Namaqua Dwarf Adder — Fact Sheet

Bitis schneideri · Namaqua Dwarf Adder

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• Locked primary enclosure in an access-controlled escape-proof room.
• Minimum 90 x 45 x 45 cm for one adult; solitary.
• Positively lockable full-body shift; all tracks, vents and cable gaps newborn-proof.
• 8-12 cm clean fine sand or compactable sand-loam; shallow disposable layer in quarantine.
• Quarantine at least 90 days and record weight in grams.
• Protected contact only; two trained adults at openings, never free-handle.

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Snug warm and cool refuges plus one ventilated humid hide.
• Flat anchored stones, low cork and sparse succulent-like cover.
• Clear inspection strip and protected shallow water access.
• No unstable rocks, deep hidden voids or sharp gravel.

💡 Lighting

• UVB recommended: measured Ferguson Zone 2 over part of the warm zone.
• Bright white visible light and complete shade.
• 10-14 hours seasonally; darkness at night.

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking surface: 28-32 °C

• Ambient: 20-26 °C

• Cool refuge: 18-22 °C

• Night: 14-20 °C

• Preserve the cool Atlantic-coast gradient; never heat the whole floor.

• Thermostat, guard, probe and alarm all heat; avoid direct cold draughts.

💧 Humidity & water

• Ambient 40-60%; shed refuge 60-75%.
• Brief localized dawn mist may imitate fog; sand must dry promptly.
• Very shallow stable fresh-water dish, exchanged through protected access.
• Avoid damp sand, condensation and stagnant air.

🐁 Diet

Feed freely:

• Growing juveniles: appropriately tiny frozen-thawed mice every 7-10 days if established.

In moderation:

• Adults: small frozen-thawed whole prey every 10-21 days, guided by gram weights.

Avoid:

• Live rodents, wild-caught lizards/frogs, oversized meals, force-feeding and loose feeding tubs.

Supplements:

• None routinely with complete whole vertebrate prey.

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Persistent retreat or dehydration → overheating.
• Blistering or discoloured scales → wet sand or poor ventilation.
• Refusal plus weight loss → stress, prey mismatch, parasites or illness.
• Incomplete shed → hydration, mites or temperature problem.
• Wheeze, bubbles or open-mouth breathing → respiratory disease.
• Missing visual count → escape emergency; isolate the room before searching.

Shift and secure before veterinary care. Maintain written bite, escape and hospital plans; there is no home treatment.