Palestine viper (Daboia palaestinae)

Short answers

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

From 165×100×65 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Oriental vipers).

Palestine viper: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–30 °C, basking spot 33–35 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Palestine viper: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended.

Palestine viper: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years.

Palestine viper: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–30 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

33–35 °C

Humidity

45–60 %

UVB

UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 165×100×65 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Oriental vipers)

Substrate

Sand-loam with stones and hides

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice and rats

Feeding interval

adults every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

80–130 cm

Life expectancy

15–20 years

Origin

Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan

Protection status

VENOMOUS – the most common cause of bites in Israel; a dangerous animal

Brumation

A cooler rest of 8–10 weeks at 14–16 °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 Mediterranean climate with a pronounced cool season – a winter rest is part of it. Nocturnal in summer, diurnal in spring.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) – Expert
• Eastern Russell's viper (Daboia siamensis) – 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 Palestine viper (Daboia palaestinae) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 165×100×65 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Oriental vipers)), substrate (Sand-loam with stones and 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.