Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma)
Snakes · Difficulty: Expert
Key facts and care guidance for Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) (origin: South-East Asia – plantations and forest edges). Adult size around 60–100 cm. Life expectancy 12–18 years. The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
Malayan pit viper: How big does the enclosure need to be?
120×60×50 cm.
Malayan pit viper: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 26–30 °C, basking spot 31–32 °C, at night 22–24 °C.
Malayan pit viper: Does it need UVB lighting?
UVB: Not essential.
Malayan pit viper: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: 12–18 years.
Malayan pit viper: Is it suitable for beginners?
No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 26–30 °C
- Night temperature
- 22–24 °C
- Basking spot
- 31–32 °C
- Humidity
- 65–80 %
- UVB
- Not essential
Enclosure
- Minimum size
- 120×60×50 cm
- Substrate
- Leaf litter over coco soil, hides near the ground
Feeding
- Food
- Frozen-thawed mice
- Feeding interval
- adults every 10–14 days
Key facts
- Adult size
- 60–100 cm
- Life expectancy
- 12–18 years
- Origin
- South-East Asia – plantations and forest edges
- Protection status
- VENOMOUS – a common cause of bites in South-East Asia; a dangerous animal
- Brumation
- None
- 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 ground-dwelling ambush hunter, extremely well camouflaged, and it hardly ever flees. A very fast strike from rest.
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
What you need to start
To keep Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×50 cm), substrate (Leaf litter over coco soil, hides near the ground), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.
The complete, interactive care database is in the Reptoria app.
Last updated: 8 November 2026 · Editor: Reptoria editorial team · Sources include: Reptile Database: Calloselasma rhodostoma - Reproduction – https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Calloselasma&species=rhodostoma, Wikipedia: Malayan pit viper, eierlegend, dünne Eischalen – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_pit_viper, https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayische_Mokassinotter, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calloselasma, https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Calloselasma&species=rhodostoma
All values are non-binding guidance and do not replace expert advice. Research thoroughly from several sources before acquiring and keeping an animal, and observe the applicable law (species and animal protection in particular).