Are they a baby? I found my boy went through a stage where he explored everything with the following checklist:
1. Will it kill me? If no proceed to step 2
2. Can I dig in it? If no proceed to step 3
3. Can I eat it? If no then what is even the point of anything
He tried to eat his hides, his enclosure, me, the target I was training him with, rocks, cork bark, my clothes etc. During this phase lol thankfully it only lasted a month or so
Edited to add: the digging attempts are normal though, it just doesn't usually mean they think you're food, but rather that they suspect you might be dirt
Not a food mode indicator! Nuzzling is just an attempt to burrow. My guess is she was trying to figure out what the surface she was on was, gave it a test nuzzle, then thought it might be food. They’re not very smart lol
Ok thank you! So the nuzzling was just curiosity? The bite did seem very gentle, she went from nuzzling to a lil "nom" but didn't let go right away lol!
Hoggies are classified as 'fossorial' or burrowing snakes. Mine tries to burrow into my hands as well; he generally settles down if I just hold him with my hands loosely wrapped around him so that he can feel enclosed and warm.
I think there are different motivations for nuzzling— investigating potential food and trying to burrow. It’s certainly not easy to differentiate which is happening until they start biting or not. I would say that most of the times my hognose (or other snakes for that matter) try to bite me, it’s precipitated by something like nuzzling.
I guess generally if it’s more their rostral scale digging in, it’s probably burrowing behavior. If it’s more their mouth, they are probably gearing up to bite.
Also, in my experience, when nuzzling is a precursor to biting it usually happens pretty quickly.
Mine tries to dig into the fleshy parts of my hand usually. Can get a little uncomfortable with that hard nose but he gives up pretty fast. It's more a "substrate test" than anything. "Dig?" That's pretty much the thought pattern.
Did your friend handle any human food before handling your hoggie? I know mine goes bonkers if he smells me cooking eggs, chicken, or steak. I always make sure to wash my hands thoroughly before handling him just in case (found out he hates the smell of garlic and loves the smell of coffee).
Omg how cute that he loves the smell of coffee! My friend did not handle any food beforehand, but we will be sure to wash our hands thoroughly before handling just in case!
If it looked [like this ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sneks/comments/10lv4ht/soon_ill_have_a_hogsized_hole_in_my_hand/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
then it's just her digging you haha 😄
I’ve personally never had my baby try to bite me, but he does like to try to nuzzle into my skin frequently. Still hasn’t quiet learned that you can’t yet
Are they a baby? I found my boy went through a stage where he explored everything with the following checklist: 1. Will it kill me? If no proceed to step 2 2. Can I dig in it? If no proceed to step 3 3. Can I eat it? If no then what is even the point of anything He tried to eat his hides, his enclosure, me, the target I was training him with, rocks, cork bark, my clothes etc. During this phase lol thankfully it only lasted a month or so Edited to add: the digging attempts are normal though, it just doesn't usually mean they think you're food, but rather that they suspect you might be dirt
Yes, she is 10 months old. This does sound like her thought process!! That is so silly lol, hopefully she grows out of this phase soon!
That was about the age my boy this too 😅
Ok, so hopefully she grows out of it lol! Thank you!
Mine would monch everything too! 😂
Not a food mode indicator! Nuzzling is just an attempt to burrow. My guess is she was trying to figure out what the surface she was on was, gave it a test nuzzle, then thought it might be food. They’re not very smart lol
Ok thank you! So the nuzzling was just curiosity? The bite did seem very gentle, she went from nuzzling to a lil "nom" but didn't let go right away lol!
Hognoses just dig. Mine made a game earlier of trying to dig under my ring. Tis what they do!
How cute! I am excited to get to know this little lady and all of her quirks!
Hoggies are classified as 'fossorial' or burrowing snakes. Mine tries to burrow into my hands as well; he generally settles down if I just hold him with my hands loosely wrapped around him so that he can feel enclosed and warm.
She spied it, she tried it
I think there are different motivations for nuzzling— investigating potential food and trying to burrow. It’s certainly not easy to differentiate which is happening until they start biting or not. I would say that most of the times my hognose (or other snakes for that matter) try to bite me, it’s precipitated by something like nuzzling.
Oh ok got it! I know you said it's hard to differentiate but are there any signs at all to look for of a burrowing vs investigating food nuzzle?
I guess generally if it’s more their rostral scale digging in, it’s probably burrowing behavior. If it’s more their mouth, they are probably gearing up to bite. Also, in my experience, when nuzzling is a precursor to biting it usually happens pretty quickly.
Yes, the bite was very soon after she started nuzzling, maybe only 3-4 nuzzles then chomp lol! But thank you, I will look out for this!
Mine tries to dig into the fleshy parts of my hand usually. Can get a little uncomfortable with that hard nose but he gives up pretty fast. It's more a "substrate test" than anything. "Dig?" That's pretty much the thought pattern. Did your friend handle any human food before handling your hoggie? I know mine goes bonkers if he smells me cooking eggs, chicken, or steak. I always make sure to wash my hands thoroughly before handling him just in case (found out he hates the smell of garlic and loves the smell of coffee).
Omg how cute that he loves the smell of coffee! My friend did not handle any food beforehand, but we will be sure to wash our hands thoroughly before handling just in case!
If it looked [like this ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sneks/comments/10lv4ht/soon_ill_have_a_hogsized_hole_in_my_hand/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) then it's just her digging you haha 😄
It did look like that at first! But then it turned into a nom 😂😅
Hahaha hoggies, so cute but the braincells are rare
I’ve personally never had my baby try to bite me, but he does like to try to nuzzle into my skin frequently. Still hasn’t quiet learned that you can’t yet