Usambara bush viper (Atheris ceratophora)

Short answers

Usambara bush viper: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100 × 50 × 80 cm (W × D × H).

Usambara bush viper: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–24 °C, basking spot 27 °C, locally, at night 14–18 °C.

Usambara bush viper: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Weak UVB recommended.

Usambara bush viper: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Usambara bush viper: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–24 °C

Night temperature

14–18 °C

Basking spot

27 °C, locally

Humidity

80 % after misting (3–4× per week), then let it dry out completely

UVB

Weak UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

100 × 50 × 80 cm (W × D × H)

Substrate

Coco humus or sphagnum, rich in moss, climbing branches

Feeding

Food

Small frozen-thawed mice, frogs

Feeding interval

adults every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

35–55 cm total length, females larger than males

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Tanzania — the Usambara, Uluguru and Udzungwa Mountains, endemic, montane forests at 700–2000 m altitude

Protection status

VENOMOUS – a dangerous animal; endemic and threatened, so proof of origin matters especially

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 small montane forest species with striking horn scales above the eyes. Keep it cool and humid; warmth above 28 °C is tolerated poorly. Because of the small range, acquire it only with clean proof of captive breeding.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Usambara bush viper (Atheris ceratophora) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Variable bush viper (Atheris squamigera) – Expert
• Great Lakes bush viper (Atheris nitschei) – Expert
• Rough-scaled bush viper (Atheris hispida) – Expert
• West African bush viper (Atheris chlorechis) – 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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Usambara bush viper (Atheris ceratophora) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100 × 50 × 80 cm (W × D × H)), substrate (Coco humus or sphagnum, rich in moss, climbing branches), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.