firststrike: Tri Colour Hognose Care Sheet
Description: Tri Coloured Hognose have a cute turned up nose, short stout body, and normally 3 colours(black, orange, white). They have different morphs from regular, jungle pattern, high contrast and melanistic in colour. They are rear fanged, and have a minor venom, similar to bee stings. Temperament: Tri Colour are very easy going and even tempered. They are easy to handle and don’t mind being out of there enclosure. They do have a tendency to fake attack and bit when they feel threatened. They are even known to play dead, in hopes of avoiding being eaten by predators. This is all just a threat and if you just ignore they are easy to pick up. Tri Colour Hognose don’t normally bit for defence or if they feel threatened, but if they do it is most likely do to mistaking you for prey during feeding. They have very mild venom that for humans is typically harmless. The venom has been known to cause no reaction, to mild swelling and numbness, to sever swelling and pain that can last up to 3-5 days. In the sever cases the swelling can be painful and may even cause what feels like bruising once the swelling goes away. To avoid being bitten always use tongs and/or leather gloves during feeding.
Housing: 20 gal tank or tub is ideal, low in height. Under tank heat pad, large water bowl for drinking and bathing, low branches and décor(leaves, foliage). Suitable substrates are newspaper, reptile carpet, and paper towel, you can shred the paper to make it more ideal for borrowing and digging. We recommend feeding inside their enclosure, so no using loose substrate please. No sand, cedar, aspen, etc… Tri Colour need around 22-24 Celsius on the cold side and 28-29 on the hot side. Humidity needs to be around 50% on a regular bases and increased to 80% plus during shedding.
Feeding: In captivity Tri’s eat rodents and don’t really have a preference between mice, rats or ASF. We recommend feeding only frozen thawed rodents as it is safer for your snake. If your hognose refuses to eat, it could be due to: full, not hungry, over feeding, breeding season, burmation, unhappy with their enclosure, temperature, humidity, and/or not feeling well(sick). Always check you temperature and humidity inside enclosure to ensure correct environment.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact us.
Written by: Brandy Johnstone
