Western hognose snake: its preference for an enriched terrarium grows stronger over time
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
The western hognose snake spends much of its wild life digging through the loose soils of North American prairies and sandy habitats, hunting the toads it specializes in eating. This species has no dedicated profile on Planète Pets, but a Canadian study on its habitat preferences offers concrete guidance for setting up its terrarium. Our enrichment guidance is gathered in the reptile toys and enrichment section.
A preference study between a plain and an enriched compartment
Gokulan Nagabaskaran, Morgan Skinner and Noam Miller published a study in 2022, in the journal Animals, on enrichment preferences in the western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus), a fossorial species (see the study). Each snake's enclosure was split in two: an enriched half (deep, diggable substrate, varied stimuli, a large water dish) and a standard half (paper towel substrate, a small dish), each with a shelter and a thermal gradient. The snakes were observed over six days, four times daily. They showed a clear preference for the enriched side, one that grew stronger over the six days rather than fading — and it held even when the enriched side was the cooler of the two, ruling out the idea that the choice merely reflected heat-seeking.
What this changes about setting up the terrarium
A preference that strengthens over time, rather than a novelty appeal that wears off, argues for a lasting enriched setup rather than the occasional swap of decor.
- Provide a deep, loose substrate that allows genuine burrowing, matching the species' wild fossorial lifestyle, rather than plain paper towel that's easy to maintain but offers nothing to dig into.
- Don't treat enrichment as only about warmth: the snakes in the study preferred the enriched compartment even when it was cooler, suggesting substrate texture and available stimuli matter independently of thermal comfort.
- Give the preference time to build before judging a setup ineffective: attraction to the enriched side kept growing across the entire observation period, not just the first few days.
This role of substrate lines up with the guidance already gathered in our article on enrichment for ball pythons and corn snakes, two species that share the hognose's need for environmental complexity despite very different lifestyles.
Frequently asked questions
Is a large water dish really an enrichment factor on its own?
In this study's setup, yes it was part of the enriched side, but the design can't isolate its individual contribution from the rest of the enrichment package; still, offering more soaking space is a simple, low-risk improvement regardless.
Does the substrate need to be a special digging mix?
A loose, deep substrate (several centimetres at minimum) that lets the animal fully bury itself works better than a flat or compacted one, matching the natural behaviour observed in this species.
Does this result apply to other burrowing snakes?
The study covers the western hognose snake specifically; the general principle of diggable substrate as enrichment is plausible for other fossorial species, but each one deserves its own evidence before generalizing. Find all our guides on the reptile hub.
In our shop, for this use: Stick-on digital thermometer for aquarium and terrarium glass (€18.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Reptiles universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.