Hi,
Does anyone here Atheris hispidus? I wonder about farming, whether someone managed to reproduce. And possible problems ..
Thanks for all possible informationas about this species...
Some information is in World of Atheris,but I would prefer someone who has experience with them.
Thanks,
Radek.

No personal experience, but what ive heard and read they are quite difficult snakes to keep. Perhaps the reasons are wrong temps. and poor diet (mice isn't perhaps the best option for food to these guys).

There is an article about A. hispida at Elaphe 11 (2003) p. 38-42 writer is Jurgen Fleck

No personal experience here either but have seen some and they are spectacular, maybe best looking snakes i´ve seen and if they weren´t that difficult i would have got some If my memory serves correct those haven´t been bred in captivity or then only few times. As Sami pointed out of temps and stuff, i´ve also read that a big problem would be the parasites on wild caught specimen and poor shipping conditions as they aren´t that hardy snakes. Any one have more info or correct those statements? A guy from Finland has had a female for, maybe 3years or over now, and still doing fine. But apart from that, i´ve read that they usually die within the first year on captivity.

Would love to learn more as i would love to have that species someday, so if anyone has more info please share it with the rest of us

Thanks Sami and Stefan for their contributions. I also read and heard about the imports are in very poor condition. Also their dietary specialization on slugs, snails and gecko rather than rodents. But to the maintenance of the alleged problem is not alive, unlike the mountain species Atheris. If he succeeded in getting healthy pair, might not be unrealistic .. I also would very much like this kind of kept, but for now I dare not even to A.Nitschei . .. Also I will be glad to further contributions, so I take this topic founded.

Hispida is a tough species to work with and I haven't tried my hand at them yet. Even the ones that apparently acclimate after being imported still do not typically make it a full year in captivity. Yes, most of the ones I have seen that are fresh imports are either covered with fluke worms, have eye infections, or have severe respiratory issues and are in very poor condition. I think the proper way to work with this species is to go collect them yourself and bring them home under your supervision. I'll volunteer to do all of the travelling, hiking, collecting, and importation if someone else will volunteer to pay for everything!

Also, it is highly debated whether these guys are actually specialized slug eaters or not. Many have seen them eat night crawlers or large worms. Others have had a decent go at them by feeding rodents.

Thank you Derek,for informations, about this species. In this time is impossible keepenig this species for me.. Maybe in next years..

Hello Guys,
today i get a pair of the hispida,they are now in captivity for some months .
They are drinking self ,eating several times worms without any problem
The animals are in good condition and makeing really fine.
Next time i try to get some sharp pictures for you ...
Wish you a great day,
Ralph

Pics would be great - what worms are they eating?

Did you import them or by any chance were they CB?

Brad

HI!

In germany, they´re called "Tauwürmer" - look here!

Cool does anyone know why they sell Lumbricus rubellus, will Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei also work as food for A. Hispida.

Ralph, it would be nice to see some feeding pics....

Hello Brad,
next time i feed them ,i will make some pics for you
Best regards,
Ralph

That will be awesome!

Hi Brad!

Yup, Eisenia also work...
Jürgen Fleck didnt name the scientific art of worms.

Snails seams not to work - a friend of FLECK lost all his snakes because feeding snails.

Regards,
Rene

Hi Rene

Thats great - I have plenty of those available here in RSA, got a small worm farm going already.

How did they find out that A.Hispida ate worms, very unlikely prey item for a venomous snake.
I have spoken to a chap here and he has had a few specimens for a while - not if it is true as I have not seen them for myself nor have I seen any pics.

What else do they eat? Surly small lizards at least?
I have also heard people say they have eaten pinks.
I would really love to get a few of these to study.

René do keep them as well?

Regards
Brad

HI!

I dont keep them at this time - earlier I had a couple WC´s.

The eat mice, but that seams not to be good. They lost a lot of liquid while digestion.
Lots of specimen died after feeding mice.
But in older literature you read often that they eat mice...

I dont know if they take lizards but i think its highly possible that frogs were taken.

Regards,
Rene

P.S.: hope my english is not to bad...

Hy guys ,
i think they will eat mice (but get´s fast dehydratet),small geckos and worms.
I didn´t know any other species,that shuffeling her food so fast (my atheris clorechis also does).
I feed my clorechis naturally with mice ,but NOT hairy and they are shuffeling like hell,the mice is living and already in his/her stomach.
hispida´s are sucking and swallowing her meal , so the theory that they normally are eating worms is not so improbable.
My atheris all are drinking themself ,without spraying directly ...and i didn´t do it...and they are shedding all very well.
Best regards,
Ralph

BTW. Have you guys ever try earthworms to A. squamigera?
I have fed my snakes couple of times just to see if they accept that kind of food and yes they did. They ate the worms like super fast it was really funny withness that..

@Ralph, I have also read that feeding mice with no fur is probably better for Atheris.. especially for A. nitschei.

I have a theory That might hold some water.They live in reed beds where leaches abound.I would bet my bottom dollar that they eat terrestrial leaches in the wild and is there primary food source not snails and slugs tho they work.Any one have any thoughts on that.

Archie - interesting concept - you can get medically safe leeches these days so anyone out there willing to try?

Leeches in fact are an interesting idea. And gutloading in this case may be beneficial for the keeper as well

Ralph Tümmers - what happened to the pictures???

Hy i´m sorry ,not much time at the moment
I take a look yesterday and he/she is in shed...so stay cool and pictures follow...
Greets Ralph

Ok...

Hello guys,
like promised a picture from my hispida after shed...

Hope you like it
Greets Ralph