sand viper

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Vipera ammodytes (commonly known as sand viper) is native to Southern Europe, the Balkans, and the Middle East, where it inhabits dry rocky hillsides, screes, dry stone walls, and scrublands.

Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Viperidae, genus Vipera. 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 10.0-30.0°C with a basking spot of 32.0°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.