Enhancing Hognose Snakes’ Health and Breeding Success with Reptilinks

May 17, 2025

Kevin Fisher, founder of Hognoses, Etc., began collecting reptiles in his Texas hometown before launching a breeding operation in 2012. Over the past decade he has specialized in Eastern, Southern, and Mexican Hognose snakes, constantly seeking ways to improve their well‑being and reproductive output. A pivotal change came with the introduction of Reptilinks, a whole‑food amphibian‑based diet, which has yielded remarkable gains in both health and egg production.

Trying Something New

In 2021 Fisher first incorporated Reptilinks into his feeding regime. "I wanted to see if a more natural diet would benefit my snakes," he explained. The switch was not limited to juveniles; all adults and hatchlings received the new feed.

The chosen product is the 5–8 gram Bullfrog Leg Reptilinks, often complemented with quail eggs for additional protein.

Fisher reports that snakes fed on Reptilinks grow faster and appear leaner, in contrast to the heavier, sometimes unsteady body condition seen with rodent diets. "They live longer and healthier on the links," he notes.

Better Health, More Eggs

Improved body condition has translated into reproductive success. "Southern Hognoses that were previously limited to 5–6 years on mice are now thriving well beyond that," Fisher says. He recently recorded an 8‑year‑old female Southern Hognose producing 22 eggs in consecutive years—a clutch size well above the typical maximum of 14.

What’s in the Future?

Beyond standard breeding, Fisher has also pursued an albino line. An unexpected albino Southern Hognose hatched in 2017 from non‑heterozygous parents, and subsequent generations have continued to thrive on the Reptilinks diet. "Because hognoses naturally feed on amphibians, Reptilinks provides a more authentic nutrition profile," he emphasizes.

Fisher recommends Reptilinks to other breeders, asserting that its whole‑food composition outperforms traditional mice for species that specialize in amphibian prey. His goal is to maintain Reptilinks as the primary diet for all Eastern and Southern Hognoses under his care.

When asked to sum up his experience with Reptilinks in one word, he simply said, "Outstanding!"

Connect with Kevin

Would you like to connect with Kevin? You can find his business by following the links below:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kfisher4234/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KevinFisherHognosesEtc