Care Sheet for Venomous SnakesAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.50 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 02/06/2007 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Venomous Snakes |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | JoeEdmark |
Years Experience: | Over 20 Years |
Species: | Gaboon Viper. (Bitis gabonica) |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Rhinoceros Viper. (Bitic nasicornis) |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Only probing tells for sure. See qualified reptile vet, one comfortable handling a very venomous snake. |
Mostly Active During: | Day |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Provide large water container for soaking and drinking, animal may need some coaxing to us it though. Make sure removal of said container is easy because you will need to change frequently. Do not us newspaper for a substrate as this is known to cause stress. I use either cypress mulch or soil. |
Lighting and UVB: | UVB is not necessary, but there is not a word in the contrary. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | This animal is a frequent of heavily rainforested areas and so a basking spot is not required. You may have one of 85- 90 degrees but it will rarely us it. Ambient temperature should be between 70- 80 degrees. Humidity should be kept high, but that’s should be easy with a large water container. |
Heating and Equipment: | Should have even amount of light and dark hours, as animal lives very near equator. |
Caging Provided: | This animal is not terribly long, almost always staying under six feet. Expect to end up with about a five- foot, heavy bodied, highly venomous snake. I provide a 4’Lx3’W’3’T, but bigger is always better. MUST be 10000% escape proof. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Feed correctly sized rodents, no supplements are needed. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Eats whole foods, none needed. |
Maintenance: | Fairly straightforward, nothing too fancy. |
Some Words on this Species: | The Gaboon Viper is a HIGHLY dangerous animal. Its hemotoxic venom causes severe pain and is very destructive of blood and tissues. See a doctor RIGHT AWAY after being bitten. I do not recommend this animal to anyone not very experienced with keeping other snakes. This animal may appear slow and docile, but is one of the most acrobatic strikers in the world. It has a strike distance of over 100%, and for a five- foot long viper, that is very dangerous. If there is one golden rule about keeping venomous snakes, it is NEVER EVER trust them! |
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