Hi all,

I want to keep some Armenian species in home , so I need some helps..
I have read some recourses about Armenian viper species. In our country there are
1)Macrovipera Lebetina Obtusa,
2)Vipera Raddei Raddei,
3)Vipera Darevski,
4)Vipera erevanensis,
5)Vipera amonatydis transcaucasicana (??)

For first I want to keep vipera erevanensis, this gays are small (max 62cm) and easy to find.
I saw erevanensis it was about 30cm. I guess 30 cm snake can't eat any mouses or wizards, so the first question is. ..
1)Are snakes feed by insects ?
2)Are there some tricks to catch snakes in stony land?
3)Can snake bit my hand if it's hanging from tail?

thanks in Advance
Artem.
(sorry for English)

Hi Artem

What I am reading here, I think your are totally new to snakes right!?

If I were you, I would read at first some generel books about Snakekeeping, about the enclosoures, the food, parasites and illness.

And you should learn to handle snakes, with a snakehook, pinning them, tubing and so on, but it would be better to learn this with non venomous species.

And by the way I don't think it's allowed in your country to catch wild snakes.

Greetings

yes , you are right , I just want to start..
my 3)question is only for my curiosity, I know that it's very dangerous..
Also I think there is no any forbidden to catch and keep erevanensis and macrovipera, the athers are very rare and kept by low.
but I am first time heard about illness and parasites
Please answer to second question.
Is it expensive to keep snake?

Thanks,
Artem

Hello Artem,
Markus is absolutely right, first you should gather experience in any way with non-venemous snakes and - perhaps, if you still want to - shift to venemous ones.
It is surely better to know how snakes react and how you can handle them safely (for the snake and for yourself) before you start to keep or catch venemous ones.
There are a number of beautiful species of snakes in Armenia that can easily be kept in a terrarium.
Even V. erewanensis, though usually not really dangerous for humans - can kill you if you, for example, get an allergy to parts of the venom of V. erewanensis after a bite. I would definitely not start with M. lebet. obtusa but I think you know how much they are feared in Armenia.

And read books about husbandry of snakes or look in the internet, if you cannot get good books on this subject in Armenia.

The costs of keeping snakes depend upon many things. If you can get the material for a terrarium cheaply and are able to build it yourself, this would not be expensive. If you catch the snake(s) yourself it would only cost the trip to the place where you can catch it. The more expensive parts are possibly the electricity to create the right climate for the animals and maybe the food. If you need mice for food, you can catch them (not a good source and you have the risk of bringing parasites to your snakes) or breed them. If you breed them, you first need a good breeding-stock and suitable food for the mice which may cause costs too. With these information you may think about the expenses you may have for keeping snakes.

Cheers,
Rainer

Hello All

Thanks Rainer for advices!
I think I can make terrarium, also I think it would be not so hard to get a food. As far as I know they need to eat approximately once a month. Is it right?
I am really confused about climate, for example, erewanensis in wild life leave in quiet high ranges(about 2000-2500m). Would I make such cold climate in terrarium in winter time?
Also I am worried about their illnesses. If there are some specific things to make safer, I think I couldn't find them in Armenia to buy.

thanks & Regards
Artem

Hello Artem,

feeding snakes once a month will not be enough for most species. Some need food much more often, some, especially those that take big food-items in relation to their size, may get enough if you feed them monthly.
Don´t start with V. erewanensis or other snakes that live in high mountain areas. They are much harder to keep than snakes that live in moderate climate. At daytime you would have to offer them a really warm place with much light and a cooler place to retreat and the nights must be cool. I have friends who keep this species and they did not succeed in keeping them alive over a longer period until they cooled the room by air condition overnight. And these snakes need a cold (just a bit over 0°) hibernation for several months. But all species of snakes from Armenia need a cool to cold hibernation, how long and how cold would only depend on the species and where it comes from.

Don´t worry too much about diseases and treatment, the most important thing is to get healthy animals and keep them healthy and you will probably not need any medical treatment for them. The best way to get healthy snakes is to take captive- bred ones but I think that will not be easy in Armenia.
If you take snakes from nature they usually carry parasites in them. In nature they usually have no big problems with them but in captivity, if conditions are not optimal, that can be a big problem.

Best regards,
Rainer