Eastern Russell's viper (Daboia siamensis)

Short answers

Eastern Russell's viper: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 175×105×70 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Oriental vipers).

Eastern Russell's viper: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–31 °C, basking spot 33–35 °C, at night 21–24 °C.

Eastern Russell's viper: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended.

Eastern Russell's viper: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years.

Eastern Russell's viper: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–31 °C

Night temperature

21–24 °C

Basking spot

33–35 °C

Humidity

55–70 %

UVB

UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 175×105×70 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Oriental vipers)

Substrate

Sand-loam with grass structure, hides

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice and rats

Feeding interval

adults every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

100–140 cm

Life expectancy

15–20 years

Origin

South-East Asia, southern China, Taiwan, Java

Protection status

VENOMOUS – of major medical significance; a dangerous animal

Brumation

A cooler spell is possible

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

The eastern sister species of Russell's viper, to be kept a little more humid. The same level of danger.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) – Expert
• Palestine viper (Daboia palaestinae) – Expert
• 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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Eastern Russell's viper (Daboia siamensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 175×105×70 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Oriental vipers)), substrate (Sand-loam with grass structure, hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.