Blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera lebetina)

Short answers

Blunt-nosed viper: How big does the enclosure need to be?

150×80×60 cm.

Blunt-nosed viper: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 34–36 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Blunt-nosed viper: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended.

Blunt-nosed viper: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years.

Blunt-nosed viper: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

34–36 °C

Humidity

40–55 %

UVB

UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

150×80×60 cm

Substrate

Sand-loam with rock structures and crevices

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice and rats

Feeding interval

adults every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

100–150 cm

Life expectancy

15–20 years

Origin

Cyprus, Turkey, the Caucasus, the Near East to Pakistan

Protection status

VENOMOUS – medically significant; a dangerous animal

Brumation

A winter rest of 8–12 weeks at 10–14 °C

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Snakes are solitary and do not seek company — a shared hide is competition for the best spot, not social behaviour. The concrete reason is the feeding accident: if two animals grab the same food item, one can swallow the other along with it. On top of that, once they are kept together you can no longer tell which animal has eaten and which is losing weight. For breeding, put them together under supervision and separate them again afterwards.

Notes

A large, powerful viper with a high venom yield. Dry rocky country – stone structures must be absolutely solid.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Savanna vine snake (Thelotornis capensis) – Expert
• Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) – Expert
• Egyptian saw-scaled viper (Echis pyramidum) – Expert
• Barnett's lancehead (Bothrops barnetti) – Expert
• Usambara bush viper (Atheris ceratophora) – Expert
• Ottoman viper (Montivipera xanthina) – Expert
• Malayan krait (Bungarus candidus) – Expert
• Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera lebetina) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (150×80×60 cm), substrate (Sand-loam with rock structures and crevices), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.