Green Tree Pythons as pets?

RSS
Email

0 Kudo

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Author

Comment

formVjedi

Green Tree Pythons as pets?

Lead

[-]

Posts: 1

(12/04/08 23:02:14)

Hi everyone this is my first time at this site and I just took an interest in snakes about a month ago, so sorry if I ask something stupid. But is it possible to have green tree pythons as pets? I browsed a few topics and it looked like some of you do. I didn't think you could really have one as a pet due to them spending most of their life in trees so I was just wondering how you guys manage owning them in captivity.

And have any of you been bitten by one? just curious...

OnSafari247

[-]

Posts: 138

(12/04/08 23:38:21)

MVF Post Breeder

Nah no such thing as a stupid question......Dude this entire is forum is dedicated to the keeping of green tree pythons as pets. There are well more than a thousand members here, who collectivley, keep several thousands of these very unique and fascinating creatures as pets. I personally only have three but that number will grow. In my opinion the GTP is the only 'low personality' pet that I have had that never loses its novelty, and actually seems to fascinate me more and more the longer I keep them. Yes, they live in tree but thats really not a big deal. We all use perches in their enclosures, somewhat similar to a bird cage scenario, and they just hang from there. They actually do quite well that way, and are flourishing captivity all around world. YES, I have been bitten a few times and its not nearly as bad it looks like it would be. Their teeth are narrow and very sharp, which sounds bad, but actually it makes so the skin is broke easier without much pain. The strike itself is so fast, that the shock will be ten times worse than the actual bite. With that said, these animals are actually quite nice (except for the Biak locality). I have had these three for a few years now, I handle them almost every day, and none of them have tried to bite me even once. Anyway welcome to the forum and get yourself a green tree python, it will be one of the most fascinating pets you'll ever have.

EdBrown33

[-]

Posts: 196

(12/05/08 02:02:25)

Forum Chondro Junkie

Captive hatched animals tend to tame down and don't generally bite their keepers.
Bites can occur but can be avoided with proper husbandry skills.
That said, I'd still rather be bitten by a green tree python than a dog or cat.........
Having the right set up is important to maintain a green tree python in captivity long term.
Proper housing, the right temperature, correct humidity, the right diameter perches, fresh drinking water and proper diet are all a part of a green tree python's basic needs.
Green tree pythons are a commitment and they are alittle more sensitive than most other species of pythons but to answer your question.....
Yes they can be kept in captivity as pets by responsible keepers.

Last Edited By: EdBrown33 12/05/08 02:07:32. Edited 1 times.

cleve360

[-]

Posts: 825

(12/05/08 05:14:10)

Forum Ultra Chondro!

Well they are "pets" but more like a goldfish is a "pet". If you want something to interact with on a daily basis, a chondro isn't the best choice...most prefer to be left alone. Some are OK with frequent handling, but they are a minority.

On the other hand, if you are OK with leaving it alone most of the time, you'll have one of the most beautiful, most fascinating, and most challenging animals in the world to care for.

Sony Raju

[-]

Posts: 2238

(12/05/08 06:26:42)

Forum Ultra Chondro!

i think they are great pets. theyre more visual than handling pets, like others have already mentioned, but can be handled. i handle mine, but know others who dont. they thrive in captivity and sure beat ball pythons! lmao!

Sony Raju
Lone Star Chondros
sonykraju007@yahoo.com
www.iherp.com/SonyRaju

Anerythristic.chondroforum

[-]

Posts: 241

(12/05/08 07:10:25)

All of mine are completly tame...on vampire time, sun up thru sun down. Once the sun goes down

I have two that I can handle at night but they will strike at me until they figure out what is happening so I just leave them alone. During the day they are as tame as any other tame snake I have ever owned,

I can even do stuff like pull a small piece of stuck shed off the head area if needed.

thescottduncan

[-]

Posts: 67

(12/05/08 07:39:48)

All depends on what you want out of a pet.

I think they're great pets. I don't think they're a good choice for first snake though.

Scott
3.1 GTP's
4.4 BP's
0.1 California Kingsnake

Rocky Gravley

[-]

Posts: 30

(12/05/08 07:59:31)

Oh they are the best by FAR!!!! but i have to agree, i'm not so sure it would make a good first snake. You will more than likely have to spend a few hundred dollars just getting a good setup before you purchase it. for my first one by the time i got the cage, heat panel, Temp controller and the Complete Chondro I was somewhere around $500.00 not including the purchase of the animal. I'm not saying you'll have to spend that much of course!! I would just do lots of research, ask questions and make you own decision. On the other hand you are at the right place to find one. Just my thoughts ... hope this helps

Rocky Gravley

http://www.arborealenthusiast.com/
rgravley@arborealenthusiast.com

dphhchondro

[-]

Posts: 397

(12/05/08 08:24:20)

Forum Chondro Junkie

Nope... my pets are not green tree pythons...
They are Green Tree Dragons...

jmikkelsen

[-]

Posts: 33

(12/05/08 08:47:32)

if you havent cared for snakes before i wouldnt recommend starting out with a chondro.

i would however recommend starting with a carpet python. they are a nice hardy snake and are also a good lead in to keeping chondros.

Joseph Mikkelsen
-Morelia In Wonderland-

PITDRAGON

[-]

Posts: 506

(12/05/08 09:10:14)

Forum Chondro Junkie

I have to respectfully disagree about chondros being "visual pets" I handle all of my animals Chondro and non chondro on a daily basis and so does my 4 year old son . you just have to get a sense on if and when they want to be held .after a while you will get to know when you can take them out and when not to. Good luck

Joey Ferrante www.greenmountainchondros.com

sleestack

[-]

Posts: 1292

(12/05/08 09:22:54)

Forum Ultra Chondro!

a chondro was my first snake and i had it for 8 years till it died from starvation ,due to mouth rot, due too being bit by a rat on the mouth.

MegF42

[-]

Posts: 2211

(12/05/08 16:59:29)

Forum super duper Ultra Chondro!

I think each one is an individual. I have some that will bite you each and every time you hold them. I have some who will never bite, but are so obviously stressed by handling that I don't hold them, and I have some that are really mellow, seem to handle being held well and therefore are held more than the others. While I think if you do your homework you could keep a chondro successfully, I feel strongly that I learned a lot about behaviors, husbandry and handling from keeping less delicate snakes. This allowed me to make errors that every beginner makes with a snake that wouldn't be so affected by them. A cornsnake is not going to die if you have a problem with your temps being too low. A chondro might...especially if it leads to an R.I. I would have to honestly say that my years of keeping colubrids helped make me a better chondro owner. I wasn't less stressed when I got my first one...after all...it's a lot different when you're spending $4-$500 on a snake, plus a special cage, expensive thermostats and heat panels. You'll stress! But at least you'll have some of the basics down and you'll recognize certain behaviors as a non problomatic type as opposed to something you need to take care of.

5.5~Cornsnakes
3.4.2~Green Tree Pythons
4.2.1~Amazon tree boas
1.0~California Kingsnake
0.1~Snail Eaters
Assorted: Horses, dogs, and cats
www.Franclycac.com

BRB Reptiles

YES YES YES

[-]

Posts: 26

(12/06/08 08:15:22)

MVF Post Breeder

Just study their requirements for proper husbandry FIRST

Blue Ridge Biological

[-]

Posts: 522

(12/06/08 09:37:18)

MVFonator

There seems to be several types of chondro keepers, including the "touchy-feelies" and the "observers". There are always exceptions, but in my experience the "observers" tend be more science/biology minded in comparison to the "touchy-feelies". I'm on the observer end of the spectrum. I don't consider my snakes to be "pets". I won't even touch them unless absolutely necessary. I've even canceled a few sales after potential customers have asked too many questions about handling/holding.

Will

Julian Garcia

[-]

Posts: 1625

(12/06/08 10:10:59)

Forum super duper Ultra Chondro!

If you're a non snake person i say this. -

With any reptile you have to be ok with that animal be coming unapproachable (one day, with out warning, deciding it hates you). While i do think this is an extreme approach, i feel it is a realistic one.

To a peron who has kept snakes in the past. -

Sure, they make great pets. Get a calm cbb yearling; pref a female. Larger chondros are always more fun and if you decide you want to breed it's very easy to find a male.

Julian Garcia
Chondro's Exquisite
www.juliangarcia.com
chondro@gmail.com

Ben Team

[-]

Posts: 1240

(12/06/08 12:39:06)

Forum Ultra Chondro!

Interesting thoughts on this thread....

Will- I fall closer to the 'observer' side of the spectrum, but lately I have started 'forcing' myself to handle my adults on a weekly basis. Nothing too elaborate, but I do get them to 'de-perch' and crawl around for a minute. Why? Exercise mostly, but also it forces me to be more observant with the animals. Sometimes the perching posture can hide wounds/things of concern. Also, I hope that this makes them more acclimated to me, and therefore less stressed when interacting with me (Most of mine are kittens anyway, but I want them to have as little stress as possible when I do need to handle them).

Julian- Funny, I would always encourage the purchase of a male anything over a female anything if it is to be a pet. Males have less that can go wrong health wise, stay smaller (all things being equal a smaller animal is easier to house), and are typically less expensive.

To answer the OP's question: Yes, I think they make excellent 'pets' (just as a goldfish or tarantula makes an excellent pet), but they are not lap-snakes that will appreciate a great deal of handling. Also, I agree w/ what has already been stated that a chondro is not a good first reptile. Carpet pythons (IMO) are a perfect 'starter chondro' in that they behave in somewhat similar ways, have similar biology, but are far more forgiving of errors, and more comfortable with regular handling.

hamburger earmuffs

JordanGentry

[-]

Posts: 191

(12/06/08 14:57:53)

Forum Chondro Junkie

Ben said "lap-snake". lol

Jordan

juddb

[-]

Posts: 214

(12/06/08 16:11:44)

JordanGentry wrote:
Ben said "lap-snake". lol

Jordan

HAHAHA!

formVjedi

[-]

Posts: 2

(12/08/08 21:26:24)

Hey thanks for all of your responses, very interesting. Yeah I didn't think morelia viridis would be the perfect choice for a first snake, but they would make a fascinating pet I think. I'm not bothered by the fact they don't like to be handled often; I'd be more of the 'observer' as one of you put it. Cats and dogs are the kind of pets you show affection/handle often.

But if I do get an M. viridis it will be further down the road, not within the next six months or so. I'll look into snakes that would make good first snakes. Someone mentioned carpet pythons. Any suggestions for other snakes that would be good for first snake?

Jay Krillz

[-]

Posts: 70

(12/09/08 03:45:04)

Forum Chondro Junkie

If you like tree pythons/boas I'd take a look at Amazon Tree Boas. The husbandry isn't so strict as Green Pythons but it helps u get familiar with arboreal snake suck as green tree pythons as you gain experience. Plus on the good side Amazons tend to be less forgiving when you made an small husbandry error since their such hardy snakes in the 1st place too. Ask Megf42 on here she has some nice ones and I am on her waiting list for her next clutch.

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Yuku free message boards

Green Tree Pythons as pets?

Green Tree Pythons as pets?

Quick Reply