Black-browed Pit Viper (scientific name: Elaphetaeniura) is a large non-venomous snake that can grow up to about 2 meters long. The Black-browed Pit Viper is also known as the Family Snake, Weighing Star Snake, Cauliflower Snake (although the King Pit Snake is also called Cauliflower Snake, but in Sichuan and Guizhou, the black-browed Pit Viper is called Cauliflower Snake), Yellow Jaw Snake, Gum Snake, Yellow Throat Snake, Conger Eel, Yellow Long Worm, Broad Snake, etc.
The head and body are yellowish-green or brownish-gray; there is a distinct black stripe behind the eye, and there are black trapezoidal or butterfly-shaped spots on the anterior and middle parts of the back, resembling weighing stars, hence the name weighing star snake; the spots gradually disappear from the middle section of the back, but there are 4 clear black vertical stripes that extend to the end of the tail, and the central rows of back scales have weak edges. Due to its high medicinal value, this snake is often hunted and its population is declining. In addition, there are 9 subspecies of black-browed pit viper that have been discovered. The black-browed pit viper has a rough temperament. It is highly adaptable and can be active day and night depending on its origin. It is distributed from caves as deep as 300 meters to bustling suburban areas; from high-humidity tropical rainforests to semi-arid sandy wilderness, its wide distribution is astonishing.
The Black-browed Pit Viper is distributed in a wide area in China, including Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Tibet, and the eastern region of Sichuan, as well as Hainan and Taiwan. In the northeastern region, early scientific literature recorded its distribution in Liaoning, but no specimens have been collected for decades. Therefore, it is not included in the "Liaoning Animal Records". The subsequent volumes of the "China Animal Records" also do not record its distribution in Liaoning Province, although there is a small distribution in Shandong.
It is also distributed in other countries, including North Korea, Vietnam, the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, Laos, Myanmar, India (Dajiling, Assam), and Japan.
Not recommended for keeping
1. Acute Pneumonia
One of the common diseases in snakes. Its symptoms include difficulty breathing, open mouth, unwillingness to prey, long stay outside the nest, and sudden onset, which can cause mass deaths when severe. It often occurs during the laying or birthing period of female snakes, as they are weak at this time, do not eat or drink water, and the humid and hot weather makes them susceptible to illness. The preventive measures are to provide sufficient clean water to the female snakes during the egg laying (birthing) period, ensure good ventilation, and reduce the surrounding temperature.
2. Moldy Spot Disease
Common in captive snakes, especially pit vipers and five-step snakes. This disease often occurs in poor living environments, limited activity ranges, and humid environments. The main preventive measure is to keep the snake's habitat dry and allow the snake to have a certain range of activities. Regularly sweep with lime to absorb moisture, or wrap the lime in paper and place it on one side of the snake's nest, and replace it regularly.
Treatment: Apply 2% iodine tincture to the affected area of the snake's body twice a day. Alternatively, soak in a potassium permanganate solution for 1 week to achieve a cure. Moldy spot disease should be detected and treated early, as late treatment is less effective.
3. Parasites
There are many types of parasites that can infect snakes, such as flagellate ciliates, roundworms, tapeworms, and ascaris, and ticks and mites can parasitize the snake's skin.
Treatment methods: Oral administration of veterinary insecticide solution, with a dose per kilogram of snake's weight, for 5 consecutive days, has a killing or expulsion effect on various internal parasites. In addition, fenbendazole, levamisole, and dichlorophenol can also be used. For ticks and mites on the skin, the snake can be placed in a nylon bag and soaked in a veterinary insecticide solution for 10 minutes. After the ticks and mites die and fall off, rinse the skin with water.
4. Snake Oral Inflammation
It is the most common disease in snakes. Oral inflammation is more common in venomous snakes, as extracting venom can easily cause oral injuries. Improper repeated venom collection methods and careless operations can easily cause oral inflammation. During hibernation, certain bacteria are prone to invade the cheeks, resulting in oral inflammation. In the feeding season, when capturing larger prey, fighting or swallowing can also cause oral injuries and induce oral inflammation. If artificially fed, the incidence of oral inflammation is higher. The main manifestations are swelling of the upper and lower jaws, inability to open or close the mouth, affecting feeding. Sometimes the gums and forehead of the mouth may appear red (normally pale), and in severe cases, pus may overflow from some tooth sockets. In the end, because of the spread of inflammation, the snake is unable to drink water, becomes weak, and dies.
The optimal growth and development period of the Black-browed Pit Viper is from May to October, with the peak growth period occurring from June to September. During this time, the consumption rate is highest for juvenile snakes due to their vigorous metabolism and active behavior. [5]
The variation in temperature and humidity has a close relationship with the growth and development of the Black-browed Pit Viper. When the temperature is below 18℃, feeding decreases or even stops, causing the snake's growth to almost stagnate. When the temperature exceeds 32℃, activity and predatory ability decline, leading to slower growth. The optimal temperature range for growth is between 24-28℃. As the temperature increases within the range of 22-30℃, growth accelerates. During the hibernation period, weight loss in the snake increases with higher temperatures, which is related to the accelerated metabolism. Both excessively high and low humidity levels affect the hunting activity of the Black-browed Pit Viper. The optimal humidity range for growth is 65%-78%.
The Black-browed Pit Viper is active in hunting both day and night and has a large appetite. Therefore, when being kept in captivity, it is important to ensure an adequate supply of live prey in order to accelerate its growth, especially during the peak growth period. If using house mice or field mice as food, they should be killed or have their limbs removed before feeding to prevent any injuries caused by the live mice.
The incubation period of Black-browed Pit Viper eggs is relatively long, and it requires a high temperature for successful development. When artificially incubating the eggs, it is important to maintain a temperature above 20℃, with the optimal temperature range being 28-32℃. If possible, maintaining the eggs within this temperature range will greatly reduce the incubation period and increase the survival rate of the hatched offspring overwintering.
The optimal growth and development period of the Black-browed Pit Viper is from May to October, with the peak growth period from June to September. Among them, due to the vigorous metabolism and activity of the young snakes, their consumption is the highest.
The changes in temperature and humidity are closely related to the growth and development of the Black-browed Pit Viper. When the temperature is lower than 18°C, the feeding decreases or even stops, and the snake's growth is almost stagnant. When the temperature is higher than 32°C, the activity and predation ability of the snake decrease, resulting in slower growth. The optimal temperature for growth is 24-28°C, and as the temperature increases within the range of 22-30°C, the growth accelerates. During the hibernation period, the weight loss of the snake increases with the rise of temperature, which is related to the increase in temperature and accelerated metabolism of the snake. Both excessively high and low humidity affect the hunting activity of the Black-browed Pit Viper. The optimal humidity for its growth is 65%-78%.
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