Atheris ceratophora

[justinO]

Hey. Has anyone worked with this species? any good/bad things to say about them? are they hard to keep?

I plan on keeping hots down the road, so i'm coming up with my "wish list" of animals that strike my fancy.

any input is greatly appreciated.

Justin

[cobraman]

We have quite a few. Sometimes they do real well, other times I have to tease feed.

[cantil]

they're montane so keep 'em cool. I didn't have any problems getting them eating pinkies but I've heard some people have to start them on lizards

[Hamster of Borg]

VenomousReptiles.org has an article (http://www.venomousreptiles.org/articles/28) detailing an Atheris envenomation. While in my research I could only find a single confirmed death to an Atheris bite (which was in Africa with poor medical care) there is no antivenin. That should be an extremely important consideration before even thinking about any snakes in the genus. Having a protocol book (and forcing health care workers to actually look at it when needed) is an absolute must. Echis antivenin reportedly works on Atheris venom as well, but I haven't seen enough documentation on this to trust my life to it. Even if you could get some in North America, which would be easier said than done.

As with most species, try your damndest to avoid wild caught stuff. African bush vipers come in with all manner of strange parasites, many of which the normal dewormers (Panacur & Flagyl) won't even touch.

They are very cool, but extremely agile and are quite adept at hanging onto and climbing up the hook. Or grabbing onto cage edges, or anything else you happen to brush that very strong, prehensile tail near. :)

Ham

[justinO]

Thank you all for the replies.

after some consideration (and the lack of a reliable antivenin), I don't think that an Atheris would be suitable for me as a first hot. If I can find someone with some aboreal vipers to show me the ropes, then that might change things a little.

I do want to include an A. Hispida in my collection some day however.

thanks again, info is greatly appreciated.

cheers,

Justin

[atheris]

Hi.

If you dont have any experience with other Atherinis, i dont recommend this for a first species to keep. A. squamigera or
A. chlorechis would be better choice.

What makes ceratophora a bit harder to keep is lower temperatures. For example my ceratos are in temperatures between 16 C (night) and 24 C (day) Nightime temp drop is MUST, at least to 19 C ! And if daytime temp is over 25 for a longer perioid, it can be fatal to snake.

There is some specimens who are sitting in under heat source in terrarium ( 30 C etc... ) but thats rare.

http://www.herppi.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10965/ceratonlarvi.JPG