Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Snakes exotic to South Africa with venoms that are considered to be medically important.

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Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby Matt Robinson » Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:09 pm

Late Friday night I walked into the snake room and found a few extra snakes crawling around my female's cage.

I bought the pair of these snakes at the expo earlier this year.

As it was fairly close to winter when I bought them, they could have mated while still with their previous owner.
So I cant say with 100% confidence that the breeding was with me. However, I still cycled them and saw some mating activity in the spring.

I cycled them by allowing their last meal to pass through their systems before turning off the heating in their cages. After about two weeks I placed them in plastic tubs which I put into the fridge for about 3 months at 5 degrees Celsius. They had access to water during the whole hibernation from a small water dish that I placed in the corner of the tub. Each tub had one hide in it which the snakes hid in throughout most of their hibernation. (I saw the male come out and drink once or twice).

In September I took the tubs out the fridge and placed them in their normal cages. Within the hour they were both out and basking. I fed them both every week until the end of September. At this time I placed the male into the females cage. He showed interest immediately by smelling her and crawling over her while twitching. I did not keep the pair together the entire time but rather took the male out for a few days and placed him back in for a few days. The re-introduction always seemed to spark interest between the two.

I never saw them copulate and was away for a while in October so I don't know what happened during this period. I stopped rotating the male at the end of October.

I first noticed swelling in the females mid section in October sometime but this was very slight. In November she really started to increase in Size and by mid December she was pretty fat. However, she still accepted her meal in December.

8 babies were born and I think the ratio is 3.5 but I want to get a second opinion on some of the babies. They are pretty big and could take a small pink without a problem.


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Re: Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby Eyelash » Mon Jan 12, 2015 1:08 pm

Brilliant stuff Matt ! Big congrats and best of luck with the neonates ! I'm sure they'll do well.

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Re: Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby moe » Mon Jan 12, 2015 1:12 pm

Wow awesome news and some stunning snakes

Congratulations bud

May i ask if you will be selling any of the babies?
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Re: Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby Ruan Stander » Mon Jan 12, 2015 7:46 pm

Congratulations, nice to see some babies from these.
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Re: Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby Westley Price » Tue Jan 13, 2015 9:30 am

Great stuff man.

Some years back we often saw a few Vipera sp. for sale, but they seem to have almost disappeared.

Congrats on the breeding.
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Re: Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby night » Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:18 am

Hi Matt

Great to see that the pr did it for you wish you all the best with the neonates:

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Re: Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby Matt Robinson » Mon Jan 26, 2015 8:57 am

Thank you for all the kind comments.

Just an update on the babies.

They all ate without a problem. This species is a pleasure to work with.

Some photos of what I think are the nicest looking neonates

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Re: Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby Ruan Stander » Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:35 pm

I can't decide between number one and two. They are stunning.
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Re: Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby reptile » Mon Jan 26, 2015 8:27 pm

Number two looks the best!
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Re: Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby moe » Mon Jan 26, 2015 11:46 pm

Got a pair of these little guys from matt and i got to agree what a pleasure working with these little snakes.

Might i add dont let the size fool us they are explosive...

Saw all of them and il tell you in person its hard to choose which is better haha.
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Re: Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby Pythonodipsas » Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:32 am

Hi Matt, congratulations on the birth of these super snakes. I am jealous ....as you beat me to it!

I have several adult ammodytes and I see lots of mating activity but nothing has come of it yet.
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Re: Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Birth

Postby Matt Robinson » Wed Jan 28, 2015 10:53 am

Thanks Craig.

Well it just wouldn't be fair for you to get M. xanthina, M. l. obtusa and V. ammodytes all in one season ;)
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