Pancake The Hogsnose Snake! Wait... Another Snake?
Join Dad and Kiley in a fun Q&A about Pancake, the quirky and lovable hognose snake. From his playful personality to his dramatic defense mechanisms, Pancake never fails to entertain. Discover why this tiny reptile has such a big place in Kiley’s heart!
Dad & Kiley’s Reptilian Q&A: The Pancake Chronicles
Dad: So, Kiley, I’ve got to know—why did you want a hognose snake in the first place?
Kiley: Because they are SO cute! Their little piggy snout makes them look like tiny, adorable explorers.
Dad: Well, I’ll admit, Pancake is pretty cute. What morph is he again?
Kiley: He’s a mix of Toffee Belly and Toxic, which is a combination of Axanthic and Toffee. His belly has the coolest toffee-like pattern! Can we get a Heath Bar Blizzard?
Dad: Kiley - it's the middle of Winter; Dairy Queen is closed. Speaking of food, why did you name him Pancake?
Kiley: Because when he coils up, he flattens out and looks just like a pancake! It’s the perfect name for him.
Dad: That does make sense! What makes Pancake so special to you?
Kiley: Besides his amazing belly pattern, he just has such a fun personality. He’s like a little mystery noodle with a playful side. Always wiggling around - like me!
Dad: A mystery noodle? That’s a new one! What does Pancake do that makes you smile or laugh?
Kiley: Oh, definitely when he plays dead! It’s his defense mechanism, but he looks so dramatic, like a tiny, scaly drama queen
Dad: Ha! I must admit, after ensuring he isn't really dead, its hilarious to see. So, what does a fun day in the life of Pancake look like?
Kiley: I think he spends his time exploring his enclosure, slithering through his tunnels, and investigating all the little hiding spots. He probably thinks he’s on a grand adventure every day!
Dad: If Pancake had a voice, what do you think he’d say to you?
Kiley: Probably something like, "Hey, how can I talk? That’s silly!"
Dad: That sounds about right! What was Pancake’s first home like?
Kiley: He started out in a small tub with holes for ventilation and a mat underneath for heat. Simple, but cozy! We put a lot of fun stuff in there, like empty toilet paper tubes!
Dad: Is that where all my toilet paper went? Well now he’s living large, right? What’s his current setup like?
Kiley: Oh yeah, now he has a big bioactive enclosure filled with leaves, twigs, cork, moss, rocks, and even a cactus! It’s like a little hognose paradise.
Dad: Wow, it sounds like Pancake is living the dream. Maybe I should upgrade my room like that too!
Kiley: Haha, sure, Dad! Tomorrow, do you think you can make me pancakes for breakfast?
Dad: You bet! I assume chocolate chip with whip cream and rainbow sprinkles?
Kiley: Of course, and don’t forget the Maple Syrup!
In Conclusion
Dad's "No Thanks to Snakes" camp has quickly crumbled. Kiley and Momma finally got their hog nose snake! Pancake is more than just a pet - he’s a quirky, adorable, and adventurous part of Kiley’s life. From his playful personality to his dramatic defense mechanisms, he never fails to bring joy and laughter. With his incredible bioactive enclosure, Pancake is living his best life, proving that even the smallest creatures can have the biggest personalities. Here’s to many more adventures with the world’s cutest mystery noodle!
Western Hognose Facts & Care Tips We Learned Along The Way
The Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus) is a small colubrid native to North America. Recognized for its upturned snout, which it uses for burrowing, this species is known for its dramatic defensive displays, including bluff striking, hooding, and even playing dead. Despite these behaviors, they are generally docile and make popular pet reptiles. Colubrids are generally non-venomous or mildly venomous, with fangs located in the back of the mouth (if present). They are found worldwide in various habitats and include many common pet and wild snake species.
Heat and Light: Warm side and cold side for this species is best. This way they can go back and forth to regulate their temperature. We try and keep the warm side around 85 - 92 degrees and the cool side between 75 - 80 degrees. They do not require special light other than a normal day/night cycle, but we now have Pancake in a bioactive enclosure that has a Bio Dude Solar Grow LED for plants and an Arcadia ShadeDweller 7% UVB for some extra added benefit for our guy. UVB is not necessary, but some say they see improvements in health and activity by using one.
Enclosure: As babies its best to keep most snakes in small, cluttered, enclosures. Pancake started off in a small 6-quart Sterlite tub with air holes and an under the tank Zoo Med heat mat on a dimmable thermostat. Today he has moved into his forever home which is a Reptile Habitats 36x18x12 PVC bioactive enclosure. We got another kit from The Bio Dude for this one, over the holidays he runs some fantastic sales, and decked out the enclosure.
Decor: The Bio Dude supplied us with various cactus, leaf litter, sphagnum moss, substrate, and some cork bark. We added some slate rock and carefully set it up so that it could not fall and crush our little dude. Hognoses are burrowers so you need to take extra care when placing heavy objects.
Diet: Pancake started on frozen thawed pinky mice back in September. He quickly transitioned to two of them every four days by November. Around mid-January we have switched over to frozen thawed fuzzy mice once every four days as well.
Great Resources:
Bioactive Supplies – The Bio Dude or NEHERP.
Care Guides - ReptiFiles and we like Elle's Reptiles
