Ottoman viper (Montivipera xanthina)

Short answers

Ottoman viper: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 165×100×65 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, as for Vipera); up to 110 cm; for island animals up to 130 cm, around 163×98×65 cm (1997 expert report, formula for Vipera: 1.25 × 0.75 × 0.5 times total length).

Ottoman viper: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–29 °C, basking spot 32–34 °C, at night 15–19 °C.

Ottoman viper: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended.

Ottoman viper: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years.

Ottoman viper: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–29 °C

Night temperature

15–19 °C

Basking spot

32–34 °C

Humidity

45–60 %

UVB

UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 165×100×65 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, as for Vipera); up to 110 cm; for island animals up to 130 cm, around 163×98×65 cm (1997 expert report, formula for Vipera: 1.25 × 0.75 × 0.5 times total length)

Substrate

Rock and loam with crevices, stone slabs

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice

Feeding interval

adults every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 70–95 cm, on Aegean islands up to 130 cm

Life expectancy

15–20 years

Origin

Western Turkey, the eastern Aegean islands

Protection status

VENOMOUS – a dangerous animal; protected within its range

Brumation

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

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 montane species with a genuine change of seasons – without a cool winter rest it cannot be kept healthy long term. Diurnal in spring, crepuscular in summer.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Savanna vine snake (Thelotornis capensis) – Expert
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• Barnett's lancehead (Bothrops barnetti) – Expert
• Usambara bush viper (Atheris ceratophora) – Expert
• Malayan krait (Bungarus candidus) – Expert
• Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) – Expert
• Brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Ottoman viper (Montivipera xanthina) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 165×100×65 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, as for Vipera); up to 110 cm; for island animals up to 130 cm, around 163×98×65 cm (1997 expert report, formula for Vipera: 1.25 × 0.75 × 0.5 times total length)), substrate (Rock and loam with crevices, stone slabs), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.