My Cerastes Vipera

[Quintin]

Hi all,

Was cleaning tubs last night and quickly took some pics of my Saharan Sand Viper. I purchased her from Steve in March/April and shes going strong.

She takes Pinky parts or live geckos from foreceps with no problems at all. I mist her slightly every now and then, and she drinks from the rocks and sides of the tubs! These are amazing little snakes with such cool personallities and they are very intelligant in the way they would burry themselves close to the rocks "waiting" and caudul luring for food to come past!

These snakes strike with lightning speed, as tiny as they are!

(Please excuse the cr@p pics, as my camera broke and i used my GF's muk & druk)







Quintin

[10gbooj]

Caging must be a problem for that guy
It looks awesome, all the best with him/her.

Jacques

[Quintin]

Thanks Jaques.

Caging must be a problem for that guy

Hence keeping her in a tub for now, with a heating pad. I know its not the ideal for a desert burrowing snake, but shes doing great as it is! She moves around in the tub to thermo regulate!

Q

[fredsmith]

Stunning.
So tiny when you put it up next to the matchbox...
I look forward to seeing future updates.
Wow.

[Bushviper]

Glad to see she is looking so good. Try putting the heating pad against the side of the cage instead of under the sand.

[Quintin]

Thanks for the information BV. Will do..!

[riderx48]

how do you move that snake around???

[Quintin]

haha... Very carefully.. I use a paper clip and bend it to form a mini snake hook. These little snakes don't ride the hook very well though.

This little lady climbed out of a "misted" tub by clinging to the side. I just shoveled her onto the palm of my hand and put her back.

When she was a little smaller it was quite tricky, to pin her down and grasp behind the gentle little head to assist feed!!! Thats were a small paint brush with soft bristles came in handy, and still does.

Q

[Cornelius]

Hi

Stunning,Stunning,Stunning.

First time i have ever seen these. How big do they get? And how venomous are they?

[Quintin]

Hey Cornelius,

I have never kept an adult before. Steve would probably be able to say more about this. The females grow a little larger than the males. They grow to about 20 or 30 cm. (Speaking under correction)

Regards to toxicity, i'm not too sure myself. I know they are not as toxic as Cerastes Cerastes, but got this information from Al (Phobos):

C. cerastes can inflict fatal bite and produce local necrosis. Their venom has specifc nephrotoxins that target kidney cells. SAMIR Echis works well in case of bite. C. viperas bite can be painful but not as toxic...just avoid finding out for sure.

Q

[riderx48]

i like it nice... very nice

[gaboon69]

Nice snake Quintin. These are awesome to work with.

[marc bt]

i know this may be late but rather late than never.
she is beautiful!
i was wondering,if you are willing to say, how much did she cost?
i wouldn't mind keeping one of these one day.

[Wolf777]

What would a bite be like from a juvinile like this one?

[Quintin]

@ marc bt.. they usually go for R1000 each.. but i payed R700 or R800 because i took a male, for my friend!

@Wolf777.. I reckon a bite form a small one like this wouldn't be too much to worry about although, there should be some necrosis and lots of pain!

It seems there is very little known about the toxicity.

Thanks for all the comments guys! Will keep you all updated on her. (now its just to try and buy the male back from my friend) LOL

Q