Forest & Tropical Hognose Snakes Starter Buying Guide

A hognose snake enclosure should be large enough to allow for a proper thermoregulatory gradient and have at least 1.5 square feet of floor space for each foot of the snake's length, but bigger is always better!

We recommend a starter minimum 2’x2’x2’ PVC enclosure for hognose snakes under 36”. However, eastern adult females are significantly larger than males. If your snake is longer than 36” you will need a minimum 36”x18”x16” enclosure, preferably larger.

For a tricolor, southern, or male eastern hognose:

For a female eastern or any 36”+ hognose:

Hognose snakes are healthiest and happiest when they are housed on a loose soil substrate, at least 3-6” deep to facilitate fossorial (burrowing) behavior and maintain humidity. To fill a 2’x2’x2’ we recommend at least 30 quarts of Josh's Frogs Coco Select.

For larger enclosures, just add ~8 quarts per square foot of floorspace. So a 48”x24”x16” will need at least 60 quarts of substrate.

A hognose snake enclosure should have an overhead heat source, an appropriate UVB lamp, and tools to monitor and control these elements.

Heat Source

Halogen flood bulbs are an ideal source of IR-A and IR-B radiation needed for healthy thermoregulation. For a 2’x2’x2’ enclosure, we recommend a single 50 watt bulb in a dimmable dome fixture so you can make small adjustments to find the “sweet spot” for your snake's basking area.

For larger enclosures (36”-48” length), you'll need a cluster of two 50 watt halogens in a reflective combo dome to achieve the appropriate temperature gradient. Plug this fixture into a rheostat dimmer to manually adjust your temperatures.

To automatically maintain temps and reduce risk of overheating, you can also plug your heat source into a thermostat, available in the Deluxe Guide.

UVB Source

A linear T5 HO forest UVB bulb in a reflective fixture is perfect for fossorial hognose snakes. The lamp should span ½ to ⅔ the length of the enclosure and can be placed directly on top of the screen (above mesh) or installed inside (below mesh). To provide the safest and most beneficial UV levels to your hognose, follow these basking distances for all T5 forest UVB bulbs:

- Above mesh: 10-14” above primary basking surface
- Below mesh: 14-18” above primary basking surface

For a 2’x2’x2’ enclosure, we recommend the Arcadia ShadeDweller Kit. However, for a larger 48”x24”x16” enclosure, you'll need a 22” 6% UVB T5 bulb paired with a 24” reflective T5 fixture.

Monitoring & Regulation

1. 2 Gauges: Place each thermometer/hygrometer on opposite sides of the enclosure to monitor the necessary warm-to-cool temperature gradient.
2. Timer: All reptiles should have a healthy circadian schedule: heat and UVB turned on during the day, then everything turned off at night to allow for total darkness and a natural temperature drop (~12hrs/day). This can be best achieved using a simple outlet timer.

Hognose snakes require a variety of specific decor items that are vital for security, health, and enrichment.

Hides

A hognose snake should have at least 2 dedicated hides: one on the warm side (under the heat lamp) and one on the opposite cool side. Place moistened sphagnum moss inside the cool hide to facilitate shedding. The Reptile Basics small hides are perfectly snug for eastern males, tricolors, and southerns. For larger females, select the medium-sized hides instead.

Cork

We recommend adding at least 2 medium to large cork flats for additional hiding spots, enrichment, and a rough surface to rub against while shedding.

Plants

Artificial plants provide shade for UV and heat regulation, ground coverage for better security, and they enhance the appearance of a naturalistic habitat. We recommend choosing at least 2-3 plants for your enclosure.

A complete forest or tropical hognose snake setup should have:

1. A large heavy water dish
2. Tongs for feeding
3. Pump mister for humidity maintenance
4. Calcium and vitamin supplement with low D3 (optional)