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The venom of the rhinoceros viper is considered to be relatively weak and is more likely to cause severe tissue damage than death, but certainly a bite is not pleasant. In the wild, frogs and fish also are eaten. Its common names include butterfly viper, rhinoceros viper, river jack and many more (see section: common names). Difficult feeders may take gerbils when other rodents are refused. They take a variety of prey, ranging from hopper mice for young specimens to rats for large adults.

Rhinoceros vipers spend much of the day partially hidden in the substrate and are most active at night. Persistent temperatures over 80 degrees can lead to dehydration and death. The temperature should be kept low, just 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Provide a large, shallow water bowl in which the snake can soak change the water regularly. For a substrate use 2 inches of sphagnum moss, orchid bark or any other material that can hold a high moisture content. It should be about 3 feet high, with a basking light placed toward the top of the terrarium. Rhino Viper Snakes move very slowly, but they are able to spring out of their hiding spots quickly during an attack. The common name butterfly viper is therefore more distinct and preferred to avoid confusion. The terrarium should be at least equal to the length of the snake, so plan for roughly 4 feet square for an adult. The implications of behavioural studies for successful management and husbandry of rhinoceros in captivity are discussed in sections on group size and composition, enclosure design and enrichment. Historically this species was referred to as the rhinoceros viper (for example German: Nashornviper, French: Vipre rhinocros) but this introduced confusion after the reclassification of the closely related species Bitis rhinoceros. They also may be severely dehydrated and need to be soaked as they adapt to the terrarium. Most specimens are wild-caught and should be thoroughly vetted for intestinal and other parasites, neck problems and paramyxovirus infection (“star-gazing disease”).