Gaboons

[josh112990]

I am about to become the proud new owner of a baby west African Gaboon viper but I am having troubles finding info on temps and humidity and of coarse I will be posting pictures as soon as she gets here lol and yes I have previous experience with venomous reptiles lol just thought i would throw that in there, but if any body can help with the temps and stuff I would greatly appreciate it and I am sure when she arrives she will also.

[morti]

I hate to be That Guy...

But when people come here looking for advice on venomous snakes, the only answer you are going to get is "If you have to ask simple questions like temps and humidity, you don't need one".

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[josh112990]

I understand that but it is not that I have not done my research it is just that almost every book or every website I go to has different temps and humidity requirements I have seen temps range from 68-95 and humidity range from 30 - 80 percent it is not that I don't know how to care for them it is just I want this field narrowed down a little bit. So I can properly care for my animal.

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[1157]

I agree there are many books on snakes that give you different reads..Its is a good idea to ask the people who have these snakes

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[josh112990]

Thank you for agreeing I was so surprised your post wasn't complaining about me getting a hot because if i need to ask I shouldn't have it. I am not saying that about you Morti I know you were just throwing out there that that is the answer I will probably get. Just need an answer as to how to set this up please

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[Rachel SS]

I think the concern is the lack of experience with Gabby's. If you haven't worked under someone who has them they might not be the best choice...

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[1157]

I know where you are coming from (Rainbow Boas) big differance in snakes but a lot of different info when i was doing research with books and the web

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[1157]

Gaboon are beautiful....one of the hottest looking hots but to dangerous for me

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

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[FLVenom]

If you keep your snake at anything over 85 degrees, it will be dead in short time. Optimum temperatures would be from 77-82 degrees. Depending on where you live, mist at least once a day for humidity purposes. I live in S.FL, so it's naturally humid here and not a big concern. Also, neonate Bitis aren't exactly the smartest of animals and often will dehydrate and die with a water dish in their enclosure. You will need to "train" your animal by hooking and placing his head in the water dish. After some months, they will then know where to go for water. I personally like using reptibark, as they will bury themselves with only their head exposed. Another important thing is do not over feed these animals. They will become obese quickly and die prematurely. I raised my current adults from babies and they bred for the first time last year with 23 perfect neonates born. Good luck!

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[FLVenom]

Josh, not to talk down or anything but I really hope you have experience in working with hots for a long time. Judging by your current collection on your profile, I'd be hesitent to say you do. The whole Bitis genus is a very readily available species and some people view them as a good first hot "due to their lethargic behaviour. I will tell you this: If you're in their strike range, there is no if's, and's or, but's. You will be bit. This is one of the fastest striking snakes in the world and the venom is virulent cocktail that will wreak havoc in you. Even with antivenom treatment, people have died due the copious amounts of venom injected. I hope you know you're closest source of antivenom in the event of a bite.

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

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[snakehooked]

Alternatively you can use deep substrate in a smaller tub and bring it right up to the edge of the water dish so they fall in eventually....

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[GaryO]

Joe hit it pretty good..... I want to hit on one thing.... A gabby will and can move very quick when it wants too..... MY Gaboons are mostly laid back except for my 4 foot female... She gets in her moods. Very hard hitting snake

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[Bitis_Gabonica]

Which venomous species do you have experience with? I'm sort of agreeing with FLVenom about your current collection. Please do not jump in over your head.

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[hotrod128z]

Josh, I would like to say welcome to the site first off. Also I would like to say a few things if I may. I am not saying this in a mean way nor am I taking a stab at you, I just merely care about the well being of others and also the herp community. To start off at this point in time no one on here really knows you as you are a fairly new member. As such by reading your profile I see that you are 19. Now I will be a bit judgemental here if I may in saying that even if at your age you have worked with snakes since you were say 4 years old that would only give you 15 years experience. Most folks that I know who keep hots have well over 20 years experience before they even consider keeping something such as the Gaboon. I have no reason to doubt that you are 19 and that you have experience, maybe even with hots, but at the same time you have to understand that for all anyone here knows you could be a 10 year old with a baby garter snake and looking for advice for a Gaboon viper so you can try to buy one in the near future. Now with that said, the only reason why folks(myself included) question things such as knowledge, experience, etc is because you are asking for information in husbandry about a creature that if not handled properly can and will cause life-altering consequences. These creatures are facinating and are beautiful, but in the hands of someone with no experience or little experience it would be very dangerous, and very possibly deadly. My recommendation is to learn under someone that has vast experience with Gaboons for some time(years) before looking into keeping one. I think that we can all here say that we all just simply care for your well being and also the herping community's well being also. Just talk to and listen to the folks here on this forum, most of these folks here have a lot of knowledge when it comes to all sorts of species of snakes, both hots and "non" hots.

I just wanted to give you my perspective.


hotrod

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

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[josh112990]

sorry I have been offline since last post I am nineteen years old right now and as far as experience I have not owned hots but the experience I have is through a respectable hot handler he gave me hooks and tongs for safe handling of the snakes My father once dated a wildlife rehabilitater who was obsessed with keeping hots and she taught me at a young age how to milk snakes a lot of people said it was crazy but the first snake I milked was a 10 foot king cobra. I am not taking any feedback negatively I understand what you are all saying it is just that I know how fast and accurate Gaboons strike I have fed them plenty of times and as far as Antivenom goes there is a reptile park not to far from my house that has it. I am sorry if I did not answer all the posts will update more later.

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

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[Sakara]

wow... no offense but I don't care if I have had handling experience with the meanest nastiest non hots for 10+ years, there is no way in heck I would own a gabby as my first hot... and giving you the tools to handle it is NOT the same as handling it yourself. I will prolly get an eyelash as my first hot when that time comes, after plenty of hot training with a trusted friend who has been handling them for over 30 years... how much hot TRAINING have you had?? not helping milk a snake at whatever age that was?

not meaning to nessicarrily come off as mean but I really pray you don't end up in the hospital or worse

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

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[reticguy69]

gabby's are a tough first hot to own, although it is my ulitmate dream animal to own. and although i never have a problem telling people im all for people having retics as a first large snake, gabby's are different as a first hot. you do not want to get tagged by a gabby. you are young and have plenty of time to get a gabby, hots are one of those types of animals, it is better to graduate from less potent (so to speak) to more potent. for example, i always recommend a rear fanged first, then something like a timber rattler or copperhead, then up to the biggies

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

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[josh112990]

I have handled gaboons before my friend who gave me the tools has 4 of them and that is where I will be getting it I know all about the striking from all angles and the speed and yes the venom I have been dealing with snakes since I got my first python when I was seven years old that is going on 13 years of non hot personal experience I have been around hots almost my whole life because growing up my grandfather had 4 different cobras a pair of cape cobras and a pair of monicle cobras. plus I don't even know how many rattlers and MANY different vipers and elapids I am confident in myself that I can do this. And sorry I forgot about how much experience i have actually working with hots the answer is only about 5-6 years that envolves handling them changing their cages and feeding them. And as far as the suggesting a retic as a first big boid maybe a red tail of some sort. But I know I was warned that I was going to get these responses, but the only thing I wanted to know was the best temp and humidity levels for them I could have just gotten the snake and let it die because I was unable to get the proper information I understand all of your concerns but I have faith in my abilities and knowledge you don't need to but I do the snake will NOT be being handled except for when the cage needs to be changed and that is what the tongs are for. Plus her cage will be locked at all times just like all of my other animals and the key stays with me at all times so there is no worry of people opening the cage and getting bitten because it wont happen unless my mom decides that she wants to shatter 1/4 inch glass... So please can you tell me the specific humidity levels I should keep her at if I get her and thanks for the tips FLVenom

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

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[reticguy69]

i have never been big on exact humidity levels and temps with my snakes. gabbies require a good amount of ambient humidity. they live in swampy rainforest areas. but if you want a number, 60-75% or so, should be sufficient. make sure you get it in a real cage and not an aquarium, those things or awful for humidity/temperature control.

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[josh112990]

It will not be an aquarium I think I might start off with a tote to see how I manage and this is only an attempt at keeping her it is not definate he said he will let me have her for a month to see how it goes if I am uncomfortable or don't like the situation he will take her right back I have been talking to him about the posts and he said that he is comfortable with my abilities from what he has seen with me helping him and teaching me. Once again I understand everyone's concerns but I believe I can do this I have contacted all hospitals in the area and informed them that I may be acquiring a gaboon viper and they said that they will be able to carry the antivenom for them right with the crofab and they took down my name number and address in case of an emergency which hopefully will not happen. one more question the gaby is eating live for some reason they are the only ones he has that do not eat f/t should I attempt to switch it over to f/t or just leave it the way it is?

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	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.