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ReptileTerrestrialIntermediate
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Western Hognose Snake (Swiss Chocolate)
Heterodon nasicus "Swiss Chocolate"
Morph Swiss Chocolate. The dramatic 'cobra' of the prairies. Famous for its shovel-shaped snout ('pig nose') used for digging, it is a diurnal terrestrial colubrid that feigns theatrical cobra-like attacks or spectacular false deaths (thanatosis) if frightened. It requires peculiar husbandry due to its mild venom (rear-fanged) and specialized diet (in the wild, it almost exclusively eats toads).
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Colubridae
Subfamily:Dipsadinae
Genus:Heterodon
Species:Heterodon nasicus "Swiss Chocolate"
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
30 - 50 %
Day temperature
21 - 35 °C
Night temperature
18 - 24 °C
Adult size
154 cm
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographic Origin and Habitat: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about geographic origin and habitat for Heterodon nasicus "Swiss Chocolate". Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Taxonomy and Genetics: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about taxonomy and genetics for Heterodon nasicus "Swiss Chocolate". Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Behaviour and Habits: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about behaviour and habits for Heterodon nasicus "Swiss Chocolate". Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about morphology and sexual dimorphism for Heterodon nasicus "Swiss Chocolate". Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Fossorial terrestrial hunters. They require horizontal terrariums (e.g. 36x18 inches for an adult female). Height is irrelevant as they almost never climb. THE SUBSTRATE IS CRITICAL: they need at least 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) of a diggable layer (dust-free Aspen wood shavings, or a mix of dry sand and topsoil). The snake will spend its days 'swimming' through the bedding, creating complex tunnel systems. Strictly avoid wet coco coir, which will lead to immediate respiratory infections.
Lighting and Heating: Lovers of dry, bright sun. Strict thermal gradients: Cool side at 72-77°F (22-25°C) and a Hot Basking spot (under a halogen heat lamp) touching 90-93°F (32-34°C). They often partially emerge from the sand (leaving only their head and neck out) under the hot spotlight to thermoregulate. A 5% UVB lamp is highly recommended to stimulate diurnal activity and natural behaviors.
Humidity and Hydration: DRY environments. Humidity should sit between 30% and 50%, normal central-heated house values. NEVER mist the terrarium. Provide a small water bowl in the cool corner, narrow enough to prevent the snake from getting in to soak, otherwise evaporation will dangerously raise humidity causing severe dermatitis (Scale Rot).
Feeding and Supplementation: THE REAL CHALLENGE. In the wild, they are specialized Toad eaters (their rear fangs are specifically adapted to 'pop' and deflate toads that puff up with air for defense). In captivity, they must be converted to thawed mice. Babies are infamous for dramatic 'hunger strikes' if they don't smell amphibians (Scenting): breeders often have to rub the thawed pinky mouse on dead frogs, or canned tuna/hard-boiled eggs, to trick them into accepting it. Adults eat mice every 7-10 days.
Compatibility: Solitary and cannibalistic at a young age. Keep strictly separated. During mating, the massive female might occasionally try to swallow the microscopic male if not abundantly fed beforehand.
Health and Common Diseases: VENOM WARNING: Although not lethal, a prolonged, 'chewing' feeding bite where the rear-fangs successfully inoculate the saliva/venom will cause the keeper's hand to suffer severe swelling, throbbing itching, joint pain, and blistering erythema lasting for days (though true anaphylaxis is rare). Scale Rot: a ventral bacterial infection manifesting as bloody brown scabs if the substrate under the water bowl is left constantly wet and soiled.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
This species originates from: Nord America.
Origin
Selective breeding and cultivarsNorth America
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 154 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 154 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 154 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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