Bitis schneideri - Captive Care

Namaqua Dwarf Adder (Bitis schneideri) - Captive care

Of all the dwarf adder species kept in captivity this may be the one least suited to a captive environment. Many have attempted to keep and breed these unique little snakes with very little success and countless individuals have died at the hands of keepers. There are however those working with the species and hopefully the information below helps to keep those snakes alive and healthy. Bitis schneideri occur on low, semi-vegetated sand dunes along the west coast where temperatures rarely exceed 28° C in summer, and drop just below 10° C in winter.

These snakes spend most of their time buried in the sand, they do this as a means to thermoregulate as well as hide in ambush waiting for prey, which is made up primarily of lizards and frogs. A keeper should be wary of overfeeding these snakes with rodents in captivity.

A cage with soft sand and scattered shrubbery suits these snakes well in captivity. Provide more than one hiding spot as they will move between them.

A basking spot of 30-32° C will work for the species, however beware of heat build-up in the enclosure as these snakes do not enjoy a hot cage. Humidity should be maintained even in winter, as individuals kept too dry may develop respiratory complications.

The west coast sees very little rainfall each year with the vast majority of moisture received by condensation of coastal fog. As a result these snakes rely heavily on this condensation for their moisture intake and drink the droplets which form on their bodies. One can replicate this in captivity by misting the snakes every few days using a water atomizer.

Males can reach maturity in under a year and females in under 2 years. up to 7 babies are born in late summer/autumn and measure 90-130mm.

Babies generally feed well on small geckos.

Please note: This information serves only as a suggestion and is based on input from various experienced keepers. It is important that you gather as much info from various sources before deciding how best to care for your snake. Be sure to check with your local authorities what permits may be required in your area.