Tiger Rattlesnake

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Crotalus tigris (commonly known as Tiger Rattlesnake) is native to Southwestern United States (Arizona) and northwestern Mexico (Sonora), where it inhabits arid rocky canyons, desert foothills, and desert scrublands.

Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Viperidae, genus Crotalus. It is studied for its unique venom genetics and specialized physiological adaptations.

Behavior and Habits: Predominantly terrestrial, solitary, and nocturnal. It spends most of the day camouflaged in leaf litter or under shelters waiting for prey.

Morphology: Adults reach an average size of 75.0 cm. Males typically exhibit longer tails than adult females.

Terrarium Setup: Requires an escape-proof terrarium of at least 150 liters with natural loose substrate and secure hiding spots.

Lighting and Heating: Carnivorous diet consisting of properly sized rodents fed via long feeding tongs. Supplement with vitamins.

Humidity and Hydration: Keep ambient temperatures at 18.0-32.0°C with a basking spot of 33.0°C. Provide low UVB.

Feeding and Supplementation: Solitary species, must be housed individually. Keeping multiple snakes together leads to severe stress.

Compatibility: Breeding is difficult in captivity, requiring a cooling period and careful introduction under supervision.

Health and Common Diseases: Prone to respiratory tract infections if ventilation is poor, and blister disease if the substrate is excessively wet.