B.g rhinoceros

[Tagged]

Hi all

I recently bought myself a pair of Gaboon vipers. I have wanted them for years
I did a lot of research before hand on their husbandry needs and I still am doing a lot of research.

I have searched this forum and came across some information on the the species.

I just have a couple of questions I would like to find out and if anyone can assist, I really want to have all the knowledge possible on keeping this species and don't want to make any fatal mistakes.

Please correct me if any of the following statements are incorrect and if any of the required information is available on this sight please let me know. I have read a lot of contradicting information and want to get my facts straight.

1. I know I will have to incourage my Gaboons to drink from a water bowl for a while but do I need bath them from time to time?
2.For a heating source should I or should I not use a heating pad or just heating from above eg. bulb ?
3. How often should I feed? They are approximately 6 months old and about 55cm long? Some people say once a week others say once every 3 weeks.

They curently have a really decent sized inclosure that is also very deep. It is deep enough for them to burrow right under the substrate.
I am using half moss half cocnut husk as a substrate to hold alot of moisture and help keep the humidity at about 70%
They have a large water bowl and I am using fake plants to create cover from the light source.

Thanks for any information shared!

[bradmiller]

IMO

1. Yes and no, (I saw mine drinking from the shallow water bowl a few times) they will also drink when you bath them - Bathing just helps them to relieve their bowls but I found not a problem if on the right feeding schedule.
2. Heating pad is fine - but must be Thermostatically controlled.
3. Once every 3 weeks for now - a hungry gabby is a happy gabby. Once bigger the schedule can be further increase to 1 a month.

Post some pics of the set up but sounds fine.

[Tagged]

Hi Brad

Thanks for the information, I thought no one was going to reply.

Will try to post a pic soon, just have not figured out how to make images smaller. Mine are too big to upload.

Will see how they go and if need be will give them a nice soak every now and then.

thanks again

[shadowfoot]

Open the image in Paint and just resize it accordingly.

[Snake-fanatic]

I never heard of bathing a snake, what is that about?
I'd rather bathe a dog before i attemped a Gaboon

[Bushviper]

Gaboons do not need to be soaked if the cage allows them to move around enough. If they are fed sparingly they will start patrolling when they are hungry and then the bowels will go automatically. Handling them that often is never a good idea. They do not ride a hook well and dont like being disturbed.

[Tagged]

Thanks BV

Thanks for the information.
Yip my male Gaboon absolutely hates the hook he literally keeps
Himself straight when I try to pick him up.

Will post pics of them and their enclosure soon.

[Jacquesvw]

Thanks BV

Thanks for the information.
Yip my male Gaboon absolutely hates the hook he literally keeps
Himself straight when I try to pick him up.

Will post pics of them and their enclosure soon.

Any luck with those photos? Really like to see as I'm a big Gaboon fan.

[Tagged]

Will post pics tomorrow morning !!