Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus)

Short answers

Saw-scaled viper: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×50×50 cm.

Saw-scaled viper: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 35–38 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Saw-scaled viper: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended.

Saw-scaled viper: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Saw-scaled viper: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

35–38 °C

Humidity

30–45 %, offer a humid hide

UVB

UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×50×50 cm

Substrate

A sand-loam mix, flat stones, diggable

Feeding

Food

Small frozen-thawed mice; insects for juveniles

Feeding interval

adults every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

40–60 cm (rarely up to 80 cm)

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

The Near East to India and Sri Lanka – arid regions

Protection status

VENOMOUS – of major medical significance (one of the genera responsible for the most bite incidents worldwide); a dangerous animal, requiring a permit or notification depending on the German state

Brumation

A cooler spell of 6–8 weeks 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

Small, very fast and decidedly quick to bite – it warns by rubbing its scales together (a rasping sound). The venom is strongly haemotoxic; bites are life-threatening even from small animals. Work only with a hook and an emergency plan.

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Related species

• Egyptian saw-scaled viper (Echis pyramidum) – Expert
• Painted saw-scaled viper (Echis coloratus) – Expert
• Sochurek's saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus sochureki) – Expert
• West African carpet viper (Echis ocellatus) – Expert
• Savanna vine snake (Thelotornis capensis) – Expert
• Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) – Expert
• Barnett's lancehead (Bothrops barnetti) – Expert
• Usambara bush viper (Atheris ceratophora) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×50 cm), substrate (A sand-loam mix, flat stones, diggable), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.