My good friend decided to get out of keeping snakes until his children are older and offered me his last two animals. I needed more snakes like I needed a hole in the head, but I knew the history of the animals and couldn't pass them up.
They are long-term captive Atheris chlorechis, or West African bush vipers. These guys are sometimes also called West African leaf viper. Either way, I'm very happy...these are plump, healthy, breedable animals. Atheris are very rarely brought into the country anymore, and few people keep the bloodlines going, so I"m hoping to have some success propagating some of the less common species.
Here they are...
The male (without flash...somewhat pales him):
With flash (he's brighter green than this but the bluish tinge is true):
Here's the female (without flash):
With flash (She's closer to this shade, but lighter...very blue):
It really is amazing with these guys how their colors change with photography...it's really hard to get a picture to capture their in-flesh coloration. I love them and am thrilled to be able to add them to my collection. Selina, my original female, is still hanging in there, so I'm hoping that she can eventually become healthy enough to create a trio. Honestly, I'll be happy if she just survives though...she came to me with a very virulent type of whipworm.
The new guys are clean and healthy though, and already eat frozen/thawed.
More Atheris....chlorechis this time.
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