Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm not the greatest at using a copter I did some google searches and came up with very little info. I'm looking for info on breeding mostly but any good information on health and captive care would be greatly apresheated.

Check out the British Herpetological Society Bulletin No.28.1989, there is a superb article about nasicornis written by John Akester of Harare, Zimbabwe.
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Cheers
Lateralis
"I would rather be precisely wrong than approximately right"
Marion "Doc" Ford

Why Breed them? There are already a surplus on the market.

I use Zoo Med Premium Repti Bark for a substrate because it hold mosture very well. I use a heat rock in one corner of cage covered by substrate. Yes, I use heat rocks. My Rhino never is anywhere near the heat source, they actually like to be on the cool side about 70 degrees. I use the Slimline Fluorescent Fixture w/ 18" Super UV Daylight Bulb (15-watt, T-8) - ESU Reptile for lighting on a timer to mimic the photo-cycle.

I use a sponge soaked in water hanging on the side of the cage to keep the humidity level up. I mist once a day not always on the animal plus I drag it over to the water dish at least once a week to drink. This is very important to prevent fecal impaction. One important issue that you need to know about Rhinos, they stress out very easy. Keep it as undisturbed as possible. If you see it shake it's head up & down it means leave me alone and go away. Even if you were going to feed it..it will only strike defensively and not feed.

That will get you started.

Al

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Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.
(Henry Ford)

It mite be a little harder to find a rhino where I live Ontario Canada I do have access to another male its females that I cant find. Still any info on rhino's would be cool.

I have found B. nasicornis easy to keep. They do like the temps low and humidity high. I soaked mine once a week to insure they were drinking. They also drink well if you drip water on there heads. Use a spary bottle and drip so water rolls past ther mouth. Once they tounge flick and realize it's water they will drink for along time. This takes along time but it is really interesting watching them gulp down water. As far as breeding goes it seems to be rare. Even guys who have had success find that they do not breed every year for them. More a luck thing on getting them to breed as far as I know. One more important note: They are VERY dangerous. They seem calm but can strike very fast in any direction and there venom is no joke. Not a good choice if you are not well trained. If you got bit by one you would be in serious trouble. Make sure anti venom is readily avilable. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Kevin

Thanks for the info, and yes I am very aware of how potentially dangerous a rhino is. The kind of information I cant seem to find would be more like. Do rhino vipers breed after a rainy season?do they breed during a shorter or longer light cycle? info on health and well being in captivity? I can find all kinds of reading material on any of my snakes except for my rhino viper. For example I have 1.1 green tree boa's if I did a search on them I could be up all night reading ifo on them. there just doesnt seem to be JACK on rhino vipers. I was hoping to get more then some care sheet.

Get the article that I mentioned before, it discusses all that you have inquired about and more.
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Cheers
Lateralis
"I would rather be precisely wrong than approximately right"
Marion "Doc" Ford

It wouldn't show the page. Do you have a link?

Breeding cycles for rhinos are simmilar to Ball Pythons for the most part. Like I said, not many breeders have had much luck in breeding them in captivity. It happens but is not common place.
One health warning: Be very careful when bringing new vipers into a collection. They pick up and pass viral infections easily. Make sure to quranteen for long periods. In general they are very easy to keep. Hope this helps!!
Finding info on any venomous is a lot harder than non hots.

Kevin