Sochurek's saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus sochureki)

Short answers

Sochurek's saw-scaled viper: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 100×55×50 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, carpet vipers).

Sochurek's saw-scaled viper: What temperature does it need?

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

Sochurek's saw-scaled viper: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended.

Sochurek's saw-scaled viper: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Sochurek's 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 %

UVB

UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 100×55×50 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, carpet vipers)

Substrate

A sand-loam mix with flat stones

Feeding

Food

Small frozen-thawed mice

Feeding interval

adults every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

50–70 cm (stockier than the nominate form)

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, north-western India

Protection status

VENOMOUS – a dangerous animal; a permit or notification is required, varying by 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

The largest and, in captivity, commonest form among the Russell's viper relatives. Behaviour as in the nominate form: very fast, quick to bite, warning with a rasp of the scales.

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Related species

• Egyptian saw-scaled viper (Echis pyramidum) – Expert
• Painted saw-scaled viper (Echis coloratus) – Expert
• Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) – 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 Sochurek's saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus sochureki) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 100×55×50 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, carpet vipers)), substrate (A sand-loam mix with flat stones), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.