White Lipped Tree Viper Care Sheet
White Lipped Tree Viper Care Sheet
By Reptitrader
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO ON THE WHITE LIPPED TREE VIPER
White Lipped Tree Viper. Photo By W.A.Djatmiko
General:White lipped tree vipers (Trimeresurus albolabris) are arboreal pit vipers that originate in asia. These snakes reach a length of between 30 and 40 inches. In proportion to their size they have huge fangs and can be extremely aggressive but can settle down well in captivity. They are ambush predators that hang motionless in the air waiting for prey to come by.
Enclosure: White Lipped Tree Vipers are an arboreal species and therefore require tall enclosures with many branches or perches at different levels. They also require lots of fake foliage to hide behind. Although White lipped Tree Vipers usually drink from their coils it is always a good idea to have a small water bowl in the enclosure.
Substrate: White Lipped Tree Vipers require high humidity do it is a good idea to use a substrate that promotes humidity like slightly damp cypress mulch, vermiculite or potting soil.
Temperature & Humidity:A day time ambient temperature of between 82 – 85 degrees F is ideal for your White lipped tree viper and a high humidity of between 65 and 80% rising up to 95% straight after their daily misting is required.
Feeding:White lipped Tree Vipers usually feed on frogs, lizards and geckos in the wild and therefore sometimes need to be coaxed into eating rodents. As with most venomous snakes it is best to feed them pre-killed prey by means of feeding tongs. It is a good idea to heat the prey item up with warm water because as pit vipers they will sense the heat. Feed a rodent no bigger than one and a half times the girth of your snake every 7 – 10 days.
Cleaning:Clean your White Lipped Tree Vipers Enclosure thoroughly at least once a month and remove fecal matter as it appears. Mist you snake daily to make sure it has water and high humidity levels.
Handling: White lipped tree vipers have a mild cytotoxic venom which will cause major swelling, extreme pain and can result in tissue damage. They are extremely fast and agile and therefore should be handled with caution.
Photo By LA Dawson
