Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking for info on Malaysian pit-vipers. What is average adult size of males and females? How often to feed? Any other info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Hi Nick:

Off the top of my head.....

They average about 2 ft in length. A really big one will get to about a meter in length.

Treat it like you would a Copperhead but more on the tropical side. More humidity and a bit higher temperature will be good. Should feed nicely on mice, again nothing special with feeding it but WC specimens most likely have paracytes. One every 10 to 14 days is a good feeding interval for adults.

Caution: They can inflict fatal bites, prompt hospital care and Antivenom is required.

Good luck,

Al
-----
"Fighting on the forums is like competing in the Special Olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded."

DH June 2005

Based on my 2.2 animals, they keep well in captivity. I feed them about once every 2-3 weeks. Males are smaller than females at about 2' and 3' respectively. All were WC, and heavily parasitized when I got them.

They are very easily agitated, and flightly. Once they are agitated
best of luck trying to hook them. They also have quite a strike range. I have seen all my animals 'jump' across the cage for the prey.

They are easy to breed, and they lay eggs. The babies are a bear to get to feed. Try using tiny frogs or lizards at first.

And as they other reply said, their bite is nasty. They have the 2nd longest fangs in the Agkistrodon complex as well.

Mine was cb, sub-adult. She is pretty cool. She doesn't get upset very easy but she was when she came off the plane, but has settled in very nicely and it takes a lot to piss her off. She feeds well but only likes live. Is there venom very toxic??? She is definitly an awesome animal and has become one of my favorite species... Thanks guys! Be safe!!!

BIG MAC anyone??? Think my jumping viper prefers mice. She destroys them, luckily for this one it was already dead...

Yes, Nick...

Read our posts carefully: The bite can be FATAL=Very Toxic member of the Agkistrodon complex. Heed our warnings and take care!

Al
-----
"Fighting on the forums is like competing in the Special Olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded."

DH June 2005

This captive born specimen has a stripe down it? I have not seen many specimes to determine if this is the norm or a striped specimen? Anyone else reading know? Thanks.

Dan

...to buy a venemous snake without knowing every minute detail about it first. Might get a man killed.

I've kept a variety of venomous species for over 30 years, so perhaps you should do your homework and ask your mommy before you spout ignorance. If you have some information helpful to my inquiry, then I would be glad to hear it. Do you have many reference books with many pictures of Malaysian pit vipers? I have seen dozens of wild specimens, but none with such a stripe that I can recall. If you have some useful information, I would be glad to hear it.

Thank you Oxyrhopus...

Oxyrhopus, my sincere apologies to you... I had intended to post as a reply to the beginner of the thread.

NRI posted asking how big they get, and about feeding. I would have thought these to be a good things to know before making a purchase of something that could potentially kill someone.

A hot's colour, however, is less significant to safe husbandry. My remark was not aimed at you, but at the original poster.

Oh, OK, well I should have perhaps figured it out before writing back as I did not understand it anyway. There are a lot of venomous snakes bought and sold to novices and professionals alike and there actually is not a lot of information available on many species. And even the people selling them do not always have the right or complete answer. And opinions vary so you have to try and seek information from a large source of people. Sometimes I see folks asking questions about a common species they perhaps will take a risk with buying and perhaps it's often better to give adivce as they are going to get it no matter how we discourage its purchase. And to be honest with you, the best thing to keep any venomous snake is good clear common sense. People asking questions regardless of their intentions is always a good sign.

Oxyrhopus,

I am glad we have sorted this out.

Perhaps I was too blatent in my remark, but, the fact is, it was true. Some people (and this is not directed specifically at NRI) just don't get the point unless it hits them in the face. Size is a vital piece of info. As is feeding. More importantly though... NRI proceeded to ask about the toxicity of the venom. It is 'just plain stupid' to not know everything about it. Lets face it, many hospitals are underequipped to deal with bites, and it may be the owner himself/herself who is muttering words of advice to the doctor.

I had not intended to have a dig at you, persay. My apologies if it seemed so.

Cheers.

Dear AustHerps, I don't think your post should have been "aimed" at anyone. This is not a shooting gallery and I really don't appreciate the post. All I asked was for a little info. The info I find on line is vague and everything says something different. So, I posted the question on line to see what other keepers knew, to give me a more relevant answer. I did know for a fact they don't get very big, just wasn't 100% on the average size. This is probably one of the best places for info. If info is what people would give, rather than "aiming" shots at people we could probably make a lot more progress. Look at all the stupid arguments down the post page, what if all that was good information. I always try to stay out of everyone’s business unless I have some helpful advice. The comment you wrote was not helpful.

Everyone has a different point of view though, and is entitled to his/her opinion. Thank you for your time though, and I would like to hear any info you may have about the species. Please feel free to e-mail me personally. Otherwise, be safe, and no hard feelings please. Enjoy the extended weekend and have a great 4th.

NRI,

The word 'aimed' was not intended to connotate an attack. I was merely explaining that it was you to whom my post was directed.

It is just that if everyone researched their hots before any purchase, there would be a lot less 'accidents'.

Feeding info is primary knowledge - to be learned before any purchase.

To some, 'rather small' might mean 5 feet. Or it might mean 2 feet.

No hard feelings... my main concern was for the reputation of hot keepers

Cheers.

Thank you but what I do/buy is no one's business ( I am NRI ). All I wanted was info, and you gave me nothing but motherly advice which I don't need. Big to me means 7-8ft. I have had plenty of experience with many different species including crazy 5-6ft elaphids, which a Malaysian pit-viper is nothing compared, yet respected either way. Let's end this now, we are taking up "good" info space. Again, thanks for your time, and again if you have any good info on the species, please feel free to e-mail me personaly... Good times.

Mine has a stripe also. How old is yours???

At the time of that picture, it was a year old but now its approaching almost two years old. One thing very important about them is that although many venomous species seem to adapt nicely to captivity and only approach for food, the Malaysian pit viper, even my little one, will attempt to bite for the sake of just biting someone. And they can extend almost the entire length when striking and sorta jump and striking. When mine was a yearling it struck and reached about 14 inches across the cage at the water bowl when I used forceps to remove it, so just make sure you have an instrument the length of the snake when maintaining its cage. Oh, and to feed the babies is not as hard as it sounds. I took defrosted pinks and scented them with a frozen frog and bounced the pink around the snake on 18 inch forceps and after doing this a while and touching the snake, it gathered the idea it was a frog and struck and held on. And feeding babies in low light helps to stimulate sunset and their usual feeding behavior. After about 10 feedings of pinks, I introduced a runt hopper mouse and the hopper moving around so quickly was easily taken and it continued on hoppers. Good Luck. They are actually a very attractive species that does not get the attention they deserve.

Yeah, I'd like to have another.

I recall that there were some for sale recently on the venomous classifieds. Ray from HBR has some as did Exotic Reptiles.

Bill Haast many years ago did extensive venom collection from what was then Agkistrodon rhodostoma. He may still be producing large quantities of their venom. It seems that unlike a lot of venoms, which cause bleeding, this venom actually clots the blood. A woman within the range of the snake was bitten while pregnant. She had a history of having difficult childbirths due to excessive bleeding. For the birth near the time of the bite, she had no problems. Her doctor put two & two together, & the blood-clotting abilities of Calloselasma rhodostoma were discovered.

~~Greg~~

Thanks for the information, very interesting. Yea, many experienced reptile folk who see my collection notice the Malaysian Pit Viper and warn me about it. Mr. Haast is a hero as far as I am concerned. In the early 70's my friend was bitten when we found a mom and dozen or more baby eastern diamondbacks and Mr. Haast came to the hospital to help him by offering his own blood. Further, he asked me where I found them and a day later he took me to the spot I knew about and went herping with him. I will never forget walking the forests of South Florida with Mr. Haast. The forest is gone but not the helpful and considerate thoughts of Mr. Haast.

Dan