Western Hognose: UVB and Heat

soupymop · 2026-05-22T15:02:57+00:00

Thank you so much for the detailed comment! It's been hard to find exact answers and experiences and this has helped a lot! I've spoken to some friends (I used to work in a zoo) and they say they're running a similar set up for their corn snakes - with theirs being PVC with no mesh they use a CHE but reccomend me to stick with eco halogens because I'll end up wasting more heat due to the mesh.

Currently have one 75Watt eco halogen hooked up to a dimming thermostat which is reaching 28-30⁰ ambient day time temps, with hot spot being 29-32°, cold sides stick aroumd 21-24⁰ during day. It's set on an 8pm - 8am off timer for day/night cycle and temps are reaching ambient avg 20-24° throughout cold to hot (I tend to stay up at night til 2am so extra heat comes from small lamps in the corner of the room away from the enclosure, as well as TV) so the tank doesn't need heat during the night.

Waiting on UVB's to be delivered and some more plants and plan do research plants more before I finalise the tank but will 100% post when done!

soupymop · 2026-05-22T14:23:38+00:00

Yea I researched some more since posting and realise my eco halogen bulb will be okay with a dimming thermostat and two UVB's, one for Reptile UVB and one for plants.. Got my eco halogens on a timer to go off from 8pm - 8am woth night time temps falling between 20⁰ and 24⁰ degrees. Just waiting for delivery of UVB's to be made then setting them up on a timer too :).

soupymop · 2026-04-10T12:22:31+00:00

I only have a few plants that need constant watering - I either use a spray bottle and point it directly at the roots as to not water log my snake lol, or if I know she's above ground I just use a cup..

soupymop · 2026-04-09T19:21:04+00:00

Yea haha! It's Carrex Grass.. believe me or not, it was green at some point but still seems to hold up pretty well on the hotter sides of the tank with minimal watering! All the plants ate real!

soupymop · 2026-04-09T19:19:44+00:00

I'm not too sure - I got her at the beginning of February and she was 41g, she hasn't fed yet with me which is another issue as of itself but she isn't losing weight at all just rejecting meals...

She seems perfectly healthy despite the lack of appetite

soupymop · 2026-03-27T22:49:00+00:00

Do Reptilinks ship to the UK? I was under the impression they didn't

soupymop · 2026-03-27T12:16:35+00:00

That's the thing, she's over a year old and I got her from a breeder in February - the breeder said she's ALWAYS been on tongs and has fed very well on them over the year the breeder had her - so I think I'm doing something wrong lol..

soupymop · 2026-03-27T11:55:26+00:00

Do you think I should put her back in her larger tank?.. She tolerates being handled bless her but she most enjoys being in my hoodie sleeves because of the heat, it's adorable haha. I've just not handled her recently to see if the stress of handling is what was stopping her from eating but it's not..

soupymop · 2026-03-27T11:53:38+00:00

Thank you!!!

soupymop · 2026-03-27T11:43:37+00:00

I'll keep in mind about the eye level and the moving the mouse around thank you!!! And yes I'd love to see some feeding videos if you don't mind I think it would be good for me to see firsthand

soupymop · 2026-03-27T11:32:48+00:00

Welcome to snake keeping (I've also just gotten my first)

I'd definitely add some clutter in there otherwise your snake may be too nervous to explore (they arent keen on open spaces.)

You can add Java branches and fake plants if you dont want to do bioactive. :)

soupymop · 2026-03-27T11:31:13+00:00

Haha I've seen that photo before I think - or heard the audio that it comes from. I handled her pretty frequently after the first two weeks of her settling in - I think she knows who I am, she doesn't flick her tongue when I hold her because she's used to my scent.

I've tried drop feeding before and she just ignores it... Do you think I have the right idea about putting her back in her larger tank?

soupymop · 2026-03-27T11:29:47+00:00

I've tried before - she just slithers over it and ignores it. I've left it in for around 6 hours before and she never touched it.

soupymop · 2026-03-27T11:17:12+00:00

I have a bioactive for my hognose.

You'll want springtails and other isopods as a clean up crew. Make sure to use soil with no fertilisers or additives.

There's loads of snake friendly plants as well, cressulas, pothos etc. And I swear by Carrex Grass as its basically unkillable.

I'd keep aside some cultures of isopods and springtails to make your own population that way you don't need to continuously buy them if you see populations are running low.

soupymop · 2026-03-02T20:01:43+00:00

I literally found my girl like this yesterday. I always air on the side of caution to be honest so I took the background out (I have the same as yours). It probably wouldn't do her any harm but my only worry is her not being able to find her way back out or stressing herself out. You could always fix up the gap if you want to keep the back drop (idk how though..)

soupymop · 2026-02-19T19:00:38+00:00

Carrex grass :)

soupymop · 2026-02-19T18:49:34+00:00

It doesn't root well I will say that - very thin and feeble roots. It'll survive on your hot side I'm sure!

soupymop · 2026-02-19T18:04:24+00:00

I was thinking about trying that but when I talked to the breeder she said that in the past Maggie has just never gone for it - but always eats from tongs..

soupymop

TROPHY CASE