Wagner’s Viper — Fact Sheet

Montivipera wagneri · Wagner’s Viper

Full care guide

These are provisional active-season care targets, not measured tolerance limits. Read the full guide for the evidence, population scope and winter-cooling restrictions.

📋 Quick reference

🌿 Enclosure and decoration

120 × 60 × 60 cm for one adult; increase for a large individual. Use locked shift compartments, secondary containment and no direct handling. Humidity: 50-70%, with ventilation, dry resting ground and a locally moist retreat.

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking spot: 27-30 °C
• Warm zone: 20-25 °C
• Cool zone: 18-22 °C
• Night: 17-20 °C

🐁 Feeding

Thawed whole mice; adults approximately every 14-21 days, juveniles smaller meals often every 7-10 days. Adjust to body condition. No routine supplements or live rodents.

⚖️ Legal status

CITES lists Montivipera wagneri in Appendix II, and the EU lists it in Annex B. International transfers need the applicable CITES documentation; EU transactions also require evidence of lawful acquisition. Bern Appendix II lists it under Vipera wagneri. Confirm the documents for the actual animal and movement rather than relying on the seller’s general permit.

☠️ Venom

Medically significant venom. A bite needs immediate emergency care even if symptoms seem mild. Keep the patient still, remove tight items and follow poison-centre advice; do not cut, suck, ice or tourniquet the wound.

🩺 Common problems

• Overheating: repeated attempts to leave the warm area or abnormal exposed resting warrant an immediate check of the cool retreat and room temperature.
• Respiratory infection: bubbles, wheezing or open-mouth breathing require prompt reptile-veterinary assessment.
• Dysecdysis and dehydration: review drinking access and the moist retreat; never attempt manual skin removal.
• Dermatitis: wet bedding and dirty retreats can damage ventral scales.
• Obesity, regurgitation and parasites: track body condition and meal history; persistent change needs diagnosis, not a larger meal or automatic deworming.