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Species profile · Viperidae

Bitis gabonica

Complete care sheet and morph genetics registry for the gaboon viper — husbandry parameters, diet, breeding and pairing calculator.

East African Gaboon ViperVipère du GabonGabunviperButterfly Adder
Adult size
0.9–1.8 m
Lifespan
15–20 yrs
Difficulty
Expert
Temperament
Nocturnal
Activity
Nocturnal
Reproduction
Viviparous
01

Husbandry requirements

Gaboon Viper — origin: Lowland tropical rainforests and wooded areas of sub-Saharan Africa (Central and West Africa). A species of the equatorial forest floor..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min20 °C
Cool side23–25 °C
Warm side28–31 °C

A species of equatorial undergrowth: a gentle thermal gradient with no scorching hot spot. A slightly warm spot on the floor (~32 °C max) is acceptable but NO intense basking lamp. Natural night-time drop to ~20-22 °C. Use a thermostat and shield every heat source to prevent burns.

Enclosure (adult)
150 × 75 × 60 cm

Spacious, sturdy and TOTALLY secure terrestrial terrarium (venomous species)

A sedentary but massive species: favour floor area over height. Lockable closures mandatory, a hatch/airlock system and a shift box for maintenance without direct contact. Solid hides and a humid zone. Husbandry reserved for trained keepers, with locatable antivenom and an emergency protocol.

Humidity
60–80 %

A humid tropical-forest atmosphere. Maintain 60-80% with good ventilation to prevent stagnation; humidity peaks are useful during sheds.

Substrate
Coco fibrePotting soil/orchid barkSphagnum moss (humid zones)Leaf litter (enrichment)

A moisture-retaining substrate at a good depth. Avoid any dusty or mouldy substrate. Never feed on loose substrate that could be ingested.

UVB
Optional

Not strictly necessary (a nocturnal undergrowth species); low UVB lighting (Ferguson zone 1, ~2-4%) remains beneficial if provided with hides allowing avoidance. A regular photoperiod is essential.

Water source
Always available

A large bowl of clean water at all times, wide enough for the animal to immerse itself; renew frequently.

Origin
Viperidae

Lowland tropical rainforests and wooded areas of sub-Saharan Africa (Central and West Africa). A species of the equatorial forest floor.

02

Feeding & health

Diet

Carnivore (rodents) — Appropriately sized rats and mice; rabbit possible for very large adults.

A voracious appetite but a slow metabolism: feed sparingly (a single appropriately sized prey item every ~2-4 weeks depending on age, more spaced out in adults). Excess food quickly leads to obesity. Thawed prey preferably, presented with long tongs at a safe distance.

Breeding
Viviparous

Can produce very large litters (15-60 neonates, exceptionally more). Breeding reserved for specialised facilities: the neonates are fully venomous and dangerous from birth.

Health watch points
  • Obesity (overfeeding relative to the slow metabolism)
  • Respiratory infections (incorrect thermal/humidity parameters)
  • Stomatitis ('mouth rot')
  • Difficult shedding / dysecdysis (insufficient humidity)
  • Internal and external parasites, especially in wild-caught specimens
03

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 2 documented genes for Gaboon Viper.

  • Albino (T-) amelanisticRec
  • Hypermelanistic black gaboonRec
04

Pairing calculator

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

🧬

Gaboon Viper × Gaboon Viper

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

GeneParent AParent B
Expected clutchSelect at least one gene on a parent.
05

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the gaboon viper.

Is the Gaboon viper dangerous, and is it suitable for a beginner?▾
No, absolutely not: this is an expert-level VENOMOUS snake, reserved for trained keepers. Its cytotoxic and hemotoxic venom, combined with the longest fangs of any snake (up to 4-5 cm), makes any bite a major medical emergency. It is never a starter animal.
Why is its "placid" reputation misleading?▾
Nicknamed "the sleeping giant," it stays motionless and seems harmless, which tempts keepers into dangerously lowering their guard. Yet its strike is among the fastest and longest known: it must therefore NEVER be handled by hand, only with a hook and tongs, with antivenom locatable and an emergency protocol in place.
What terrarium should be provided for an adult?▾
A spacious, sturdy terrestrial terrarium of at least 150 x 75 x 60 cm, favouring floor area over height since the species is sedentary but very massive. It must be completely tamper-proof: lockable closures, a hatch or airlock system, and a shift box that allows maintenance without direct contact.
What temperatures should be maintained?▾
As a snake of the equatorial undergrowth, aim for a gentle gradient: warm side 28-31 °C, cool side 23-25 °C, with a natural night-time drop to around 20-22 °C. Above all, no intense basking lamp; a slightly warm spot on the floor (~32 °C maximum) is enough, and every heat source must be guarded and controlled by a thermostat to prevent burns.
What humidity level does it need?▾
A humid, tropical-forest atmosphere, between 60 and 80%, combined with good ventilation to prevent stagnation. Humidity peaks are useful during sheds; otherwise, insufficient humidity causes difficult sheds.
What substrate should be used?▾
A moisture-retaining substrate at good depth: coco fibre, potting soil or orchid bark, sphagnum moss in humid areas, and leaf litter for enrichment. Any dusty or mouldy substrate must be avoided, and the animal should never be fed on loose substrate it could ingest.
What does it eat, and how often?▾
It is a voracious carnivore but with a slow metabolism: appropriately sized rats and mice, possibly a rabbit for very large adults. Feed sparingly, a single prey item every 2 to 4 weeks depending on age and more spaced out in adults, always thawed and presented with long tongs at a safe distance.
Why is obesity such a major risk for this species?▾
Because its hearty appetite clashes with a slow metabolism: the slightest excess food quickly leads to obesity, one of its main health problems. Spacing out meals and avoiding overfeeding is therefore essential to its 15-to-20-year longevity.
Does it need UVB lighting?▾
UVB is not strictly necessary for this nocturnal undergrowth species. Low UVB lighting (Ferguson zone 1, about 2-4%) nonetheless remains beneficial if offered along with hides that allow avoidance, and a regular photoperiod is essential.
How should the water supply be managed?▾
A large bowl of clean water must be available at all times, wide enough for the animal to soak in, and changed frequently. Any intervention in the enclosure must be done with restraint tools, never bare-handed.
How does it reproduce, and are the newborns dangerous?▾
It is viviparous and can produce very large litters, from 15 to 60 neonates, exceptionally more. Crucially, the neonates are fully venomous and dangerous from birth, which restricts breeding to specialised facilities.
What health problems should be watched for?▾
Besides obesity linked to overfeeding, watch for respiratory infections (incorrect thermal or humidity parameters), stomatitis ("mouth rot"), difficult sheds caused by insufficient humidity, and internal and external parasites, especially in wild-caught specimens.

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