Variable Bush Viper Care Sheet
Variable Bush Viper Care Sheet
By Reptitrader
SCROLL DOWN FOR A VIDEO OF AN ATHERIS SQUAMIGERA EATING
Variable Bush Viper (Atheris Squamiger) Photo by Al Coritz
(Care sheets are only a simplified guide to owning the various snakes, for a complete guide refer to the relevant book from our book store)
General: Variable bush vipers are a venomous species found in West and Central Africa. It grows to an average length of 46-60cm with a maximum of at least 78. They are found mostly in rainforest.
Enclosure: This is an arboreal Species and therefore requires climbing space, so a tall enclosure is required. As with all venomous snake species it is a good idea to also have an enclosure big enough to work with the snake. Cage should be secure and lockable to prevent escape.
Furniture: Bush Vipers require plenty of branches for perching on. Real or fake plants are needed to create lots of hiding places on both the warm and coller sides of the enclosure. A water bowl should be provided even though it is unlikely that your bush viper will ever use it.
Substrate: Newspaper or Paper toweling can be used but cypress mulch and reptile bark look much better if the Bush Viper is being used for display.
Heating and Lighting: A Temperature gradient of no more than 85 degrees F in the day and down to 76 degrees F at night are ideal for your Variable Bush Viper. Heating can be provided by means of a ceramic heat emitter or suchlike device set up on one side of the enclosure to ensure a temperature gradient. Many keepers feel that UV lighting is important for these vipers and use of the milder UV flourescent bulbs is sufficient for these snakes and if nothing else will benefit the plants in the enclosure.
Humidity: Daily misting is required for Bush Vipers. A medium to high Humidity is required for these snakes. Somewhere between 65 – 80% rising to 95% when misted. These snakes mostly drink from their scales or tilt their heads down during misting and drink the droplets formed they also drink the droplets that are collected on plants etc.
Feeding: Variable Bush Vipers have slow metabolisms and growth rates. Feed adults one prey item no thicker than the snakes girth once every 3 weeks. Feed Juveniles one prey item every one to two weeks. It is important that your bush viper defecates at least every second feed if it does not then raise the humidity or apply frequent soakings to encourage defecation. Use feeding tongs to offer the prey item.
Cleaning: Thoroughly clean and disinfect enclosure at least once a month. Remove Faeces as it appears.
Photo by Al Coritz
