Owning a reptile isn't as easy as one thinks it is. You have to make sure the humidity level and heat levels are correct constantly. You have to make sure they have a warm/hot side and cool side of a habitat. You also have to keep an eye out for when they are about to shed, and not try to feed or handle them when they are in this phase, unless it's an emergerncy like some of the dead skin isn't coming loose and off. Then you have to make sure to soak them, and gently peel the dead skin off. You also have to know if you're going to feed live or frozen. If you feed live you have to be able to handle watching your pet snake strike and eat the food. If you feed frozen you have to make sure to defrost it correctly, and that the snake will take it. I have a friend who hand feeds her corn snake, that's not recommended to do, but Gabriel is a smart snake and won't strike at her fingers. He's about 18 years old now.

Hognose snakes do tend to be very timid and it'll take a lot of time to earn their trust, and can be good for beginners as well. Until they get used to you they may flatten their necks or play dead. These little snakes come in a varity of colors not just the wild original morph. You'll want to get your hognose from a breeder that way you know it isn't a wild capture. If you get from a breeder the snake will probably all ready be used to being handled which is a good thing, and you'll also know that it's eating well. They have charming personalities once they get to know you. Rarely bite, they'd rather flee than attack. The other thing to be aware of with these snakes, they do have venom, but it doesn't harm humans. However there is the off chance you could have an allergic reaction to it.

Sweetwater Creek said:

I have a hognose but I wouldn't recommend to beginners. I know their size is appealing but in my opinion they are more intermediate. Some things to be aware of, they often have feeding issues, you will rarely see your snake, they can be pretty defensive. I own a hognose and I've had feeding issues with him at some points I had to dip his mice in tuna and also cover his tank. Having an animal not eat can be stressful for a beginner, especially if you don't know how to curve the behavior. I rarely see my hognose as they spend most of their time burrowing. Currently mine is a baby and super defensive with mock strikes, hissing, and enjoys pretending to be dead. They do a sort of "death roll" then go belly up. Oh and they are rear fang venomous so if bitten it would be similar to a bee sting. Most hognose snakes will run you $200 and they are not readily available in pet stores. I bought mine at a reptile expo. I own a lot of different reptiles I highly recommend getting a leopard gecko. I own 5 XD they are really great. Just whatever you get please do research and have everything set up before you bring one home. Reptiles are not simple pets to keep by any means. You need the right lighting, heating, suppliments, substrate, enrichment, etc.

I've never seen hognoses in pet stores. I see them at reptile expos all the time, but as much as I like those places I don't trust half of them, since I've caught a lot of vendors selling wild caught animals. That's why I recommend going to an actual breeder.

But I agree a leopard gecko is probably the best bet to go with for a start in the reptile world. They tend to be one of the easier keepers.

Sweetwater Creek said:

I have a hognose but I wouldn't recommend to beginners. I know their size is appealing but in my opinion they are more intermediate. Some things to be aware of, they often have feeding issues, you will rarely see your snake, they can be pretty defensive. I own a hognose and I've had feeding issues with him at some points I had to dip his mice in tuna and also cover his tank. Having an animal not eat can be stressful for a beginner, especially if you don't know how to curve the behavior. I rarely see my hognose as they spend most of their time burrowing. Currently mine is a baby and super defensive with mock strikes, hissing, and enjoys pretending to be dead. They do a sort of "death roll" then go belly up. Oh and they are rear fang venomous so if bitten it would be similar to a bee sting. Most hognose snakes will run you $200 and they are not readily available in pet stores. I bought mine at a reptile expo. I own a lot of different reptiles I highly recommend getting a leopard gecko. I own 5 XD they are really great. Just whatever you get please do research and have everything set up before you bring one home. Reptiles are not simple pets to keep by any means. You need the right lighting, heating, suppliments, substrate, enrichment, etc.

Hognose snakes are actually several different species. If you get one, it's best to make sure it's a Western Hognose. Eastern Hognose specialize in frogs/toads as food and don't readily feed on rodents, so they're more likely to go "on hunger strike" if you don't have access to live amphibians to feed. He has a 3 acre farm pond he keeps stocked and goes net fishing for frogs regularly.

All species of hognose have toxic saliva meant to help debilitate prey which can make you ill or give you an allergic reaction if you get it in a cut or if they manage to break the skin with a bite (think people who are in real trouble with a bee sting, though bee stings and hognose saliva have different proteins and not everyone allergic to one will be to the other).

He also says leopard geckos are great for beginners. They're active, pretty and can be more friendly than snakes, especially if handled by the breeder as a young one. Their life span is about the same as a cat or small dog (15-20 years). He just lost his original one last year. He raises a mealworm culture for his leopard geckos, as they pretty much need live food. They also need high temperatures in at least one spot in their enclosure, because they're from the desert.

His second choice of gecko would be African fat-tailed geckos. They used to be more readily available, but you can still find them. They also have been bred in captivity for a very long time (so no raiding of an endangered species' habitat) and are similar to the leopards in ease of care and tolerance to handling. Their biggest advantage is that they don't have climbing pads, but that means they need a larger enclosure (though it can be shorter in height) because they can't use the sides to roam around.

I hope you find something that suits you and that you have many happy years together!