Atropoides nummifer ssp

[Maik Dobiey]

Hello people,

At the moment I am searching for some specimens (CB) of Atropoides nummifer. I read all what I could get about this species and how to keep them. But compared to other species I didn't find so much. Neither in the www nor in various books and magazines.
After all I believe it is a relatively easy species even as the first hot.
But just to get some other opinnions I would like you to share your experiences with keeping this species. Maybee regarding temperatures, humidity, handling, manner ...
Thanks a lot

Maik

[ETET]

Hey Maik,

Atropoides nummifer use to be more common, but seems not too many people keep them anymore. As you know nummifer has three subspecies- mexicanus, nummifer and occiduus. They have quite a distribution from Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica... a thick terrestrial snake living in humid vegetation. I'm keeping a few now and hope to get some babies next year.

In captivity they are not particular difficult to keep. I'm keeping them in an ambient temp around 25-26C with a slight night drop. They need humidity by misting them twice daily, and a clean water bowl as they love to soak quite a bit. As for feeding, one adult mouse for a 2 feet one should be good enough as they have a very slow metabolism. They poop only 3-4 times a year (even much longer than my bitis). Don't overfeed them should be able to keep them live longer.

IMO this is not as good as copper head as a first hot. Although they are relative shorter, but they have a big head with big venom glands. Also, they have a fast feeding response to attack for food or strike anything emmiting heat - like your hand. Their striking is not as bad as their name jumping viper; they strike around around 1/2 to 2/3 of their body length. As their body are robust, the impact from a strike will be big. Another thing they are not good as first hot is that if you get bitten, not like a slight copper head bite, you do need medical treatment and AV. The Polyvalent Antivenom from Instituto Codomiro (Costa Rica) can treat envenomation from atropoides nummifer ssp. Hope this may help you, but if this is your first hot look out for some other species....

ETET

[reverendsterlin]

I think Robroy over at Glade Herp has 3 up for sale.

[Maik Dobiey]

Thanks for the Infos. What you told me Etet is comparable to what I've read. But I also read that there have never been any records of a severe envenomation of this species. So I don`t think that there wil be a need of AV. They are discribed as calm so I believe they are relatively easy to handle. What are experiences in handling them e.g. with a hook? That is what I am expecially interestet in because I have never handled one. But I have already handled a few other hot and what I got to know is that the copper is far not as easy to handle as for example some Trimeresurus species or Bitis. IMO that should be the main criterea(spelling OK?) to chose a hot snake to start with.

Unfortunately(?) I am living in Germany so I cannot buy the Atropoides there... But thanks for informing me.

regards

-Maik-

[ETET]

Hey Maik,

As concerning about handling atropoides, using hook is OK and they are not runny at all. But one thing is that my atropoides seems very curious about any moving object and not afraid of human. They uncoil themselves and come forward to look at me and sometimes like to strike if you put any body part near the cage. Other than that, they coil up most of the time. Although there is no record of severe envenomation from atropoides, I think prepare the worst scenario in keeping hots (no matter you keeping a copperhead or mamba) will make me won't feel sorry if something went terribly wrong....

ETET

[Maik Dobiey]

Yes, that's what I think. AndI consider it a nice feature that they are curious and not timide when you are near the cage. So you can observe them they don`t flee immediately like some other snakes. I should just keep out of their strike range... and I can ensure you thats what I am going to do ;-) I have different tools to stay safe...

regards

-Maik-