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RE: gaboon viper question
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by CrotolidKid on December 9, 2001
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Just whant to give the facts:One of the most attractive of all venomous species , the Gaboon Viper is fascinating for a couple of reasons . For one , it is one of the 'laziest' snakes you could ever hope to find . When it is angered it usually does not even move , but will instead inflate its body and create a hissing noise so loud it sounds like a car tire deflating . It has what are probably longest fangs of any venomous serpent , each being somewhere around one and a half inches in lenght . Fortunately , it does not bite all that often , and would much rather be left alone than strike a human , although it should not be condiered 'docile' by any means . Many deaths have been reported.
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RE: gaboon viper question
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Reply
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by CrotolidKid on December 9, 2001
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Mail this to a friend!
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Just whant to give the facts:One of the most attractive of all venomous species , the Gaboon Viper is fascinating for a couple of reasons . For one , it is one of the 'laziest' snakes you could ever hope to find . When it is angered it usually does not even move , but will instead inflate its body and create a hissing noise so loud it sounds like a car tire deflating . It has what are probably longest fangs of any venomous serpent , each being somewhere around one and a half inches in lenght . Fortunately , it does not bite all that often , and would much rather be left alone than strike a human , although it should not be condiered 'docile' by any means . Many deaths have been reported.
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RE: gaboon viper question
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by Richie on December 3, 2003
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I KNOW IT'S LONG, BUT PLEASE READ!!
Hello fellow Bitis enthusiasts! This is my small contribution to the captive care of my favorite species of reptile. My experience is based upon 6 years hard research and 2 years practical "hands on" keeping.
The captive care of the Gaboon Viper is fairly easy, but is something that you should plan carefully.
Gaboon Vipers should be kept in a SPACIOUS enclosure because a.) they grow BIG and they do like to spread out and b.) because large, DEADLY snakes in a cramped enclosure, with minimal space to work around them is inherantly dangerous!
I provide my specimens with a thermal gradient, 85 F - 95 f during the day, reduced to 75 F - 78 F at night. I prefer to keep my animals at the higher end of their temperature tolerance because they seem to grow more steadily and have better colouration.
Humidity remains between 60% - 80%, but the humidity can drop as low as 40% for periods without any detriment to the animal(s) health.
I provide a medium/large porcelain water bowl for my snakes that they routinely drink from (they also drink when I mist them). I spray them and their environment every 2-3 days with warm water.
I use Zoo-Med's Eco-Earth substrate to a depth of 4 inches, with microwaved leaves to a rough depth of 3 inches on top. In addition I use plenty of moss dispersed unevenly on the substrate. The latter helps maintain the humidity very nicely as well as providing different "smells" for the snake(s) to investigate, I'm sure deep down they appreciate that! Hmmm!?
I don't provide hides as such, the animals half bury themselves in the deep substrate (as they would in the wild). I find that bright lighting can make Gaboon Vipers nervous. So I provide large branches with plenty of over hanging artificial plants. Why? Because they disperse the over head lighting, providing dappled light and extra security - Happier snakes and a more "natural environment".
Many keepers prefer a "clinical" set up for ease of cleaning, which is fine, however I ALWAYS provide as natural a set up as possible for 2 reasons, a.) New aquisitions always acclimate faster and are less stressed if they feel more "at home" and b.) I believe it's a crime to keep Gaboon Vipers or Rhino Vipers in anything other than a naturalistic set up, (where their gaudy markings can be fully appreciated).
If well cared for, Gaboon Vipers can live for 15-20 years.
I hope this is of some use to you all.
Kind Regards
Viperman, U.K
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