S'N'A Intermediate Series: Episode 25 - Madagascan Giant Hognose Snakes (Leioheterodon)
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- Опубліковано 8 січ 2020
- Snakes ‘N’ Adders Intermediate series
Episode: 25
Madagascan Giant Hognose Snakes
(Genus Leioheterodon)
Giant Hog noses are incredibly popular snakes. Sadly this popularity is not yet translating into captive bred off spring. Sure babies are produced but not as regularly as one may imagine for animals that on the face of it are actually relatively easy to cater for.
Three species are recognised (we will do further taxonomy and histories later)
Madagascan Giant Hognose (Leioheterodon madagascariensis)
Madagascan Speckled Hognose (Leioheterodon geayi)
Madagascan Blonde Hognose (Leioheterodon modestus)
All three species are endemic to Madagascar. The giant Hognose may have been introduced to the Comoros Islands and is also found on some small Islands off Madagascar including Nosy Be.
All tree species occur in the same areas. The Giant Hognose is the most widespread with near the whole island populated including the mountainous regions. This includes elevations up to 1500m or more above sea level. Points to huge levels of adaptability. All four localities used here can be applied to this species.
The speckled Hognose occurs on the Coastal areas of the South West of the island and in the surrounding hills from 0-1000m above sea level. The nearest conurbation we could find for data is Toliara.
The Blonde Hognose has a slightly more confusing distribution with populations on the extreme Southern tip, around Toliara in the South West same as the Speckled, in the centre of the Island just North East of the capital Antananarivo, plus further distributions heading north and on the North Western Coast. The nearest conurbation we could find for data is Mahajanga. Predominantly they seem to occur in dry forest regions or mountainous plateaus.
Despite these distributions all three species are relatively easy to care for in captivity. Even imported animals will feed readily on defrost prey. Granted they may not strike but will hoover up. Confidence grows in time. Full disclosure these are imported animals, occasional examples become available in the UK as captive bred but wild caught or captive hatched are more common place.
The main difference we have found is prey types accepted. Giant hognoses roundly ignore mice as adults but wolfed rats down, where as Blondes and speckled accepted mice readily but were not interested at all in rats of appropriate size.
These snakes are ready feeders and it is easy to create obese animals, care must be taken not to over do it with food. Esspecially when the staple diet is far fattier than in nature.
Visually both Giant Hognoses and Blonde hognoses are identical regardless of sex. Speckled Hognoses (geayi) do vary. Males are darker anteriorly with almost black pigmentation and prominent markings, females lack the darker complexion. We sexed out over 20 animals and after the first 4 we could call the sex visually by colour and was 100% right. Certain texts discuss older animals darkening. We have females here larger than the males approaching 48 inches in length and no dark pigment has formed. This is suggestive of younger animals being born without the darker saddles and males develop over time.
Minimum adult size enclosure for the geayi and modestus would be a 48x18x18 vivarium, preferably a 48x24x24.
madagascariensis would require 60x24x24 preferably.
They are active diggers and enjoy exploring their enclosures. Heating would be best provided from above via a Ceramic heat emitter coupled to a reliable thermostat. Lighting can be provided separately and can take the form of either a led strip or a UVB bulb such as the shade dweller from Arcadia. Substrate potentially for all the animals could either be lignocel, orchid bark or one of the many particulate mixes available from UK wholesalers mixed with coir or top soil to add body. The mix can be relatively dry with either the provision of a dampened hide stuffed with moss or a moss box in which to retire. Shedding in this instance won’t be an issue.
Basking temperatures want to be around 30°C on the platform immediately beneath the heater giving the snake opportunity to move away down to around 24-25°C.
Night Time Basking temperatures can drop safely to 25°C without issue with the cooler end dropping further.
Leioheterodon are egg layers producing litters of up to 20 eggs in exceptionally large females (madagascariensis) - average litters between 6-12 are the norm. Eggs of the giant are large robust eggs that further inflate throughout incubation. a substrate mix of 4:1 at a temperature of 28°C. Hatching occurs from 55-65 days. Babies are volatile and will accept dropped prey they are too threatened by your presence initially to feed from tongs. Some resistance to initial feeding is possible but they soon kick in. Just be patient. - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
Omg that's a beautiful animal man. Only just stumbled across your channel and its awesome to have a britt to watch
I'm looking at a Mad Speckled Hog but wanted info on it first. This is by far the best source with info I've found. Very informative.
The Leiohetrodon Madagascarienis with his nice disposition would make a great addition to anyone's snake family. Lovely and impressive snake.
Excellent!
I always remember the black blood python you had ... wow was the most laid back blood python I had ever seen .. was like a puppy dog. Love your vids ... zero bullshit and very informative. You guys always care about matching your animals to the correct experience keeper and that is a refreshing change .. most people are all about the money but you guys are so not!!! Your channel is growing too. Keep up the good work
I love leiohetrodon I have a pair of madagascariensis. Brilliant snakes am debating whether to add more, I am edging towards doing so
My Madagascariensis is about 8 months now and fast becoming my favourite. Never struck and only hoods up when I try tong feeding. Does have an irritating habit of pooing up the sides of the viv though 😁
Brilliant. I have never seen a speckled hognose before. I think I may have to start researching more because I think I'm smitten. So informative. Had to pause to take note. 😂.
Perfect - so informative, clear and enjoyable. Learning so much with each video.
Thanks albert
Hi Chaz. Happy new year. love this species. needto add some.
Great snakes, and excellent info as always. Wishing you all the best for the coming year.
Thanks for these great video series.
Thanks for the support Casey
Amazing species! Great to see you back!!
Wow I started following you with barely a few hundred subs now looks y'all! 2.2k! Brilliant!
And I appreciate you following us all this time. Cheers brother xx
Thank you for this video! this is very helpful as there isn't much information anywhere on these guys. I picked up a pair of Geayi back in March and cannot seem for the life of me to get them to feed. I have tried frozen thawed mice and frog scented ft mice with no luck. I have not tried live yet, but will as a last resort and if it is recommended. Can you part with any words of advice? (or anyone reading this if you've had success please share thank you!)
Thought about grabbing a farmed pair I've seen recently, it would be so cool to produce.
Absolutely great video there is definitely not a huge amount of info on these beautiful animals and your information was very interesting. I have a adult pair of CB Madagascar Giants that im hoping to breed next year keeping fingers crossed. Anyway I wanted to ask you a question about Leioheterodon geayi if i could dont know if you have ever dealt with babies before but i purchased a pair of babies a little over a week ago and they show no interest in eating f/t fuzzie mice. I was told by seller they were eating them but we all know how that works lol. I realize its only been a little over a week since i got them was wondering do you think scenting would be necessary or should i just keep trying unscented for a few more weeks. One of my baby giants was on scented with smelts when i got him from another breeder but soon transferred to unscented. Anyhow if you have any advice id appreciate it. Thanks from Port Perry Canada.
Did you have another video of Temps and substrate and breeding weight.
Would a play sand /Eco earth fiber be a good substrate for either a Blonde or a Speckled?
Glad to have you back! Could we see Ptyas mucosa or pseudelaphe flavirufa?
If they come in. More likely to be flabirufa though in honesty.
Snakes 'N' Adders sounds great, I’ve been keeping a CBB male successfully for a year or so now but I’d definitely love to hear your recommendations on P. flavirufa
I'm guessing that giant hog male is adult?
How does an adult female measure up?
Would love to have a pair of the giant Hognose. Do you know of a US breeder?
I’m in Central Florida.
Im late but I know underground reptiles has them, usually out of stock
hi i'm new to your channel really like your vids i have a question i'm thinking about getting my first pet snake not sure what to choice i don't want a boa or a pythong and i want something that's diurnal and about 5 or 6 feet give or take could you suggest a few options please ?
Hi shawn, we did a top ten beginner snakes video which will be useful to you.
thank you ill look for that vid
Have a Google and watch a few video's on what you want to look more into. Nothing against snakes & adders video's but it's always a good thing to have more than one point of information :)
Can all three subspecies be breed together?
They dont seem to want to. The opportunity arises in the south west coast where all three are found. Me and paul also suspect the giant might enjoy a few smaller cousin shaped snacks as well.
I really wish this "starter snake" trend came to an end, and what I mean by that is most people will recommend corns, and royals mostly as your first snake, a lot of people don't seem to understand that they should just get what they really want it's a shame really.