western hognose vs. rosey boa?

Rosy boas and hognose snakes are both fine as starter snakes, though they aren't the most common starter snakes. As long as you do careful research you should be fine. I haven't had a hognose but I do have a rosy and they are very mellow as long as they are regularly handled. They do have a pretty strong feeding response, so just make sure you don't handle something that smells like food before handling them. I've heard hognosed snakes make good pets as well.

Rosies have pretty simple care requirements, and have a small adult size so they don't require huge tanks. They are good eaters and are pretty friendly snakes. I think they might be a little bit easier to care for than hognosed snakes because of their basic requirements. They come in several different color varieties, including the black Mexican rosy boa.

One thing I've heard of is that hognosed snakes do have very poor grip so you have to be more careful when handling them than you would a constrictor like a rosy boa.

If you can, try to go to a breeders expo where they will have wide varieties of both species and you can talk to the breeders and handle the snakes before purchasing them. This is probably the best way to decide.

And about the information posted by the previous poster... captive hognosed snakes are used to being handled and don't respond by playing dead or spreading hoods. So you wouldn't have to worry about that at all. Just make sure it's a western hognose and not an eastern (easterns don't eat mice) and you'll be fine if you choose this snake.

Actually, the best first time snake would be a cornsnake, but I hear the rosy boas are extremely docile too. I am not sure about the hognose, but why not go to the pet store and let them have you handle each type to see what you like best. Good luck!

Here is some info on the hognose, which doesnt sound too appealing, especially the foul musk or fecal matter, yuck!:

When threatened, hognose snakes will flatten their necks and raise their heads off the ground, not unlike a cobra, and hiss. They may sometimes feign strikes, but are not apt to bite. This behaviour has earned them several nicknames, such as "puff adder", "blowing adder", "flathead", "spreadhead", "spreading adder" or "hissing adder". Note, though, the nickname "puff adder" is only a nickname, and is not scientifically correct. There is a highly venomous viper from Africa called the puff adder, Bitis arietans.

If this threat display does not work to deter a would-be predator, hognose snakes will often roll onto their back and play dead, going so far as to emit a foul musk and fecal matter from their cloaca and let their tongue hang out of their mouth, sometimes accompanied by small droplets of blood. If they are rolled upright while in this state, they will often roll back as if insisting they really are dead. It has been observed that the snake, while appearing to be dead, will still watch the animal that caused the death pose. The snake will 'resurrect' sooner if the threat is looking away from it than if the threat is looking at the snake.[1]

I would recommend you get a kingsnake or cornsnake as your first snake, they stay relatively small and are a breeze to care for compared to a ball, hog, or KSB. Kenyan Sand Boas do require a rather extreme setup heat wise, and you have to keep the humidity pretty low as well. KSB are burrowers some keepers keep them in sand, just make sure you do not feed them on sand due to health risks, impaction and the such. males will never usually need bigger than a 10 gallon tank too. they stay fairly small. Ball pythons are pretty snakes, known to be a bit snappy but i have never encountered one that was even the least bit aggressive. They do require a relative humidity of %60-%75 with an ambient temp of 82-85 and a basking spot at 90 they will reach an adult length of about 4-6 feet. Hognose snakes require a cage with a cool end in the high 70s and 80-82 on the hot end. the minimum cage size for an adult hognose snake is 10 gallons as well. also you can have them hibernate by cooling them, but if you don't cool them they will not hibernate, hibernation is only required if you want to breed them. hope this helps a little bit, sorry i don't know much about hognosed snakes.

I think neither would be a snake for a beginner. I recommend a corn snake or ball python. I recommend these snakes because they make wonderful starter snakes and I own both. These snakes love being handled and don't mind it. They are also very beautiful and are also easy to breed.

Corn snakes only get to be about 4-5 feet, but usually stay around 3-4. They come in many beautiful colors and they are very sweet. They are not nippy, yet sometimes you run into some that are. They are also great eaters and you can feed them frozen/thawed (F/T) mice. Babies eats pinkie mice which are very small. Getting a baby corn snake would be great for you two. Corn snakes do not require a bunch of items, and are fairly easy to maintain. They are not so expensive, ranging from about $30-$90 dollars for babies. Babies will need only a 10 gallon tank which won't cost you a lot. Adults will need a 40 gallon tank.

Ball pythons are so beautiful and one of the best starter snakes, I am actually holding mine right now and he is just chillin' out. They are very calm and curious snakes. They are not nippy snakes but some tend to get that way from not being handled. They are wonderful eaters, even though some people say they are picky eaters. I don't believe this because mine has never refused a mouse. They get longer than corn snakes, getting between 4-6 feet. Females (in mostly all snakes) get the longest and largest. Some females can get to the 6 foot mark, but usually get between 4-5 while males get between 3-4 feet rarely 5. These snakes cost a little more than corn snakes, getting from $60-$100+. They are worth it though. They will need a 10 gallon as babies, but will need a 40-55 gallon when they get to be adults.

Try one of those snakes. They are just wonderful to have. Please email me if you have any questions about these snakes, any other snakes, other starter snakes, cage set ups, and more. I would be so glad to help you :)

I own both, and I prefer rosies because they are just more fun to handle. My hognose is crazy and nippy, but beautiful. I ve been bitten, I don t really mind, but the rosy is just more enjoyable. Check out Kenyan Sand Boas. I have 3 and they are by far my favorite pets (among snakes). They are such a joy to handle and live with.

Keep in mind that boas get very large, which means more money spent on housing and feeding, but from what I've heard they have good disposition.

Hognose snakes have okay dispositions, especially ifyou handle them nicely and get them when they're small. Although they aren't poisonous, their saliva contains bacteria that can cause a bite to get irritated/infected for a few days.

Comparing the BITES of the two, a bite from a boa would be a thousand times worse, pain wise, and so much harder to get it to release it's hold on you.

How about a carpet python?

I would recommend a rosy boa. Hognose snakes have rear fangs that inject mild venom. If one chews on you, you will not die but, swelling will appear where you have been invenomated and you will feel sick. A hospital visit, from personal experience, is not uncommon.