I purchased a very young (neonate) rhino viper about 10 months ago. Through that whole time period I have done what most people who keep large Bitis do: mist...., soak....., mist...., soak. Those of you that keep large Bitis probably know what I am talking about.
Well, through all that time I had only seen it drink when I misted its cage. Yesterday, while I was doing the usual cage misting, my rhino viper came charging out of its hide and started lapping up the water off of a plastic plant I have in the cage for decoration and cover. Nothing unusual there. I made sure it got its belly full of water then stopped misting. Immediately the (not so) little guy went over to its water dish and started drinking. I was amazed! I stood there dumbfounded. I was too much in shock to grab my camera and take a photo.
I had at times, dragged the guy over to the water dish just to make sure he knew it existed.... I always got the samed pissed off huffing and puffing and he always ignored it.
I just wanted to share with you guys that my rhino actually found his water dish by himself and actually drank from it without my prompting.
From what I have read this is somewhat uncommon. I have read a few things where keepers said that their bitis always found the water dish and drank from it, but the most accounts I have seen indicated that Bitis were somewhat reluctant and usually ignored water dishes.
What are your experiences?

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