Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased a very young (neonate) rhino viper about 10 months ago. Through that whole time period I have done what most people who keep large Bitis do: mist...., soak....., mist...., soak. Those of you that keep large Bitis probably know what I am talking about.
Well, through all that time I had only seen it drink when I misted its cage. Yesterday, while I was doing the usual cage misting, my rhino viper came charging out of its hide and started lapping up the water off of a plastic plant I have in the cage for decoration and cover. Nothing unusual there. I made sure it got its belly full of water then stopped misting. Immediately the (not so) little guy went over to its water dish and started drinking. I was amazed! I stood there dumbfounded. I was too much in shock to grab my camera and take a photo.
I had at times, dragged the guy over to the water dish just to make sure he knew it existed.... I always got the samed pissed off huffing and puffing and he always ignored it.
I just wanted to share with you guys that my rhino actually found his water dish by himself and actually drank from it without my prompting.
From what I have read this is somewhat uncommon. I have read a few things where keepers said that their bitis always found the water dish and drank from it, but the most accounts I have seen indicated that Bitis were somewhat reluctant and usually ignored water dishes.
What are your experiences?

I have 6 year old male that drinks from a water dish from time to time, he seems to drink for a very long time, but as soon as he is dun drinking there still the same amount of water left in the container, I can see the muscles in his head contracting it looks like hes getting a drink but you'd think some water would be gone. misting seems work well for me but I still offer a water dish.

The rhinos are usually better at keeping themselves hydrated than the gaboons. In the two years or so Ive had my gabs, I've never seen them drink, not even while being misted or soaked.