Puff adder, scientifically known as ⁣Bitis​ arietans, ⁢is a large and highly venomous snake belonging to⁣ the Bitis family. Its head is triangular in shape with a blunt⁤ and rounded snout,⁤ and is significantly wider than its neck. The color pattern of this species varies geographically, ranging from straw yellow to light‍ brown, orange, or reddish brown. This is overlaid with 18-22 backwardly-directed, dark brown to ‌black bands that extend down the back and tail.

Distribution and Size
Bitis arietans can be found in semi-arid areas of Africa and Arabia. They can grow ​up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) in length and have a lifespan of 15 years or more. Due to their advanced nature, they require special care and attention.

Housing
As Bitis arietans are⁣ not very active, their terrarium does not need to be excessively large. A pair of adult Namibia specimens, measuring around 0.8 meters (2.6 feet), can comfortably live in a ‍1.0 x 0.5 ⁢x 0.5 meters (3.2 x 1.6 x 1.6 feet) terrarium. On the other hand, my Lake Nakuru animals, measuring‍ 1.2-1.3 meters (3.9-4.2 feet), reside in a 1.3 x 1.0 x 0.5 meters (4.2 x 3.2 x‍ 1.6 feet) tank. For larger central African specimens, which can reach ⁣up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length, a terrarium of at least 1.5 x 1.0 x 0.5 meters (5 x 3.2 x 1.5 feet) is‌ recommended. I personally use wooden terrariums‌ with thick sliding glass for all my venomous⁣ reptiles. To ensure proper ventilation, I create one ‌opening on the upper bottom and one on the wooden rib below the sliding ‍glass in the lower front.

Hiding⁢ Spots
Bitis arietans require hiding spots within their enclosure for thermoregulation and to feel safe. These can include plastic caves, flowerpots, stapled stones, wood, or cork bark.

Substrate
For substrate, I use either beach wood chippings or peat, as both are easy to clean. It is recommended‍ to provide a relatively deep substrate of around 0.05-0.1 meters (0.15-0.3 feet) in depth. It is important to keep the substrate dry at all times.

Lighting and Heating
Due to the wide distribution of Bitis arietans, there are significant ⁣differences in maintaining different localities. It is important to be aware of the specific locality of your snake. Specimens from around the equator can be kept with a 12/12 hours lighting schedule all year round, while⁣ those from more southern⁤ or northern localities do best with a⁢ 14/10 hours light/dark schedule in summer and ⁢vice versa in winter. Equatorial specimens can be kept at ambient temperatures of ⁢28‍ °C (82°F) during the day⁤ and 20-22 °C (68-71‌ °F) at night, while southern (and northern) populations require a 2-3 month period‍ (winter months) with lower ambient temperatures of 23 °C (73 ‌°F) during the day and around 15-16 °C (59-60 °F) at night. I use a 2-3 week schedule ​of slowly decreasing and then increasing the temperatures back to normal. Bitis arietans enjoy basking, so a hot spot ‌with a basking lamp of appropriate power should be provided. The recommended basking ⁣spot ⁤temperature is around 35 °C (95 °F).

Water
Bitis arietans do not typically soak in water, unless during a summer heat wave or mite infestation. Therefore, a medium-sized water dish of‌ around 0.5 L with clean water is sufficient. I personally use ceramic dishes ⁢as they are less likely to tip over and are easy to ⁢clean. I clean and refill the water dishes twice a week.

Humidity
Apart from the shedding cycle, I only spray ​the enclosure with water sporadically, about every 2 weeks. During the last part of the shedding cycle, I recommend spraying every other day, being careful not to make the substrate⁢ too wet. I maintain the humidity level in my snake room ‌at 50-65%.

Feeding
Bitis arietans are known to have fewer feeding issues compared to other snake species. Even ⁢two-week-old babies can easily feed on live pinky mice. However, it is important not to overfeed them as they are not a‍ very active species. I feed babies every 10 days and adults a good-sized meal every 4 weeks. It is important to note that smaller localities‌ will grow ⁣much larger than‍ normal⁤ when fed heavily. Accepted prey includes mice, rats, and other rodent species. ⁢Some specimens may also take birds and lizards without hesitation. It is important ‌to note that babies can‍ and will‍ be cannibalistic, so ⁢it⁤ is highly recommended to keep them separated until they are at⁢ least half-grown.

Handling
Handling Bitis arietans can be challenging, making them not suitable for beginners. ‍Due to their stocky build, they tend to slip or fall off hooks easily. They are also quite temperamental and can grow to a large, chunky size. An agitated or excited adult Bitis arietans will test your snake handling skills with powerful strikes in any direction, sometimes even lifting themselves off the ground. Their​ large fangs and potent cytotoxic venom can cause serious damage if they strike the handler. It is important to never handle⁣ this species by the ​tail.

Cleaning
I spot clean​ the terrarium when necessary for feces, and completely clean the entire enclosure every 3-4 months. This involves removing⁢ the substrate, disinfecting the enclosure and decorations, and adding new substrate.

Shedding
To ensure a smooth shedding process, provide extra humidity in the‍ days leading up to shedding. In my 12 years ⁤of keeping this species, ​I have only had to remove eye caps from a specimen once. Due to their size and nature, this is not a pleasant experience for the handler. Fortunately, they rarely ‍have shedding issues.

Potential Health Problems
When kept properly, ⁣Bitis arietans ⁣is one of the hardiest snake ‌species. In over a decade ‌of keeping them, I have only had 3 deaths. One female retained infertile eggs (which can go unnoticed ​due to their bulky size), another died after being struck⁣ in the​ head by a cage mate, and a juvenile specimen was eaten by a sibling.

Bite Protocol
It is⁢ highly⁤ recommended for anyone⁣ keeping or handling venomous species to have a bite protocol in place. Each species has a specific bite protocol that ⁢includes general information about the species, details about their venom, and signs and symptoms of⁢ envenomation if⁤ bitten. It also includes detailed information about first aid (what to do and what not to do), specific treatment recommendations for medical personnel, including information about the required antivenom,⁤ and a list of⁣ individuals who specialize​ in ​snakebites and their ⁢contact information for assistance if needed. Lastly, it includes a list of all references used to create the⁤ protocol.

In conclusion, Bitis arietans is a fascinating and unique snake species that requires special⁤ care⁢ and attention. By ⁤following the guidelines outlined in this care sheet, you can ensure the health and well-being of your puff adder. Remember to always handle them⁤ with caution and respect their venomous nature.