Wagler's pit viper — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Wagler's pit viper — origin: Southeast Asia: Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, southern Thailand, Singapore and neighbouring islands. Humid lowland tropical forests, forest edges, secondary forests and mangrove margins..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min22 °C

Cool side24–26 °C

Warm side28–30 °C

Lowland-forest ambush species: NO true heliophilic hot spot required (do not install an intense basking spot). Gentle gradient; never exceed ~32 °C. Any heat source must be thermostatically controlled and out of the animal's reach to prevent burns.

Enclosure (adult)

90 × 60 × 90 cm

Vertical arboreal terrarium, planted and well ventilated, with sturdy horizontal and diagonal branches, anchor points and dense foliage (natural or artificial) providing elevated perches and hiding spots.

Dimensions for an adult female; prioritise height (at least equal to the width), a taller enclosure (120 cm) is preferable for large females. Males are noticeably smaller. A LOCKABLE closure and secure ventilation are mandatory (venomous species). Good ventilation to avoid stagnant air while maintaining humidity.

Humidity

70–90 %

High, stable humidity, with peaks after misting, but good ventilation to prevent respiratory infections and mould. An occasional drop between mistings is acceptable.

Substrate

Coco fibreTropical-forest potting mixSphagnum mossCypress mulch/bark

Moisture-retaining substrates, kept damp but never waterlogged. A layer of leaf litter and moss helps to stabilise humidity.

UVB

Optional

Low UVB is beneficial (Ferguson zone 1, ~5-6% tube) even though the species is nocturnal: not strictly essential but recommended for welfare and metabolism, with dense shaded areas. Photoperiod of about 12 h.

Water source

Always available

Large bowl of clean water renewed regularly, plus daily misting: the animal frequently drinks droplets off the foliage. Any intervention in the enclosure must be carried out with caution (venomous species).

Origin

Viperidae (Crotalinae, vipères à fossettes)

Southeast Asia: Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, southern Thailand, Singapore and neighbouring islands. Humid lowland tropical forests, forest edges, secondary forests and mangrove margins.

Feeding & health

Diet

Carnivore (ambush predator) — Males: small lizards and frogs. Females: rodents (mice, young rats) and birds.

Sedentary predator that can stay in the same spot for weeks; slow metabolism. Feed sparingly and at spaced-out intervals (thawed prey): significant risk of obesity and hepatic lipidosis in overfed females. Feed at a distance with long tongs, following a strict protocol for a venomous species.

Breeding

Viviparous

Large litters. Neonates are already venomous and independent from birth.

Health watch points

Respiratory infections (unsuitable temperature or humidity, insufficient ventilation, stagnant air)
Difficult sheds / dysecdysis (humidity too low)
Stomatitis ("mouth rot")
Internal and external parasites, common in wild-caught (imported) specimens, animals often stressed and dehydrated
Obesity and hepatic lipidosis in overfed females

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 2 documented genes for Wagler's pit viper.

Locality Phases (Polygenic)Dom
Albino (Hypothetical) amelanisticRec

Pairing calculator

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

🧬

Wagler's pit viper × Wagler's pit 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 wagler's pit viper.

Is Wagler's pit viper dangerous? Can it be handled with bare hands?▾

Yes, this is a VENOMOUS species with solenoglyphous fangs: its venom, rich in waglerins with both neurotoxic and haemotoxic components, causes a medically significant bite. It is never handled with bare hands, only with a snake hook and with an emergency protocol ready to use, and keeping it is reserved for experienced, trained keepers.

Is keeping it legal and regulated in France?▾

Yes, but under strict conditions: in France as in the rest of the EU, keeping a Wagler's pit viper requires a certificate of competence and an establishment permit for venomous animals. This is by no means a species to be acquired on a whim.

Why do males and females look so different in size?▾

This species shows extreme sexual dimorphism: males stay dwarf-sized, between 35 and 40 cm, while females become massive and stocky, reaching 80 to 100 cm and more. The adult size range of 35 to 100 cm therefore directly reflects this difference between the sexes.

What terrarium should be provided for this strictly arboreal species?▾

A vertical, planted and well-ventilated terrarium, with sturdy horizontal and diagonal branches and dense foliage offering perches and hiding spots up high. Allow at least 90 x 60 x 90 cm for an adult female, with a height of 120 cm being preferable for the largest ones; the closure must absolutely be lockable and the ventilation secured, as this is a venomous species.

Should a hot spot such as a basking lamp be installed?▾

No: unlike many reptiles, this ambush predator of the undergrowth does not require an intense heliophilic hot spot. A gentle gradient is enough, between 24-26 °C on the cool side and 28-30 °C on the warm side, never exceeding about 32 °C, and every heat source must be thermostatically controlled and out of the animal's reach.

What humidity and substrate suit it?▾

It needs high, stable humidity, between 70 and 90 %, with peaks after misting but good ventilation to prevent mould and respiratory infections. A water-retaining substrate such as coco fibre, a tropical forest mix or sphagnum moss, topped with leaf litter and moss, helps to stabilise this level.

What does it eat and how often?▾

The diet differs by sex: males hunt small lizards and frogs, while females need rodents (mice, young rats) and even birds. An ambush predator with a slow metabolism, able to stay for weeks in the same spot, it must be fed sparingly and at widely spaced intervals to avoid obesity and hepatic lipidosis, a real risk in overfed females.

How should the water source be managed?▾

A large container of clean water, renewed regularly, combined with daily misting, is enough: the animal readily drinks the droplets deposited on the foliage. Any intervention inside the enclosure is carried out with caution, as this is a venomous species.

Is UVB necessary for a nocturnal species?▾

It is not strictly indispensable, but low UVB (Ferguson zone 1, a tube around 5-6 %) remains beneficial for well-being and metabolism, provided that large shaded areas are available so it can retreat from it. A regular photoperiod of about 12 hours is recommended.

How does it behave on a daily basis?▾

By day it is surprisingly placid and motionless, often movable with a hook without any apparent reaction. But the bite reflex is triggered as soon as it is touched directly or as soon as night falls, which demands the utmost caution at all times.

How does it reproduce?▾

It is a viviparous species: the female gives birth to 15 to 40 neonates that are already fully venomous and completely self-sufficient from birth. Females generally live longer than males, but precise longevity data in captivity remain limited.

Which health problems are the most common?▾

The main ones are respiratory infections linked to poorly adjusted temperature or humidity, difficult sheds when humidity is insufficient, stomatitis, as well as obesity and hepatic lipidosis in overfed females. Wild-caught specimens are also frequently parasitised and dehydrated at acquisition.

Track your wagler's pit viper on ReptiNode

Create a free tracking log: weight, meals, sheds, health record, QR codes and breeding projects — with the built-in genetics calculator for over 200 species.

Create a free account