I know how exciting it is to finally bring home your new western hognose snake. They're ridiculously cute, full of personality, and honestly, you probably want to just sit and stare at them for hours — or pick them up and admire that adorable face.
But here’s the thing: as much as you are excited, your new hognose is probably freaking out a little. Everything smells different, the lighting is new, and the ride to your house probably wasn’t their favorite adventure. So while it’s tempting to shower them with attention right away, what they really need is a calm, low-stress environment to settle in.
Here’s what you should do when you bring your new hognose snake home:
Even if your new snake came from a clean, trusted breeder, quarantine is non-negotiable — especially if you already have other reptiles at home. You simply don’t know if your hognose might be carrying something that could pass to your other pets.
Quarantine means housing your new snake in a separate room from your other animals, ideally in a simple, easy-to-monitor setup. I recommend using a plastic tub or enclosure with paper towel substrate. It’s not fancy, but it makes it super easy to spot any unusual poop, urates, or signs of illness.
Want to dive deeper into this topic? I have a full post on How to Quarantine a New Snake (and Why It Matters).
I get it. It’s HARD not to reach in and cuddle your new noodle friend. But the best thing you can do in the first week or two is… absolutely nothing.
Let your snake get used to their new home without the added stress of being picked up. Moving homes is a big deal, and hognoses can be shy eaters to begin with. If you handle too soon, you might delay their ability to feel safe enough to eat or explore.
Once your snake has had a few stress-free days and has eaten at least once, then you can start short handling sessions and build from there.
Even if your new hognose looks perfectly healthy, it’s smart to act like they might be carrying something — just in case. That means:
Cross-contamination happens more easily than you'd think, and it's better to be safe than sorry.
It might feel wrong to not feed your new snake right away, but giving them a meal too early is usually a mistake. Stress can suppress appetite, and offering food too soon can lead to a refusal — or worse, the snake associating feeding with a stressful environment.
For most healthy juvenile or adult hognoses (say, 30g+), waiting 7–10 days before the first feeding attempt is perfectly fine. If your snake is a tiny hatchling or underweight, use your judgment — but even then, a week is usually okay.
When you do offer food, place the prey item (frozen/thawed, not live!) in the enclosure and leave your snake alone. Don’t hover or poke. Check back later. If it didn’t eat, remove the prey and wait another week before trying again. And still — no handling until it eats.
Keep the setup simple during quarantine. Don’t stress your snake out with a huge enclosure full of hides and décor. One warm hide, one cool hide, a water bowl, and paper towels are enough.
Watch your temps. Make sure your warm side is around 85 to 90 °F (29-32 °C) and the cool side is in the low 70s (21-24 °C). Hognoses thrive when they can thermoregulate properly.
Log everything. Keep a record of feeding attempts, poop, shed cycles, and behavior changes. It’s useful for spotting issues early.
Bringing home a new western hognose snake is awesome — but it’s also a critical time to do things right. With a bit of patience and care, you’ll set the foundation for a healthy, happy, and confident snake that’ll thrive with you for years to come.
Got questions? Drop them in the comments or reach out on Instagram — I'm always happy to talk hognoses!
And as always - stay happy, stay curious, and give your hoggie a gentle boop from me.
No Comment! Be the first one.