Description:
Scientific name: Heterodon simus
Life span: 5-9 years
The southeastern region of the United States is home to the harmless Southern hog-nosed snake. It has a narrow neck, a sharply upturned snout, and is small but hefty. The dorsal color pattern consists of a conspicuous row of dark blotches that alternate with smaller blotches on the flanks over a light brown, yellowish, grayish, or reddish ground color. In youngsters, the belly is noticeably darker in color than the underside of the tail. The underside of an old snake typically turns pale white.
Native Region/Habitat
In the coastal plain of the southeastern United States, from North Carolina south to Lake Okeechobee in Florida and west to Mississippi, the Southern hognose snake can be found. Fields, dry river floodplains, open sandy areas, and wire grass flatwoods are all places where Heterodon simus can be found.
Behavior:
The majority of the southern hognose snake’s threat display is essentially an act to appear more hostile than it actually is. Unless physically threatened, they don’t often bite. When around people, the southern hognose snake can become a little defensive and frightened. When threatened, it will hiss, stretch its skin around the head to make it appear larger, and make mock bites, though it rarely actually does. If everything else fails, it might start rolling over and opening its mouth while pretending to be dead. Although this species poses no real threat, it is nevertheless advisable to leave snakes alone unless you have an urgent necessity to approach one. Almost everyone who bites them is doing so after handling their favourite meals, which is extremely common. Thankfully, with enough time and effort, they can get used to people and become tame.
Care As a pet/In captivity:
The southern hognose is thought to be relatively carefree and non-aggressive. They need a 20-gallon tank with a tight-fitting lid, a few places to hide, and mud or sand on the bottom to dig about in. The temperature of the tank’s basking region should be set between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, while the colder side should be kept at a minimum of 70 degrees. The humidity level should be between 40 and 70 percent. It’s not required to have UVB light on a 12-hour cycle, but it can encourage your snake to make more vitamin D. Nutrition is arguably the most challenging part of their treatment. If required, they might become oblivious to the frozen rodents, but if you can locate a place that offers frogs, toads, or lizards as food, that would be preferable.
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