Looking for info on Bitis parviocula

[Crotalus75]

I have been looking for information on Bitis parviocula with very limited success. Just wondering if any of you can point me in the direction of online info, books or other publications with any info on this species. I am mainly looking for biology, natural history and captive husbandry/reproduction info. Has anyone here had any experience with these guys? Have their been any captive breedings of this species in private collections or zoos?

[atheris]

True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers
by Authors: David Mallow , David Ludwig , Goran Nilson
Released: 20 May, 2003
ISBN: 0894648772

[Maik Dobiey]

Hello,

If you had "very limited" succes and not "no success at all" you have probably found everything available on this species.
There are only 4 specimens in zoological collections all over the world and not many more in pravate collections.
Bitis parviocula(Böhme 1977) is rather rare in its smal habitat in Etiopia. So there are only some assumptions on how they live and so on. Real facts are as rare as the snake itself.
Maybee you can contact Thomas B. Price as he keeps(kept?) one.
But if you want to keep one I can tell you that you can search a long time and in this time you should save a lot of money...

greets Maik

[Mustangrde1]

Contact Hank Molt he has one now.

[Crotalus75]

Thanks guys. I suspected that there may not be much info available. I was looking at Hanks pics the other day. Nice looking animals with a price tag to match (....but heck a guy has to use his student loans for something right? lol)!

[Crotalus75]

Does anybody know what the average adult size of this species is? I assume that they are a smaller species than Bitis gabonica and arietans but larger than the dwarf Bitis species??? Maybe similair to nasicornis?

[Gregg M]

They are way smaller than B. gabonica....... B. nasicornis average a larger size also....... I would say they are closer in size to the dwaft puff adder......... I am guessing an average size of 2 and a half to 3 feet max........ Save your pennies if you want one because the ones I have seen for sale are a bit pricey....... And you are right in thinking that there is not much written on them....... The important thing to learn is how they are kept in captivity from people that keeps or kept them........ That plus getting data from the area they are from should give you a pretty good idea on how to keep them alive and healthy and maybe even breeding....... I used to study the environment of which the species i keep come from but it is now much more important to learn, study, and record how these animals are kept in captivity........... Captive reptiles react to things differently then they would in the wild........ Good luck with your search........ They are pretty cool bitis but dont get big enough for me.....LOL

[Crotalus75]

I have to agree with you on the the size thing. I like my snakes LARGE. (Gaboons, retics, etc..) Pricey is an understatement! LOL
It's also not a very easy task to locate dealers that have EVER even had this species for sale. I have only found 3 so far.

[Maik Dobiey]

Just a few words to their size:

I have already had one in my hands and this specimen was abaut 70 to 80cm, but they should grow up to a size a bit more than a meter - maybe 1,20m in length, at least considering their close relatianship to B. gabonica and B. nasicornis. These three species define the subgenus Macrocerastes(see e.g. Lenk & al 1999)...

-regards-

Maik

[cobraman]

I was just offered a few from Ethiopia @ $600 each, but I would have to accept a bunch of other JUNK with it. I am happy to forward the e-mail offer to anyone who wants it.
Blessings,
Ray Hunter