Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i would like you all to post usefull information for a person buying his first puff adder please! thanks! -matt

There is alot to know before getting a puff adder..... Have you kept any other members of the Bitis family or any other vipers??? If not, a puff may not be the best choice...... I can give you some info on them but I still do not recomend them if you do not have experiance in large vipers or other bitis species..... Temperment varies from snake to snake but they are usually agressive and snappy and will not think twice about sinking a couple of fangs deap into your flesh..... The bite is highly necrotic and can be fatal very fast if it is a well placed bite....... The fangs are very long..... Not as long as gaboons but they are a close second...... You do not want to get bit...... If you live you will be missing atleast a couple of fingers...... Amputation happens alot after an envenomation from a puff adder...... Also keep in mind that puff adders kill more people in some parts of Africa, than any other snake..... Ok now that you know alittle something about its bite we can get into keeping it healthy..... Puffs are from dry areas but not real desert areas...... A fresh supply of drinking water should always be in its enclosier...... I use care fresh bedding on all my bitis species....... It is clean and dry and can for the most part be passed safely if injested...... They should have a basking spot even though they do not generaly use them all that often...... 80 to 90 degrees day time temp and you can go as low as 70 at night...... You should also use an under tank heater...... They are actually very easy to keep but like I said they are very willing to bite..... The strike is very fast and can catch you off guard easily..... Good luck..... I hope everything works out for you....
Gregg

>>i would like you all to post usefull information for a person buying his first puff adder please! thanks! -matt

Gaboonkeepr just gave you a ton of info, I ain't gonna repeat it all but what do you still need to know ?

Cheers,
Peter
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