Rhino Vipers

I recieved some very neglected baby rhino vipers from an immature keeper that was only interested in money. The snakes arrived loaded with parasites and very dehydrated

They all looked like this on arrival
Rhino Vipers ForumHR4

Here is the same snake now
Rhino Vipers OneEye2

And her sister

Rhino Vipers Send7

Great work Al, truly!
What magnificent animals.

Thank you Rob Smile

Most kind of you.
There were 11 in total and I manged to save 9

Thanks again
Al

Also, very hard to spot but, the rhino in pics 1+2 has one eye that is defective from birth. In sunlight you can just see that it is turned and the pupil goes horizontal like that of some vine snakes

Hi Al
What locality are the rhinos? The blue on the head is stunning! Ghana perhaps??
I found baby rhinos to be quite resilient. I had a shipment come in from Uganda with babies looking like that first pic and I thought that was the end of them all! Out of 16 we lost 2! Bigger rhinos however do not seem to do as well if they are bad when they come in. You cant believe how quickly the babies perk up when re hydrated and eat within a day or 2! I just love em!!!
Cheers
Gavin

hi Gavin, good to meet you and thanks.
Yes, I think they're Ghana and i'm desperately on the look out for ituris and ugandans Wink

Hint Hint , anyone here Wink

I couldn't agree more with what you're saying , they definitely can be resiliant when dehydrated ect.
However, these have a different story. All were born from a WC mother in UK and were plump and healthy, I bought one pair off the guy when they were newborns.

He hung in there wanting to sell all the babies for extortionate money , all the time neglecting them and leaving them in filth.
When they arrived many were regurging up half digested grey muck too. The two that died had other defects . One had a twisted spine and could not lay flat and the other one had either a missing rib or broken rib. When I tubed down medication these two were dead the next morning.

Couldn't agree more with you though Gavin, I just love 'em too!!!

All the best mate,
Al

Stunning rhinos, Al! These are not a species that I am ever going to keep, but I admire the beauty of the colors and the pattern, for sure. I hope that you create some babies of your own from this group in the near future! Wink

Hi Al,
Great pic's of your baby Rhino's. We have 8 babies at the moment, from a 6 year old female. 6 are doing really well but 2 of them both males are struggling a bit for some reason. they are assist feeding and keeping it down and they are well hydrated but they don't apear to be putting on weight so its fingers crossed. when we got the mother 6 years ago she was C/F baby and I didn't think she would see morning but as you guys have said they are fairly tough little guys.
Paul

Hi Derek, and thanks mate, that's what i'm hoping for too Smile

Hi Paul,
I hope the two males pull through ok , please keep me updated. I did send you a PM Paul , but I think maybe you haven't noticed it as it's still in my outbox

All the best,
Al

Hi Al
Just curious as to what you treated the babies with? I normally use Flagyl and Panacur but everyone seems to dose differently and the babies are really small. I have never had a problem so far doing it but I am always keen to find out how other people treat them.
Cheers
Gavin

Hi Gavin, yup with panacur and flagyl. A few of the babies needed repeat courses.

All the best,
Al

Hi Al
And dosages you use on them? I have seen anything from 250mg/ kg (in Fryes book)Flagyl - to 60 mg /kg. I normally work on the 60 mg/ kg. I think 250 is way too much! Wouldnt even think about trying it!
Cheers
Gavin

Hi Gavin,

Ah, I know what you're saying about dosages, confusing stuff.

I usually try to assess what I feel the problem is and take it from there.

I've used as low as 25mg/kg daily to 150mg/kg every 7 days until the problem is resolved.
Like yourself i've NEVER gone as high as 250mg, agreed just far too high.

Cheers,
Al

Indeed, great job saving so many of those beauties Al.
I hope everything goes well when it's time to reproduce them.