Bitis nasicornis (Rhino vipers)

[Louis Jacobsz]

I fed some snakes yesterday and decided to snap some pics of this boy for you guys as I haven't seen too many around on the forum as yet. I hope you enjoy him, and feel free to ask any Q's haha...:)

http://www.ljafricancaptivebreds.co.za/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/Rhino_006_28768_x_51229.jpg

http://www.ljafricancaptivebreds.co.za/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/Rhino_004_28512_x_76829.jpg

Thanks for looking...

Regards
Louis.

[AjaMichelle]

Gorgeous! :) Do you feed live?

[BarelyBreathing]

That's awesome.

[alessia55]

What an awesome creature. Look at those eyes!!!

[BlueTongueDan]

Wow, great photos! Those markings are incredible!
Do you have any full body shots?

:)

[GarterPython]

That snake is amazing!

[Gungirl]

That is one impressive snake.

[jarich]

Wow, awesome looking snake! You really have such an impressive collection.

[BigTimer]

Wow amazing snake

[USMCgunner11]

That's awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[Rogue628]

Wow! Impressive viper! I absolutely LOVE the first pic. It's a really good close up of his face. The colorings on each scale is beautiful.

How many "horns" do they actually have on their nose?

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

Great pictures, thanks for sharing. Easily one of my favorite species of viper to work with. The feeling of there keeled scales is like no other species of snake. There orbs for eyes look like little universes. I love to see people keep this species successfully. Do you plan on breeding nasicornis?

[Louis Jacobsz]

Thanks a lot for your complements guys !

@AjaMichelle, On this occasion he took a freshly killed rat. I do sometimes feed live prey but only if the particular snake won't feed on dead first.

@BlueTongueDan, I'll take some full body shots for you guys tonight. I have three different localities of these so I'll include those as well.

@Rogue628, I honestly have no idea ! I've noticed that certain localities have more, usually shorter horns than others and some seem to have less but longer (more impressive) horns.

@KD35WIN.AS.ONE, Thanks man...I'm planning on breeding them in the next couple of years as my females still has some growing to do. I haven't seen to many CB's around as yet.

As KD35WIN.AS.ONE mentioned, if you guys ever get the chance of safely touching one of these, go for it ! They really have a unique feel to them that's only rivalled by one other species in my opinion (Atheris hispida).

Regards
Louis.

[Louis Jacobsz]

Here are some more pics as promised...

Full body shot:

http://www.ljafricancaptivebreds.co.za/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/Rhino_etc_025_28768_x_51229.jpg

And two headshots of a small female:

http://www.ljafricancaptivebreds.co.za/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/Rhino_etc_007_28512_x_76829.jpg

http://www.ljafricancaptivebreds.co.za/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/Rhino_etc_021_28512_x_76829.jpg

[Rogue628]

Do the horns differ between sexes?

[MrBD1980]

Gotta say...possibly the most attractive pics of any snake I've seen!

Thanks for posting!

Bri

[Will0W783]

WOw!!! Gorgeous animals....I really love the rhino vipers, and your photography skills are awesome Louis!

Have you ever kept A. hispida? I would love to see one in the flesh someday, but they are not available around me.

[jaleely]

ooh my gosh i am in love! They are so beautiful! Love it! and WONDERFUL photography!!!

[BlueTongueDan]

They are just amazing!
LOVE the last photo!
:)

[shaunyboy]

you take proffesional quality pictures mate

thats one gorgeous looking snake:D

thanks for sharing

cheers shaun

[Louis Jacobsz]

WOW...Thanks a lot for your complements guys ! Really appreciate it !;)

@Rogue628, I haven't noticed any real difference in the horns when comparing sexes. But it does seem to have a lot (mostly) to do with the age and size of the specimen. Adults, like in my first two pics, have larger horns than those on hatchlings or younger specimens, like in the last pics. Just for interest sake, they are sexed by simply looking at tail lengths; males have long tails and female very short tails.

@Willow783...I have kept them before for about a week before they died. They tend to come in in a very bad way and thus do not last long. But I'm trying to get some soon and will post pics for you when I do.

Regards
Louis

[RandyRhoads]

Absoultely stunning. I'd love to be able to keep hots like these.