Atheris desaixi - The Mount Kenyan Bush Viper - A Brief Article

First Picture: My dear friend, former employee, and expert photographer Bill Love took this most excellent photo at my facility with a professional's camera.
Second Picture: This photo was taken by my me to show you the difference between an expert and an average photographer. LOL.


These rare snakes are only found in two locations, one around Igembe in the Northern Nyambe range and one at Chuka on the southeast side of Mount Kenya. It is extremely difficult to find even recently imported desaixi, much less a three year captive such as this one. Usually, these are received in poor condition and are difficult to acclimatize if not in tip-top condition upon receipt. As they have a restricted habitat which is unprotected, this species is vulnerable to habitat destruction as well as over-collecting.

Husbandry is the same as for most of the other Atheris. They need adequate moisture, water to drink and misting. At the same time, they also need adequate ventilation. We keep them in Exo-Terra Glass Terrariums which have screen tops and opening glass fronts. We also use the Zoo-Med equivalent. They need small cages to feel comfortable. I am sure these or their equivalents are sold overseas. Temperatures should be between 80F to 82F in the day with a drop to the low 70's F at night. Humidity should be between 60% to 80%. Here in South Florida, we mist them an average of 5 to 6 times per week. In Europe or the northern USA where average humidities are usually lower, they would need more frequent misting.

Getting fresh imports to eat is difficult, and you may need to feed frogs or lizards to adult Atheris at first before you can get them to eat mice. I find that when you give adult Atheris rodents, fuzzy or hopper mice are accepted the best. They like the mice with hair on them. Baby Atheris may need frogs or lizards at first. Anyway this is the nicest Atheris desaixi I've had, and it is a three year captive. Thank you for looking.

You made may day!!!
BRGDS frome Sweden
Mikael

thanks for sharing tom.
sascha

Yes,this ones are very rare and beautiful... Great photos and thank you,for sharing info about husbandry.. A.Desaixi is very important species... :-)

TOP NOTCH Tom Very nice animal , since many atheris babys differ in color to their adults , any idea what color a new born would be ?

Perfection!

OMG.. These are so amazing.
Thanks for sharing.

Very special. Thanks Tom.

Thanks for your kind words...

No, thank you. Keep us updated, please.

Beautiful snake!

Very nice, Tom. It looks like Bill simply had better lighting than you did because your photo is perfectly acceptable. I am surprised at how warm you recommend keeping them. Has the male been kept that warm for three years? If so, then perhaps that is why my animals died when I had them. I was under the impression that they were a high elevation species and needed much cooler temps. I cycled mine through warmer seasons where they resided in the main snakeroom and cool seasons where they were kept in the cool basement. I know that the keepers I've spoken with keep them much cooler than you mention. That's interesting that they do so well in the tropical Florida environment.

Andrew, Glades once imported a gravid female and she dropped babies that were black and brown in coloration. If I recall correctly, they didn't have any yellow on them. That was about 10 years ago.

Hi Tom,
Thanks a lot for sharing your pictures. Its a real beauty.
In my opinion desaixi and hispida are the best looking Atheris.
Greetings
Rene

Tom, now that i really see how well its est. I am really kickn myself for not buyn it last spring. When rick offered him to me sight unseen. I just had hispida on the brain as far as acclimation issues, and didnt want it to end up in my freezer. To heartbreakn. Truly magnificent.

awesome

WAYY out of my league, but absolutely beautiful nonetheless.
Their venom is quite quite potent, I hear.

Most excellent, Tom!

Atheris has to be my favourite Arboreal genus. - If you can't love Atheris species, then you really have no heart IMO!