes, so the Eastern Hognose can easily be mistaken for other hognoses such as Western Hognoses (common in the pet trade), southern hognoses, and plains hognoses. If your hognose snake goes a few weeks or months without eating it could be do to the temperature of their encasement isn't right. Hognose snakes are more visually-dependent than some other snakes, so you may need to simulate “livelike movement” (just wiggling it around will do) before the snake will strike. I recently adopted an Eastern Hognose snake, but cannot get her to eat. =) Here's a Detailed Hognose Snake Care Guide on How To Set up Their Habitat, and Ensure They're Properly Fed and Cleaned. I purchased a Western Hognose snake about 2 and a half weeks ago and she has yet to eat. When she gets into "food mode", everything becomes potential food. But They Do Have Their Own Special Requirements. If you notice your snake is about to begin shedding, it's sometimes wise to reduce feedings to prevent regurgitation. any advice would be great help. They could be in a shedding cycle and this is causing them to not want to eat. These reptiles simply rely on scent. Garter snake, copperheads, blacks, and greens Brown water snakes. Hes a baby snake, about 5 or 6 months old. Shes still a baby but the breeder told me he had been feeding her 1 pinkie mouse every 4 days but she will not eat a single one with me. Despite this tendency, even they can be persuaded to accept mice. Wiki User March 22, 2016 7:41PM. Dropping a mouse in there will do nothing. The Eastern Hognose snakes are not identical to each other. These snakes do not swallow their prey, they grab and stab them with their teeth and then eat. Eastern Hognose . Most eastern hognose snakekeepers have tried to get them on mice for ease of feeding. They are found in varied colors and patterns. Younger hognose snakes only need to be fed a few times a week, and fully grown hognose snakes do perfectly fine being fed one prey item a week. A. I finally force fed her, which I have been trained to do, but feeding time has come again and she still won't eat. How old are these guys you're getting? Hognose Snakes Are Unique Species with an Upward Directional Nose that Helps Them Tunnel. I recently got it to eat mice, and it took a few months to get it to eat them. Hognose snakes will strike at prey from any direction, so offer prey from 12″ rubber-tipped tweezers. neither are venomous but brown water snakes do bite ,hog nose puff and hiss and then will play dead. That would make a difference in how long I'd keep trying to get then to eat rodents. What does a hognose snake eat? It could be the type of food you are trying to feed them.