Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been thinking about keeping a Trimersursus spp. in captivity for some time now. I am an experienced reptile keeper (over 10 years in the field) and have had constructed a professional tank for housing a venomous species.

I had narrowed my list down to the following:

Wagler's Viper
Eyelash Viper
Honduran Palm Viper
Pope's Tree Viper
White-lipped Pit Viper

This is assuming I can purchase a captive-bred species.
Has anyone experience with any of these Vipers and if so, which would make the best candidate for captive care?

Thanks.

As a first Trim I´d recommend Trimeresurus albolabris. They´re easy to keep, normally feed well (the males might occasionally be a bit tricky). They´re easy to handle although may sometimes be a bit "jumpy".

Pope's Tree Viper (T. popeiorum) sold in the US often seem to be T. albolabris. The "real" pope´s seem to be easy to keep as well.

Wagler's Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri) and the Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) are slightly more difficult but not at all impossible.

I wouldn´t recommend the Honduran Palm Viper (Bothriechis marchi) simply because they´re a lot more expensive than the other spp. Therefore I`d get a T. albolabrist first and gain some experience with this lovely Trimeresurus genus.

Martti

Thank you kindly for the information. As far as the Honduran Palms go, you say they are more expensive, I don't mind that, how well do they do in captivity?

Honestly, I don't know. But I would assume that they would be more difficult than the previously mentioned species. There doesn't seem to be that much information around about them.

Martti