Re: i need a bit of help please!
Hello and welcome. Since I see that you are also here in the US, they are not too hard to find. They pop up on Fauna classifieds.com and kingsnake.com and sometimes show up at pet stores. That Pet Place in Lancaster, PA has one.
The problem is, they are all wild caught (don't know of anyone that has had success breeding them) so if you get one, treat it with Panacure (fenbendazole) for worms. A google search on Panacure for snakes will tell you the proper dosage. I think it is something like 2.5mg/kg, but look to be sure. It's been a while since I had to use it.
Keeping them once you have one is not too hard. They like mid-80s temperatures, with high humidity. You will need a vertically oriented cage (ZooMed and Exoterra both make some nice glass ones) that opens in the front (never approach an arboreal snake from above- great way to get bitten), and a fogger to keep the humidity up. Most of the ones I've seen for sale eat geckos and anoles, hence why I don't have one- too expensive to feed. Occasionally you can find one that has been switches to rodents, but they are few and far between, so prepare for having to scent rodents or provide lizards for food.
While they are rear-fanged venomous, they are generally considered harmless to humans, as they have a poor venom delivery system. However, if you are allergic to components in the venom, a bite can be bad. They are generally flightly, nervous and quick, but most can be calmed with a bit of gentle regular handling. Once accustomed to handling, they are curious, delicate and beautiful snakes.
Best of luck finding one, just keep trolling the online forums and craigslist and you'll find one before too long.
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Dr. Viper
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