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I recently purchased a 4 year old female hypo viper boa at the West Plains show, and have her set up in a 20 long tank with reptibark substrate and natural wood hidebox/area, and a big bowl in which she can easily fit to soak. The first night I got her, she went right into the water bowl, but for the past three days, she has camped out in the hide box. As I've read Aspera tend to spend a lot of time in the water, I'm wondering if it might be because the hidebox is in the warmest area of her enclosure, and the water bowl is on the cooler side.

For all of you Viper Boa owners, what have your observations been when it comes to how much time your snakes spend in the water. I'm wondering if I should move the water bowl to a warmer part of the tank, or if she just isn't in the mood to soak. The tank is not particullarly humid (about 40 percent, which I know I need to increase - going to purchase a mister).

Also, I'm curious what temperature gradient you have in your viper boa enclosures. The warm part of my tank is 80 - the low 72. I think I need to get the overall temperatures up, but it's a challenge as the ambient temperature in the room is on the low side.

Thoughts...?

I dont know much about the viper boa sorry. But would really like to see pictures of the Hypo!!??!!

Try finding info at this site www.candoia.s5.com/

Good Luck
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C.E.Smith
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werther, do you have a photo of this "hypo" aspera??.....would love to see it....my vipers are all breeding right now and i will post pics soon of my red, yellow and orange specimens.....jerry conway
the candoia page

I thought you got out of C.aspera some time ago, Jerry? I would love to see any photos of the kinds of Vipers your keeping these days.

i sold my breeder vipers a few years back, but have recently aquired some awesome red, yellow and orange specimens....will be taking new pics soon....thanks for asking, jerry

pictures are on the way - I promise (getting a new digital camera this week!) - whether or not she is a true genetic 'hypo' I have no way of knowing - she doesn't have any black pigment, and was called a 'hypo' when I bought her, but I bought her because she was extremely docile and friendly (loves to crawl on me)

a quick aside - I was very fortunate to get her to eat a pre-killed mouse on the first go (she had previously been fed live), but she hasn't deficated since she ate a week ago - is this normal? (she's my first snake since I was a kid!)

thanks!

Viper boas do love to soak, but how much seems to be an individual preferance. I had one that rarely left the water. The two I have now soak for three or four days at a time then stay out of the water for several days.

I keep mine about 2 degrees warmer on the high end of the gradient but your temps are fine. They aren't the fastest food processors. Two weeks between feeding and defacating wouldn't be unusual.

Good luck with her.