White-lipped pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris)
Snakes · Difficulty: Expert
Key facts and care guidance for White-lipped pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) (origin: South-East Asia – forest, bamboo thickets, gardens). Adult size around 60–90 cm (females larger). Life expectancy 10–15 years. The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
White-lipped pit viper: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 24–29 °C, basking spot 30 °C, at night 20–23 °C.
White-lipped pit viper: Does it need UVB lighting?
UVB: Weak UVB recommended.
White-lipped pit viper: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: 10–15 years.
White-lipped pit viper: Is it suitable for beginners?
No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).
White-lipped pit viper: Can several be kept together?
Keep them singly.
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 24–29 °C
- Night temperature
- 20–23 °C
- Basking spot
- 30 °C
- Humidity
- 70–85 %
- UVB
- Weak UVB recommended
Enclosure
- Minimum size
- ab 90×45×70 cm (Mindestmaß nach dem Gutachten von 1997, baumbewohnende Bambusottern); Höhe wichtiger als Grundfläche
- Substrate
- Coco humus, plenty of horizontal branches, dense planting
Feeding
- Food
- Small frozen-thawed mice, occasionally frogs
- Feeding interval
- adults every 10–14 days
Key facts
- Adult size
- 60–90 cm (females larger)
- Life expectancy
- 10–15 years
- Origin
- South-East Asia – forest, bamboo thickets, gardens
- Protection status
- VENOMOUS – a common cause of bites in South-East Asia; a dangerous animal, requiring a permit or notification depending on the German state
- 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
The commonest bamboo viper in captivity. Arboreal and nocturnal; by day it sits quietly on branches – but it strikes without warning. Height matters more than floor area.
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Related species
- Gumprecht's green pit viper (Trimeresurus gumprechti) – Expert
- Hagen's pit viper (Trimeresurus hageni) – Expert
- Island pit viper (Trimeresurus insularis) – Expert
- Mangrove pit viper (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus) – Expert
- Sumatran pit viper (Trimeresurus sumatranus) – Expert
- Savanna vine snake (Thelotornis capensis) – Expert
- Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) – Expert
- Egyptian saw-scaled viper (Echis pyramidum) – Expert
What you need to start
To keep White-lipped pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (ab 90×45×70 cm (Mindestmaß nach dem Gutachten von 1997, baumbewohnende Bambusottern); Höhe wichtiger als Grundfläche), substrate (Coco humus, plenty of horizontal branches, dense planting), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.
The complete, interactive care database is in the Reptoria app.
Last updated: 9 October 2026 · Editor: Reptoria editorial team · Sources include: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimeresurus, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimeresurus_albolabris, https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Trimeresurus&species=albolabris
All values are non-binding guidance and do not replace expert advice. Research thoroughly from several sources before acquiring and keeping an animal, and observe the applicable law (species and animal protection in particular).