Background: 
I first kept tricolor hognose snakes as a teenager and was immediately attracted to their dazzling coloration and remarkably amenable care requirements. 

This dipsadid species is native to the Gran Chaco bioregion of South America, and is quite widespread in distribution. A denizen of grassland, savanna, and woodland habitats with sandy soils, they are highly fossorial in nature and rarely observed above ground in their native range. 

They are incredibly prolific breeders and females will produce a clutch every 5-6 weeks on average during their active season in the spring and summer months. As a result, they're increasingly common in herpetoculture and readily available. That said, I wonder at times if something is missing in the care that is commonly offered to this species in American herpetoculture, as they are prone to early deaths from fatty liver disease - an ailment usually associated with an improper diet. 

In response to this, my focus with the tricolors in my care is to provide an amphibian-based diet and a more naturalistic setup. This approach is made in an effort to better replicate what the snakes would experience in nature. Only time will tell if it will yield healthier animals with longer lifespans.