Many Horned Adders are a hardy species, usually thriving in captivity despite never really calming down. They are an active snake, often seen exploring their enclosure, and enjoy basking under a heat lamp during the day.

Since this species occurs over varied habitat the enclosure you provide should be influenced by the locality of the snake. Coastal specimens prefer a sandy substrate with higher humidity levels and lower temperatures, also preferring to take refuge in a small bush rather than under a rock, whereas those found inland prefer a drier, rockier habitat, and so prefer a stoney substrate with boulders and rock slabs.

These snakes love to climb so be sure to provide them with opportunity to do so. They will also drink from a waterbowl so one should be provided.

Bitis cornuta usually mate in winter with females giving birth to 12-15 babies in late Spring or early summer, although some keepers report mating in Spring and birth in late summer. A drop in temps over winter will encourage mating but there is no need to cool them below 15° C.