Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Could any of you out there point me to a caresheet on Echis? I have been seriously thinking about getting one and have not found too much on the web about captivity requirements... the usual stuff... temps... substrate.. feeding.... blah blah blah.
Thanks
Michael

They are very easy to keep other than hooking. They are VERY DANGEROUS!!!! They strike at anything and tend to envenomate on most bites. They are not easy to handle and tend to be difficult to hook at times. Other than the risk involved they are simple. I would suggest day time highs of 90 with night drops as low as mid 60s. Substrates could be sand, aspen, mulch, newspaper, ect... They feed well on most rodents ( live or f/t )
Good luck

Kevin

Thanks. I appreciate it! I have been a fan of them for some time and have decided to take the "next step" -- actually making a purchase -- in the very near future.

Michael
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Cohabitants
0.1 Western Hognose
0.0.1 Goliath birdeater
0.0.1 Jv Cottonmouth
1.0 Ball Python
1.0 Red tail boa
1.1 Rose hair Tarantula
0.1 Canebrake
0.1 neonate rhino viper

You absolutely MUST know the exact species and locality when keeping Echis! Since there is major differences in venom composition even within the same species from different localities, you will need to know this information so the proper AV is used. Keep in mind that the AV for one locality of Echis may not work so well for the bite from another locality. Echis is problematic in this respect, and that is one of the number one reasons why they are so dangerous.

I seem to remember hearing that there were some suspected hybrid Echis (carinatus X pyramidium maybe) floating around a few years back, which is quite frankly very scary.

We can't be talking about the same Genus! I already keep two species, 1.1 Echis pyramidum & 1.1 Echis carinatus sochureki, with three more species to be added at Daytona. They're pussycats compared to my Puff Adder and several others I keep. Don't get me wrong, they have an evil reputation and are exceptionally toxic. Like 7th on the famous list of 10 by some estimates, pretty danm good for a small Viperid. (Okay, don't go there, I am not going to get into a pissing match about the list of 10, DEAD IS DEAD)

This is my account of my Echis, somebody elses may behave differently.

All mine hook well and are fairly calm. They are a very skiddish and tend to retreat when startled so move SLOWLY, still they rarely assume a defensive posture and "SawScale". I've had them strike at me only once or twice, when I was sticking a camera lens in their face. One male likes to take a supervised lap or two around the snake room and is very easy to control with a hook, never gives me a problem. Well, okay he does like to visit the big thing on the other end of the hook on occassion but does so in a non-agressive manner that is easy to counter.

They tend to want to feed on Live fuzzies and hoppers, only on ocassion with they eat F/T even then you have to go "fishing" and make them think it's alive, like you're Bass Fishing.

I keep them in a Precision "Small Cage" on the crushed Walnut shell substrate. They like lots of cover and small bushes to climb in. I use a 40W ceramic emitter to provide heat with a thermostate set to 90 degrees max.and a night heat drop to the 70's.

They are doing very well, both pairs copulated in May and I hoping to have young this month or next.

Good Luck,

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

DH June 2005

Well if you Do have some luck... drop me an email, I'd be interested in lessening the amount of hungry mouths you have to feed.
Thanks for the info.
Michael
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Cohabitants
0.1 Western Hognose
0.0.1 Goliath birdeater
0.0.1 Jv Cottonmouth
0.1 Red tail boa
0.1 Canebrake
0.1 neonate rhino viper
0.1 pygmy rattlesnake
1.0 Sidewinder(laterorepens)