Reptile & Amphibian Forums

well i picked up a pair of desert horns a while back and havent had much luck finding info on breeding them. so i was wondering if any of u guys could shed some light on this for me... such as what time of year to do it... when to join them etc etc... anything u got. also.. my dessert horns havent shed since i've gotten them... does shedding slow down as they age or reach maximum size?? not too much literature on these guys except for a basic care sheet.. so any info u guys could lend me would be a big help!!

thanx,
gary

Hi:

I find the Genus very easy to keep. I suggest you buy the book by: Ludwig Trutnau's Venomous Snakes: Snakes in the Terrarium

http://www.plumed-serpent.com/dscour.html

It has a wealth of information on this Genus and many, many others.

Al
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The more people I meet...the better I like my venomous snakes.

I bought a female three years ago. She does great on just sand, no water bowl and temps 75-80F. In the same time I have had four males. The longest lasting of these stayed alive nine months. This seems to be a problem common with male horned Vipers as I have met several folk with the same experience.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Ours have bred every year but one for the last 7 years. Cluthches range from 25-35 eggs. Breeding takes place in early November almost like clock work. These snakes do require water at all times. Ours literally drink copious amounts of water 2-3 times a week. Kept on sand. Temps fluctuate 80-90 degrees depending on external weather patterns.
Feeding once every 3-4 weeks is optimum. Our male at 24 inches give or take, gets one mouse the female at approx 36 inches gets one just weaned rat. Shedding 2-4 times a year.
Regards,
Taphillip
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It's what you learn AFTER you know it all that counts!

Terry Phillip
Curator of Reptiles
Black Hills Reptile Gardens
Rapid City, SD.

www.reptilegardens.com

I agree with Terry in that this species does require water. I fill a small bowl and allow it to evaporate and then refill it (basically, the snakes have opportunities to drink fresh water 2-3 times a week). Some advocate withholding water completely but I think that is a dangerous practice. Our male Cerastes is 5 years old and going strong (same with females). We feed our's 1 mouse every 3 weeks and each animal is kept on 3" of sand with several pieces of old driftwood. Each cage has full spectrum lighting and is heated by a pro product radiant heat panel (a great way to provide heat for this species).

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>Ours have bred every year but one for the last 7 years. Cluthches range from 25-35 eggs. Breeding takes place in early November almost like clock work. These snakes do require water at all times. Ours literally drink copious amounts of water 2-3 times a week. Kept on sand. Temps fluctuate 80-90 degrees depending on external weather patterns.
>>Feeding once every 3-4 weeks is optimum. Our male at 24 inches give or take, gets one mouse the female at approx 36 inches gets one just weaned rat. Shedding 2-4 times a year.
>>Regards,
>>Taphillip
>>-----
>>It's what you learn AFTER you know it all that counts!
>>
>>Terry Phillip
>>Curator of Reptiles
>>Black Hills Reptile Gardens
>>Rapid City, SD.
>>
>>www.reptilegardens.com
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Not trying to rock the boat here...Interesting thing on that water issue. I mist the side glass once every two months for my female cerastes. Funny, the males I had-had access to water (bowls)and they died. Which is why I removed it from my females cage.

There was a interesting impromptu discusion about this (between people who had lost males)at the 94 expo.

Why some do great with water and some do great without it? Don't we wish we knew the answer to that one?

Also in my collection is a Mojave sidewinder I have had for five years. He eats great, has gotten very good growth and never has touched a drop of water in his life. The only Sidewinder I ever lost, was one I put a water bowl in with. Perhaps it is our S. Fla high humidity that makes the difference...?

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

mmm interesting... i've kept my pair with water at all times... and while i've never seen them actually drink with my own 2 eyes... they've never responded negatively to it. rather than experiment.. i guess my best bet is to leave them as they are... if it isnt broken.. dont fix it right?

My guess is that the humidity is the culprit; Cerastes and sidewinders and notoriously sensitive to any moderate levels of humidity. But, as the other person said, there are many ways to achieve success and we each have to do what we feel is best for our animals.

>>Not trying to rock the boat here...Interesting thing on that water issue. I mist the side glass once every two months for my female cerastes. Funny, the males I had-had access to water (bowls)and they died. Which is why I removed it from my females cage.
>>
>>There was a interesting impromptu discusion about this (between people who had lost males)at the 94 expo.
>>
>>Why some do great with water and some do great without it? Don't we wish we knew the answer to that one?
>>
>>Also in my collection is a Mojave sidewinder I have had for five years. He eats great, has gotten very good growth and never has touched a drop of water in his life. The only Sidewinder I ever lost, was one I put a water bowl in with. Perhaps it is our S. Fla high humidity that makes the difference...?
>>
>>Frank
>>-----
>>"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL