Opinions on Western Hognose vs Kenyan Sand Boas?

[xStaticSnow]

Hello I'm preparing to get a new snake

Of course I've considered another corn, but seeing as I don't have the space for a ton of animals I figure I should try to get some new snakes now to test the waters and see which animals I enjoy having around the most.

I'm definitely leaning towards a smaller animal (def not larger than a corn!) and while ball python has come to mind a couple times, they just don't hold my interest as well as other snakes!

I've been searching around for small, tame snake species that aren't too difficult to care for and my favorites so far are the western hognose, and sand boas. I've found that by going through breeders both tend to be similarly priced (although I keep finding normal sand boas for next to nothing!) I would like to get a juvenile at first because I have a spare 10g and it would be easier for me to wait a few months before buying a new 20 or 40g.

Temperament wise, both seem pretty mellow? The hognose seems like it might be a little more aggressive but probably depends on the individual..

What do other people here recommend? Do you own one of these species? Both?

Also, I'm trying to decide on gender.. I know the females are much larger than the males in both of these species, but the males can be a little harder to feed and tend to go off food a lot. Are there any problems with females that would make a male a better choice?

If I were to get a juvenile of either of these species *approximately* how long would I be able to wait before my 10g became too small?

Thanks!

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

I'd say sand boa. Hognose IS venemous, mildly, but who's to say you aren't allergic and a bite with venom in it might kill you? Always a chance with them. There's also the fact that they normally eat toads and the like, so they can be hard to get feeding, but I'm sure you could find a breeder than starts their's on mice.

The sand boa will also stay at a bit smaller, though pudgier. I also believe they're generally less flightly than hognoses.

 

[Snakewhisperer]

Hognose can be difficult to get onto mice, but most reputable breeders do. Sand boas naturally ambush from under the sand, so they can be difficult to get onto pre-killed, mine will not take pre-killed. Also, the venom of hogs are in the toad poppers way in the back of the mouth,they have to chew to inject it into humans, and their defense is playing dead, so odds of having problems are nearly none. I've only seen it effect someone once, after he left the snake on for 30 minutes.

 

[Nanci]

Can you go to a reptile show and handle some, and see which you like? I'd also suggest looking at Rosy Boas. Mine, Noah, is four years old, I think, about 600 grams, but short and stocky! Super tame, has never bit or even rattled, really cool and chill to handle, extremely reliable feeder!!

 

[Nanci]

A tri-color hoggie is also something you might want to look at. A very small adult snake.

 

[Snakewhisperer]

Super tame, has never bit or even rattled

I've never seen a boa tail rattle, can they?

 

[Outcast]

Personally I would go with a Hognose. They have those cute little faces, and I tend to like difficult things, just ask my wife.... :sidestep:

 

[ScottyK]

Iv'e had both and would second the recommendation for a Rosy Boa. They are a bit more amenable to handling and you will actually see them once in a while...

Hognose Snakes and Sand Boas are as secretive as Milk Snakes without the great colors. In my opinion they are species you get after your collection gets a bit larger and you want something more unusual...

 

[ceduke]

Hognoses, secretive? Nobody ever told either of mine that! They're ALWAYS out and about. I LOVE Hogs. They're so sassy when you go to get them out, then once you've got them they settle right down.

Hognoses are rear-fanged, so the chance of the fangs even coming in to contact with your skin is next to nothing. Also, their venom is incredibly mild. I've taken several bites from my elderly gal over the years and never even thought about it.

Sand boas tend to hang out under the sand and be invisible a lot. My preference is definitely for hogs!

With the new hog morphs getting as popular as they are, finding a snake that's well established on mice is a piece of cake.

 

[ScottyK]

Hognoses, secretive? Nobody ever told either of mine that! They're ALWAYS out and about. I LOVE Hogs. They're so sassy when you go to get them out, then once you've got them they settle right down.

I had a w/c hognose for years when I was growing up, and never saw the thing. Maybe it was a w/c vs captive hatched issue?

Have others found them to be good display species? Mine was kind of cute and now you have me thinking about them again

 

[Ryan_J]

Id go hognose. Mine are active and strong eaters. They have great personality. The only downside to them is I dont find them pleasant to hold.

 

[Nanci]

I've never seen a boa tail rattle, can they?

Good point! Probably not. She's my only boa, what do I know

 

[Triple M]

If you want something nice and you can handle and enjoy I say rosy boa. They are a lot like sand boas but I think I heard they better for pets. I almost bought one of them instead of a corn but all the stores around me didn't have them and I think they were out of season. I just think even the normal colored ones look really cool. :argue:

 

[Tavia]

I've looked into hogs and sand boas when looking for a small snake. Though I don't currently own either, they are both still on my possible list. I'd recommend either a hog or a Rosy boa. My male Mexican Rosy is a super neat snake, probably my favorite. He's the one you can watch TV with and the first one I'd grab for convincing someone afraid of snakes that they aren't bad. I like that the Rosy is a very chill snake but he is often visible in the cage too. The sand boa I handled was pretty calm and slow moving too but she also spent the whole time trying to burrow into my hands and hide. I've heard that they are almost never visible in the cage either. My male Rosy is an adult and only about 18" long, so he could live in a 10g the rest of his life, though he'd probably appreciate the extra space of a 20g. He did just come off a 6 month feeding strike, so that is something to consider. He eats well anytime other than breeding season though.

 

[girlundertherainbow]

I have a western hognose and have had Kenyan Sand boas (and looking for more someday but want certain morphs).
I like both, But I have a variety of snakes. Had I to pick beteen a Hognose and a Kenyan for a next purchase, I'd most defintely pick Hognose. They ar the only snake that, at times, even people who STRONGLY dislike snakes.. find adorable. Captive bred Hognose have no problem eating rodents. If you find a hognose that won't eat rodents keep looking, because there are breeders EVERYWHERE with Hognose that easily take rodents. hognose are pretty active snakes if you have the right enclosure IMHO. Mine is still young, but is on Aspen and among other things, has hanging plastic ivy on the side of the enclosure and she will climb in it as well. She may hide some but she is actively cruising and climbing alot of the time too.
When I had a Kenyan I kept him on Millet which I think worked well as they like to burrow. That is a snake, if they have the right enclosure, you will NOT see. As far as getting them out they are ok to handle, it's common for them to be nippy getting them out as they are geared to strike at vibrations in the substrate but it's nothing. My son was 8 maybe, when he had "his" kenyan..and he did not even mind being bit.
Adult kenyan males may live in a ten gal their entire lives, some females (and possibly males) may get large enough to require a 20 gal long.. after awhile. A baby kenyan could easily be started in someting even smaller than a ten.
Rosy boas I have not had but they are on my list. They seem to be alot more active, and less nippy, again, not that a bite from a Kenyan is even noticable.

 

[Chip]

I've had collections of both and never get out of the hoggies. As Ceduke said, mine also are FAR from secretive! I have about a dozen adults and the females are always out exploring. The males are almost like a whole different species. Much weaker feeding response, agreeable to handle, and usually curl up for a couple of days after a meal. I'll hand any of my males to a child. It is worth noting that males feed pretty sporadically, so you might want to keep a garbage disposal snake in case they aren't interested in food that week.

 

[xStaticSnow]

Okay thanks everyone!

Yesterday I had a chance to hold some baby sand boa who were about 3 months old. I must say I really do love them and I'm not sure why. Just how pudgy they are, and the orange and brown colors are pretty. Plus their scales have a very cool feeling to them.

Hognoses are extremely adorable though, and actually Montana's very first reptile expo is coming up at the end of the month! I'm going to head down their and look at some of the snakes. I'm hoping their will be sand boas and hognose snakes there.

And thanks for all the suggestions of rosy boas I saw one once at petsmart, and while I never thought about buying it, I did notice it was a pretty cute little snake. I'll do some more research and I'm hoping all three of these species will be at the show so I can ask questions and hold the other two species.

I also saw the most adorable Okeetee corn snake baby at the pet shop the other day..

I'm having to hardest time forgetting about him so I may end up with another corn snake after all

 

[xStaticSnow]

Oh I forgot to mention I figured if I got a sand boa I would never see it. That's fine with me as I never actually see my corn snake either lol

It's kind of interesting to me that you can have a tank full of aspen and never even know that there's a snake in there. Plus the way they ambush is awesome to watch I think!

I've seen videos of people using tongs with their F/T mice to pretend the mouse is crawling around, and then the sand boa strikes. Is it uncommon for this to work? Which snake is more difficult to get on F/T? Maybe a rosy boa would just be better all around

I just am in love with the short pudgy little faces of these other snakes. I look at the tri-color hoggie and that's adorable! Any more information of housing and feeding this species?

 

[Nanci]

But what about a cute little mini-boa face???

I held a rosy boa at a show once. I walked past a table selling them and the guy just kind of handed a decent-sized juvie over to me. I was transfixed. I didn't buy one then, but I never forgot the special "squishy" feeling either, and covertly began my search for the perfect rosy. There are a lot of localities, though, and I could never pick my favorite, so my search stalled. Until I saw Noah at Daytona. I'd never seen an anery- and one look at those blue eyes and that was it- that was the one I wanted.

She's been just the sweetest, most trouble-free snake ever.

I'm just saying- hold one before you make the decision!

 

[Tom Tuttle]

I breed both. Both are easy to keep & stay small. It all depends on what you like.