Hello I have an adult male western hognose. He has been eating less and less as the winter months progress. Is this normal? I am not brumating him. He is at normal temps.

So far he hasn't eaten in 2 1/2 weeks. Should I be worried?

Keep an eye on his weight, but yes that is completely normal.

2 and a half weeks is nothing to worry about at all...

Hognose and pretty much all species of North American colubrid tend to go off feed during the winter months... They do this in preperation of brumation... Your snakes "wants" to brumate...

There are a few things that can trigger this off... You may think your temps are the same and the basking spot may very well be the same but its the ambient temps that will trigger them to start cycling... Humidity changed and barametics pressures can also be a trigger... Biologically they my just "know" when it is time to brumate... Sort oflike an internal clock thing...

In my opinion, people who keep species that regularly brumate should allow their snakes to brumate... By brumate I do not mean to just stop offering food when the snake stops eating... If they are on heat or in temps over 65 degrees, they will still metabolize but there is no food intake... I mean to actually brumate your your snakes at the proper brumation temps (mid 50's) in complete darkness...

In my opinion, people who keep species that regularly brumate should allow their snakes to brumate... By brumate I do not mean to just stop offering food when the snake stops eating... If they are on heat or in temps over 65 degrees, they will still metabolize but there is no food intake... I mean to actually brumate your your snakes at the proper brumation temps (mid 50's) in complete darkness...

My opinion differs from yours in this. We have kept hundreds of colubrids that we do not brumate if we are not breeding them and have never had any problems with not doing so. Not only the hognose, but all the corns, kings, etc that we have. We only brumate the breeders. The only time that we put anything down that isn't going to be bred is if they go off for a longer period of time and there is weight loss, other then that, nope. And that is an extremely rare occurance for the number of animals that we have.

My male Western Hog went off feed last January for exactly 3 months. I was not brumating him, temps were what they always were. He was out and about like normal, just wouldn't eat. I just kept water in his bowl and offered him some food every few weeks. If he didn't eat, the Corn Snakes got a bonus. He finally accepted a meal last April and has been regular ever since. Never did show any weight loss that I noticed.

He didn't have much of an appetite last week, although he did eat, so he may be getting ready to do it again.

My opinion differs from yours in this. We have kept hundreds of colubrids that we do not brumate if we are not breeding them and have never had any problems with not doing so. Not only the hognose, but all the corns, kings, etc that we have. We only brumate the breeders. The only time that we put anything down that isn't going to be bred is if they go off for a longer period of time and there is weight loss, other then that, nope. And that is an extremely rare occurance for the number of animals that we have.

Hey Sara,
I do not disagree that you can keep them awake through the winter... I do not brumate them until they are through their first year of life, going to breed that season, or go off feed... Same as you... However, I do think that once they prep for brumation "on their own" it is a good idea to brumate them...

The thing also is many people talk about proper care and how things should be done to get them to behave as naturally as possible and will jump down someones neck for not doing certain things for their reptile, but never consider brumating their reptile... It is so easy to do and it gives your reptile a break and also keeps your pockets fatter for a few months... LOL... It has been suggested by biologist and herpetologist that brumation is an important function in the wild and in captivity for reptiles and can actually prolong their life...

Fatty liver disease is also linked with reptiles going off feed while still having an active metabolism... During brumation the metabolism is just about shut down so there is no reason for fat to be mobilized in the bloodstream and dumped in the liver in any accumulative amounts... Not that a fatty liver is generally fatal in reptiles, (most have a naturally fatty liver) but it is just something to consider...

My male Western Hog went off feed last January for exactly 3 months. I was not brumating him, temps were what they always were. He was out and about like normal, just wouldn't eat. I just kept water in his bowl and offered him some food every few weeks. If he didn't eat, the Corn Snakes got a bonus. He finally accepted a meal last April and has been regular ever since. Never did show any weight loss that I noticed.

He didn't have much of an appetite last week, although he did eat, so he may be getting ready to do it again.

Interesting. As long as he's healthy I'm ok with it. There is a funny thing I noticed though. At this point when he's not eating it seems he hisses and flattens out more. When I pick him up he doesn't bite though. Maybe he really wants to be put down?

Hey guys my hoggie has been off feed for over a month now. He made a little poop I believe. Is this even possible?

Hey guys my hoggie has been off feed for over a month now. He made a little poop I believe. Is this even possible?

What does the poop look like exactly??? Could just be urates...

You might be right Gregg. It's got one little spot of brown then mostly liquid.