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Posted by SPReptile on April 08, 2003 at 20:45:16:
In Reply to: Question for breeders or owners of many hogs..... posted by repzoo44 on April 08, 2003 at 12:20:46:
I can't speak for everyone, but in my experience over the last few years, I've lost a few babies and fewer adults. In 2001, for instance, Nine females laid eggs. 136 total. Of these, 121 hatched. About 90% did not eat for 6 wks. Then of those babies in the first four months I lost about 10 animals. Note: this was after I tried every food source I knew. At 4 months I had 40 animals Which ate only rosyred goldfish. But at 5 months I had about 75 babies eating goldfish that would not eat rodents to save thier lives. By january, 20 animals were still problematic feeders and were sold as such for practically nothing. I kept back 12 babies which I still have today. One of them nearly died last year- He just stopped feeding. Luckily though I tried feeding him a Side-blotch lizard and his life was spared but at much of a time expense to me for he ate lizards for several months before switching to toad scented pinks. I have had feeding problems just this year with an animal that ate unscented fuzzies last year. He has only eaten a scented fuzzie and today he rather quickly took from my hand a ''snake sausage'' a friend let me have. I have an albino male that did the same thing last week. He touched nothing, but when the sausage was put in he swallowed it within 30 seconds of me putting it in. But as far as adults, of the nearly 200 animals I have kept in the last few years I've only lost 3 animals. So to answer your question, Yes, We who choose to keep this remarkable snake also accept the fact that it can be rather frustrating to feed at times and heartaching when we lose one. I wish you the best of luck in your hognose endeavor for though hard at times, this is by far the most rewarding herp species I've ever worked with.
SPReptile
:Does anyone happen to know the mortality rate of captive westerns, particularly as babies but also adults. My little male died last night and this is very troubling to me b/c its the second one ive lost in the past year. Both were babies that just refused to eat. The female, who is kept in an identical setup to the male, is thriving and eats everything put in with her. I know that hogs can be difficult but im just curious to get some feedback from people who have experience with them. Thanks for responding. EP
