Atheris broadleyi CB 2011 female

[Will0W783]

I thought everyone might enjoy a few pictures of Xena, now that she is settled in. Xena is an Atheris broadleyi, or Broadley's bush viper. She was CB in 2011. I got her from my friend Shawn in Lancaster. She's a stunning little girl, very yellow...in fact, I'm not 100% convinced that there isn't a tinge of squamigera blood in her.
However, she is only semi-arboreal, and when she is angered (90% of the time) she flattens herself out like a pancake, both traits of broadleyi. She also has the blue tail.

Anyway, here she is:
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/636e1951.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/B2D5ADDD-7FB6-45D9-908A-DBFF335E8574-200-00000009CBFB7A36.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/8DECF1DC-4F22-4640-8412-787B77F40C40-200-00000009CFF042F2.jpg

[MoreliAddict]

Nice looking viper, Kim! Every time you post an animal here I can't help but remind you how great your taste is. http://www.lilwaynehq.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbs.gif

[Will0W783]

Thanks! I love these guys- their heavily keeled scales make them look like they are wearing little snake ghillie suits. LOL

[Gungirl]

Wow... gorgeous. One of these days I am going to hop into my truck and come see you. I want to see these guys in person (while they are locked in their cages) Lol. I think a 5hr car ride is worth it..

[bcoop1234]

Wow, that's a beautiful snake... from a distance or in pictures!!!

[Hurrok]

Very nice pictures and pretty girl. I'm curious what it looks like when she is flat like a pancake.... :P

[etc]

I am also curious about this pancake thing. Please capture it next time and show us

[Will0W783]

Originally posted by Gungirl: Wow... gorgeous. One of these days I am going to hop into my truck and come see you. I want to see these guys in person (while they are locked in their cages) Lol. I think a 5hr car ride is worth it..

You are welcome anytime! We have a guest room so you don't have to drive back in one day. :)

[Will0W783]

I will catch the pancake thing next time she does it...she only does it when really upset and I hate pissing her off, but it is unusual. She basically spreads her whole body flat like a hood. I've never seen anything like it.

[Gungirl]

You are welcome anytime! We have a guest room so you don't have to drive back in one day. :)

Some time I will... Maybe when hubby goes on a hunting weekend outing with the guys I will head over your way. I will speak with him and then PM you to see if the dates will work out.

[Will0W783]

Sounds good, Kat. :)

[Snakeman8]

my mother says she begs to differ on the potato chips,:)

[Will0W783]

Lol, Snakeman. If your mom can eat one single potato chip, then she's got some impressive self-control. ;) She's a stronger woman than I am, lol.

[alessia55]

Wish I photograph her myself :yes:

[CK SandBoas]

She is one stunning Viper!!!

[Will0W783]

I wish you could too Alessia...you always take awesome pictures. :)

[Ivanator]

Amazing snake! How potent is the venom on those guys? Are they like the eyelash vipers?

[Hannibalcanibal]

i'm also interested in the venom. any reports, and what antivenom would normally be used for a bite?

[Will0W783]

Hannibal, there isn't a very good antivenin available for the Atheris (bush viper) genus of snakes. Sometimes, one can give sawscale viper antivenin (Echis) and see moderate to good efficacy, but it also often doesn't work.

Atheris used to be considered to be very mild, "no big deal if it bites you".....but more recently there have been deaths associated with variable bush viper and West African bush viper bites. They have a nasty cocktail of enzymes in their venom that can cause coagulopathy, hemorrhaging, blistering, kidney failure and death. So they should be taken quite seriously, even though we do not have much knowledge on the venom.

[reptar]

Amazing snake, I must say! Yeah there is little knowledge about their venom. I'm sure some people are looking for some venom from your viper by the way, just throwing that out there.

[Will0W783]

If anyone is, they can contact me. I'd be willing to provide samples for research, but I'd have to know there was a party that wanted it before I'd risk milking her. It's not fun and it's very dangerous for a person to milk a viper.

[jaleely]

sooo so so cute. i just love vipers. loooove that stubby face ...looooveee!!!

[Missster Snake]

very nice! i love all the ateheris species its my goal to collect them all. a new one was recently discovered and ive heard someone has started a breading program with them atheris miltida i think it is. i have chlorichis and squamigera and im about to aquire netchi soon. where did you come across this snake? im very interested in getting one for myself

[Will0W783]

Misster Snake, I found her from a local guy who'd gotten her from a breeder. She's supposedly CBB, but I don't know for sure.

I have a friend who breeds most of the Atheris in New York, and he's trying to get A. matildae in soon. Your collection sounds awesome...I also have an albino Naja kaouthia...they keep you on your toes, don't they? lol.

[Missster Snake]

Wow I would love to meet you friend form ny and if he has any atheris available I want them! And yeah the cobra is very aggressive but nothing compared to my wetar that snake tries to kill me every time I take it out! I was a little afraid of my cobra at first but after a few times handling him it's one of my favorites to take out and work with. Do you ever have trouble with yours sheading? Mine is about to loose the tip of his tail bc it never sheads off

[Will0W783]

I do have some issues with my cobra shedding. I've found that keeping him on cypress mulch bedding and providing lots of cage decorations for him to rub on helps. I also mist him down every other day once he starts to cloud up and the last three sheds have been great. I would strongly suggest you get your cobra into a restraining tube and remove the stuck shed from its tail...if the tail becomes necrotic there can be a systemic infection that could seriously sicken your cobra. I'm not sure where Burlington is, but if you're at all close by, I can try to help you.

From your signature, I take it your cobra is a female? In time, she should calm down as she puts size on, but that's not a guarantee. The worst cobra I've ever dealt with was a 6' venomoid female...she was trying to bite me. My male was very easy to handle until he hit puberty...now he's tricky, but generally more bluff than actual aggression. Kaouthia want very much to scare you away, and if given the opportunity, they will attempt to frighten you, then run away when they determine it isn't working. NEVER take that for granted though....they are clever and will get you when you least expect it.

Your Wetar is aggressive? That's unusual...they are generally alert snakes, but not terribly aggressive. Mine is very curious, but not a striker. I've only been struck at once, and that was when I opened the cage to feed him....he flew out about 3 inches. I always make sure my hands are behind the doors as they open, so that I can't get nailed by wayward fangs.

[Will0W783]

Here's a fun "Om nom nom" pic!
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/10C2140D-9E6B-4968-8C78-A5D0AA86BD28-750-000000E852FCE71F.jpg

This is my other girl, Nagini, a 2011 Atheris broadleyi x squamigera cross.

[Missster Snake]

yeah since ive added the shed box she has been doing better and its a very small piece and its not discolored but i think im gona try the restraining tube can u jus get any clear plasic tubing the size of the snake or does it need to be a certain meteral?


the weter has been very alert and aggressive since ive had him always hungry and when i open the cage he will come right out. my biggest problem is when hes on a hook he wraps about 2 inches on it dead tight and with his other 12 or 13 inches is trying to get me as best he can lol im hopeing as he gets older he will calm down more.

[Missster Snake]

wow thats awesome!!! how many hots do u have? and how many atheris?

[Will0W783]

Yikes, your Wetar sounds like he thinks he's a purpureomaculatus! Lol.
Mine is always hungry too, but not terribly aggressive. I like aggressive vipers- I know exactly what to expect from them, instead of being in edge for the day they will snap.
My venomous are as follows:
1.1 2012 Southern copperheads (Penny and Rusty)
0.2 Wagler's temple vipers (Bisa Ular and Jade)
1.0 Wetar Island pit viper (Parallax)
0.1 Atheris broadleyi (Xena)
0.1 Atheris broadleyi x squamigera (Nagini)
0.1 Atheris chlorechis (Selina)
2.2 Eyelash vipers (Loki, Green Goblin, Mystique and Pyro)
1.0 albino monocled cobra (Shelby)

If you search my thread history, you should be able to find pictures of most of them. :)

[Missster Snake]

That's a very nice collection!!! I'm emailing a guy right now about atheris ceratophora. He has 2 very nice looking snakes I really hope to get one. Do you know if your friend that keeps atheris in NY has any available?

[Will0W783]

I think he has some baby squams that are due to be born soon. If he does, he'll bring them to the next Hamburg show. I'm hoping to get a red male squam from him. Is it Marty you're asking about the ceratophora? He was supposed to be getting a shipment in. I had a cerat for years; she was a cool snake. Had the worst temper I've ever seen on a snake, but it was almost amusing because she was so small and it was fairly easy to avoid her strikes. She'd get so mad that she'd just sit there with her mouth gaping open, fangs extended, hissing.

[Missster Snake]

No it's someone named Peter. He has an add on venemousreptiles.org he has 2 females! And put me in for any colored female squam! Lol I really wana breed my red male!

[Will0W783]

Ok will do...are you going to go to any of the PA reptile shows?

[Missster Snake]

No but I really want to I'm from nc so I normally go to the sc shows. There's one this weekend actually

[Snakeman8]

lucky you, i have to wait till 2014 for the next show in my area.

i love bush vipers, they look like the snake version of the porkipine.:)
pardon my spelling.

[Will0W783]

Haha, they do look like scaly porcupines! I love their bristly appearance and their large eyes. Sunday night, when feeding, I got a bit of a fright. Nagini, my broadleyi x squam cross, had just shed, and she was feeling cantankerous, so when I went to feed her she rocketed out of her cage and tried to make a break for it across the desk! I caught her with the feeding tongs as gently as I could and got her back into her cage, but I was all adrenaline-hyped. She has quite the set of fangs, and no antivenin is available to treat a bite from her!

[Snakeman8]

hahaha!, my rat snake does that when i feed her, its very annoying.

[TaylorWalker]

Her scales are freakin sweet.

[Snakeman8]

i love the scales,to, if they werent venomous, i could hold it all day.

i love snakes with rough scales, feels funny.:)

[Will0W783]

The rough, leafy scalation, and huge eyes are my favorite things about bush vipers. They look almost unreal. I would absolutely LOVE to own some hispida (hairy bush vipers), but so far no one has been able to keep them alive in captivity.

[Pareeeee]

I love these guys! Do you know how strong their venom is compared to other snakes?

[Will0W783]

Atheris can have quite a nasty bite. They used to be regarded as minimally venomous, but there have been deaths attributed, mainly to squamigera. However, that may be largely because squams are the most commonly kept of the Atheris.

They are tiny vipers, but they are quite agile and can throw their entire bodies into a strike, flip themselves over, and their strikes are lightning fast. They are fairly easy to work with once you get used to them though. Mine are generally calm and quiet until they are provoked...if you don't disturb their pose or try to shove food at them they will sit motionless on the branches as if they believe you can't see them.

It is also important to keep in mind that there is no antivenin available to treat Atheris bites. Some success using sawscale viper antivenin has been achieved, but it's not a guarantee. I know people who've been bitten and had mild swelling and stiffness for a few weeks, and others who have permanent damage from the bites...so basically, don't get bitten. ;)

[Pareeeee]

Thanks for the info. Very interesting!

[Will0W783]

No problem. I adore arboreal vipers and enjoy talking to others about them. :)

[Pareeeee]

I'm never going to attempt keeping hots, but if I did, I would choose anything with the word Atheris in it. (Atheris hispida in particular is my favourite venomous snake...I just love looking up pics of them)

[Will0W783]

Atheris hispida are absolutely amazing animals. Unfortunately, no one has been able to successfully keep them alive in captivity. They do not feed on rodents like other Atheris, nor do they thrive when fed geckos and frogs. As far as I know, their natural diet isn't really known. I do have a friend who had great success feeding one on banana slugs. However, when winter set in and he could no longer get slugs for it, the snake died. So as much as I love them, I wouldn't try to keep one until people have figured them out a bit and ideal conditions are known.

[beardeds4life]

No problem. I adore arboreal vipers and enjoy talking to others about them. :)

I agree! I love squams. They will probably be one of my first hots I own.

[Snakeman8]

the first hots i would like to keep are either rattlesnakes or cobras, albino prefferably

[Will0W783]

Snakeman8, neither of those is a good first venomous snake. I have an albino cobra, and while I do find him beautiful, he is very difficult to work with. He is fast, aggressive, and not shy at all. Cobras require agility, speed, and knowledge of their movements to keep you safe, and even then they learn to predict your movements and take advantage of any routine.

Rattlesnakes are very toxic, and almost always cause semi-permanent or permanent tissue damage. They are more likely to retreat than cobras, but strikes are fast and bites are very potent. While some species are worse than others, none make a good first hot.


I would recommend looking into less potent snakes for first hots. While there is no really good first venomous snake, there are some that are less likely to cause you to die from a mistake. American copperheads (Agkistrodon contotrix spp.) are a good start if you want to work with rattlers later on. They are alert, quick and curious, and can be feisty. Most US hospitals stock Cro-Fab because copperheads and rattlers are indigenous in most of the states. A copperhead bite can cause joint damage, some necrosis, systemic sickness, coagulation problems, but is generally not as bad as a rattlesnake bite.

The best practice I found for cobras isn't a venomous snake at all...it's mean rat snakes. I love my Spilotes, and she is actually trickier to handle on a hook than a cobra. However, coral cobras (Aspidelaps) are a nice starter elapid. Their bites are not good, but unlikely to cause any permanent damage.

I hope this helps. :)