Rough-scaled Bush Viper / Spiny Bush Viper — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Rough-scaled Bush Viper / Spiny Bush Viper — origin: Central and East Africa: cool, humid montane forests of the DRC, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania (often at altitude)..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min15 °C

Cool side20–22 °C

Warm side24–26 °C

Basking spot24–26 °C

A montane species: NEVER exceed 26°C during the day, as heat kills them quickly. A marked night-time drop is beneficial (15-18°C). No intense hot spot or powerful basking lamp.

Enclosure (adult)

60 × 45 × 90 cm

Densely planted arboreal terrarium, taller than it is long, perfectly sealed and escape-proof (essential for a venomous species), with good cross-ventilation.

Provide plenty of horizontal/diagonal branches, dense foliage and elevated hiding spots. Most animals are wild-caught and difficult to acclimatise. A lock and a double safety barrier are essential.

Humidity

70–90 %

High humidity maintained by misting, but with good ventilation to avoid stagnant air and respiratory infections.

Substrate

Coco fibre / humus-rich soilSphagnum mossLeaf litter

Substrate kept humid but never waterlogged; most of the usable volume should be taken up by climbing supports and vegetation.

UVB

Recommended

Low UVB (around 5%, 2-5 UVI) is optional but beneficial for this nocturnal species; shaded and refuge areas are essential. Avoid any lighting that produces heat.

Water source

Always available

Drinks mainly droplets from the foliage after spraying; also provide a small clean water dish. Mist regularly for hydration and shedding.

Origin

Viperidae

Central and East Africa: cool, humid montane forests of the DRC, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania (often at altitude).

Feeding & health

Diet

Carnivore — Pinkie mice / small rodents in captivity; amphibians, lizards and small mammals in the wild.

Infrequent feeding (roughly every 10-14 days). Prey (rodents) often has to be scented (frog/lizard) to trigger a feeding response. Always feed with tongs, from a distance.

Breeding

Viviparous

Viviparous. Breeding is triggered by a seasonal cool cycle; gestation lasts several months. Neonates are already venomous and require the same cool, humid conditions.

Health watch points

Respiratory infections (excessive heat, insufficient ventilation or stagnant air)
Heat stroke / mortality from excessively high temperatures (>26-28°C)
Feeding refusal and stress, especially in wild-caught individuals
Internal parasites (nematodes, protozoa) common in wild specimens
Dehydration and difficult sheds (dysecdysis) if humidity is insufficient

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 2 documented genes for Rough-scaled Bush Viper / Spiny Bush Viper.

Scale Structure (Selection)Dom
Axanthic (Hypothetical) blue phase (misnomer)Rec

Pairing calculator

Pick each parent's genotype — clutch probabilities update live. Free, no sign-up.

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Rough-scaled Bush Viper / Spiny Bush Viper × Rough-scaled Bush Viper / Spiny Bush Viper

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

Expected clutchSelect at least one gene on a parent.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the rough-scaled bush viper / spiny bush viper.

Is the hairy bush viper dangerous, and can it be handled?▾

Yes — it is a VENOMOUS snake with haemotoxic venom for which no reliable species-specific antivenom exists: a bite is a potentially fatal emergency, treatable only symptomatically. This is NOT in any way a beginner species: it is an OBSERVATION-ONLY animal, never handled with bare hands, only with a hook and tongs by trained staff who have an emergency protocol in place.

Do you need a permit to keep this viper?▾

Keeping a venomous snake generally requires a permit or declaration under local law. Beyond the legal framework, the terrarium must be perfectly sealed and escape-proof, with a lock and a double safety barrier being essential.

What kind of terrarium suits this arboreal viper?▾

It needs a densely planted arboreal terrarium, taller than it is long, measuring at least 60 x 45 x 90 cm in height. Provide plenty of horizontal and diagonal branches, dense foliage and elevated hiding spots, since the species spends its time coiled on branches; good cross-ventilation is essential.

What temperatures should be maintained, and why is heat dangerous?▾

This is a montane species that cannot tolerate heat: NEVER exceed 26°C during the day, as excessively high temperatures kill it quickly. Maintain a cool side at 20-22°C, a "warm" side at only 24-26°C, with no intense hot spot or powerful lamp, and allow a marked, beneficial night-time drop down to 15-18°C.

What humidity and ventilation does it need?▾

Maintain high humidity of 70 to 90% through misting, but this must always be paired with good ventilation. Stagnant, humid air promotes respiratory infections, which are particularly dangerous for this species.

What substrate should be used?▾

A mix of coco fibre or humus-rich soil, sphagnum moss and dead leaf litter works well. It should stay moist but never waterlogged, with most of the usable space taken up by climbing supports and vegetation.

What does the hairy bush viper eat, and how often?▾

In captivity, pinkie mice or small rodents are offered, whereas in the wild it feeds on amphibians, lizards and small mammals. Feeding is infrequent, roughly every 10 to 14 days, and rodents often need to be scented (with frog or lizard) to trigger a feeding response. Always feed with tongs, from a distance.

How should it be given water?▾

It drinks mainly the droplets left on the foliage after misting; also provide a small dish of clean water. Regular misting is essential for its hydration and for successful shedding.

Does it need UVB?▾

Low UVB (around 5%, 2-5 UVI) is optional but beneficial for this nocturnal species, provided shaded and refuge areas are always available. Avoid any lighting that generates heat.

How does it reproduce, and are the newborns venomous?▾

It is viviparous and gives birth to 5 to 12 neonates, with breeding triggered by a seasonal cool cycle followed by a gestation of several months. Beware: the neonates are already venomous from birth and require the same cool, humid conditions as adults.

Why is this species so difficult to keep in captivity?▾

Its lifespan is 5 to 10 years, often much shorter in captivity due to highly specialised requirements: cool temperatures, high humidity and delicate acclimatisation. Most specimens are fragile wild-caught animals, prone to feeding refusal, stress and internal parasitism.

What health problems should be watched for?▾

The most common are respiratory infections and fatal heat stroke caused by excessively high temperatures (above 26-28°C), feeding refusal and stress especially in wild-caught individuals, internal parasites, as well as dehydration and difficult sheds if humidity is insufficient.

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