African Horned Viper
(Cerastes cerastes)
Distribution
This species of Cerastes is found in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Niger,
Israel, Sudan, Oman and the South Western corner of Arabian Peninsula. There are currently 4 subspecies of Cerastes cerastes recognized and these are
Cerastes cerastes cerastes, Cerastes cerastes karlhartli, Cerastes cerastes mutila and Cerastes cerastes hoofieni.
It is essential when thinking about maintaining this and any other species of snake to spend as much time with an experienced keeper as possible in order to learn the safe husbandry techniques/handling methods.
Size
These vipers usually reach sizes of up to 75cm (30 inches), but tend to average around 60cm (24 inches).
Diet
In the wild
Cerastes will usually eat lizards and small rodents. In captivity appropriately sized rodents are sufficient.
Requirements
- Heat Source: - This can be either reflector (spot) lights in green, blue or red, or ceramic bulbs. Although heat mats are a useful alternative. These should all be thermostatically controlled and guarded.
- Ultra Violet Light Source: - Require a Reptisun 5.0 UVB lamp. This should be left on for 12 - 14 hours a day and positioned no more than 30cm away from the basking snake. This requires replacing every six months unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer. This will create a day and nighttime effect as well as give your snake sufficient levels of UV to allow vitamin D3 synthesis.
- Thermostat: - An essential part of every vivarium and is required to control the heat inside the vivarium and to prevent your pet from becoming too hot or too cold.
- Wire Mesh Guards: - These should be fitted over all heat sources used in order to prevent any thermal burns from occurring.
- Thermometers: - One should be placed at either end of the vivarium. Never go by the temperature on the thermostat, as this is often inaccurate.
- Hides: - These are essential to prevent stress and allow your pet to hide away from the outside world. Artificial plants, boxes, plant pots, caves etc. all make excellent hides. Whatever hides are chosen, ensure that they are easy enough to remove with the use of tongs to facilitate safe cleaning of the snake.
- Housing - This should consist of a dark wooden Vivarium with glass frontage and adequate ventilation or vision cage. Hatchlings can be kept in a smaller container inside their future Vivarium. An adult snake can be housed in a locked Vivarium measuring 90cm by 45cm by 45cm (3’ by 45” by 45”). This should always remain locked.
Temperature
The daytime temperatures should be maintained with a basking area, which reaches 35C (95F), with a cooler end which drops to around 26C (80F). The night time temperatures should be allowed to drop to around 17C to 22C (64F and 72F).
Humidity and water
This species requires a low level of humidity. A shallow water bowl should be kept at the cool end of the Vivarium so that it does not raise the humidity too much.
Longevity
This species of snake can live up to around 17 years in captivity.
Substrate
Captive specimens should be maintained on a silica free, non abrasive sand (Such as calci sand and play sand). This should be maintained at a depth of around 10cm (4 inches) to facilitate burrowing.
NB – This species is venomous and a Dangerous Wild Animals License is currently required to maintain them within the UK. For more information on this you should contact the Environmental Health Officer at your local Council.
NB – Photograph taken by Stuart Dodsworth..
A distribution map is taken from http://www.lifemapper.org/robotfood/Reptile/Cerastes%20cerastes.HTM
Recommended Reading/Useful Contacts
Stuart Dodsworth –
stuartandlynette@dodsworth2005.wanadoo.co.uk
The International Herpetological Society –
www.international-herp-society.co.uk
The British Herpetological Society –
www.thebhs.org
Taxonomy Information –
http://srs.embl-heidelberg.de:8000/srs5bin/cgi-bin/wgetz?-e+[REPTILIA-Species:'Cerastes_SP_cerastes']
www.venombyte.com
Hot Herps Society –
www.hotherps.com
www.venomweb.com
Local Environmental Health Officer at The Council
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