One of my favorites (charcoal squam)

[botis]

Here's a series of photos of my charcoal colored Variable Bush Viper (Atheris squamigera), one of my favorites in my collection. Normally, I go for the more colorful snakes, but this little guy was just too hot to resist. He's got that nasty Atheris attitude that I love, too. Enjoy:)

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/botis1313/002-2-1.jpg
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/botis1313/031-2.jpg
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/botis1313/014-2-1.jpg
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/botis1313/010-2.jpg
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/botis1313/002-2.jpg

Contrary to what some may say, arboreal vipers do, in fact, drink from a water dish. I've actually witnessed every arboreal viper, boa, and python in my collection drink from a water bowl, at some point.
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/botis1313/003-2-1.jpg

[TinkerbellsMom]

WOW that is a beautiful snake!!!! I love how their scales look. The last pic is my favorite, absolutely stunning!! :D

[Will0W783]

Good heavens he is gorgeous!! I love squams and that gray slate color is stunning!!! *drool*

[alessia55]

That last photo..... Wow!!!!

[marvelfreak]

Absolutely stunning. The last picture is breath take.

[Louis Jacobsz]

Man that's nice ! Thanks for sharing !

How often do you guys get the black ones in the US ?

Regards.

[botis]

Thanks, everyone:D The last shot is my favorite, as well. It's rare to actually catch them drinking, and they almost never continue long enough for me to get a picture.

Louis, you don't see this phase too often, but they are around. A friend of mine has 3 charcoal phase squams in his breeding colony, so I should be able to get a few more down the road. He produced this one in '10, along with 4 or 5 more grays. They didn't produce in '11, but they did get together this year, so I'm hoping he has a few more this fall. Are these rare in Africa, as well? What about in the wild?

[Louis Jacobsz]

Thanks for the info botis.

They are not rare in nature (some of the colours are) and also not really in the trade. They are just in high demand partly because Tanzania (main provider of WC's) is closed for export and everyone that has them wants more and different coloured ones.

I'll take some pics of ours when I'm at my friends place again (I'm out of space for now). We've got yellow, green, orange and red ones.

Regards.

[etc]

What a squam you got there, very very nice.

Between these and the eyelashes how do you keep them different?

[botis]

The bush vipers are kept slightly warmer (77-82), than the eyelash vipers (75-80). Eyelash vipers also need a bit more humidity (60% - 80%) than the bush vipers (50% - 60%).

[LISA127]

The coloring on him is gorgeous!!

[millertime89]

Squams are definitely some of my favorite vipers, stunning charcoal phase you got there. Wish I saw more.

[Robyn@SYR]

That is cool looking for sure.

[botis]

I wish I'd see more, too. Mine are both males, and I'd love to find a few females for them to have a go at, next spring.

[jaleely]

I saw the cuteness and scrolled down...then i saw the drinking pic and was overcome with making cute noises. That might be the cutest picture i've ever seen, other than ones of my basset hound. I LOVE vipers, and that one drinking is SO SO SO CUTE!