GTP Care. Just need a bit of info.

[LP.]

Well after I get my next ball python I'm considering getting a Green Tree Python. I've taken care of 3 Jungle Carpet's before but I had to sell them because of personal issues. I just have a few questions because I know they require a more "special" care.

Should I start off a hatchling/juvenile in a tub or a terrarium?

How would I heat the tank if I were to keep it as a display animal? I know over head lamps suck humidity out and I know they require high humidity , so how does everybody else heat?

Besides a few perches and plastic plants (possible live?) is there anything else I should put in the tank? (I think I should cover 3 of the 4 sides of the terrarium with SOMETHING, am I correct?)

For those of you who do use over head lights, how do you keep the humidity up, and the heat steady? (Does the tank need a hot/cold enviroment?)


If I can think of anymore questions I will ask in another post, and if there is anything else I should know please include it. Dont worry about "seeming rude" or anything, its hard for me to take offense to anything over the internet, especially if its advice.

[mainbutter]

I've never taken care of GTPs but in response to your "should I put anything else in" question:

GTPs are some of the prettiest snakes in the world, and in my opinion are not done justice if not kept in the prettiest display cage you're able to put together. So yes, you should put more in there to help accentuate the display as best as possible!

Good luck with it if you end up getting one

[Lucas339]

i wouldn't start off with a hatchling. i would go for an older animal offered by a true breeder, not a broker. many breeders are selling well esablished animals at really good prices. older animals can handle SMALL mistakes in husbandry better than a hatchling.

you keep saying tank....i wouldn't reccomend that. a front opening cage is best for them. some GTPs can be skiddish and predators come from the top. i use a PVC cage for mine with three perches, all at different levels. plastic cages hold heat and humidity far better and glass cages. you can put live plants in there if you make sure they can't tip easily. i had live for a while but swtiched to fake because my animal would try and perch on the pots and the plants and would tip them over often.

with a PVC cage and a heat pannel, you can have a stable environment with heat gradients and good humidity. i offer a vertical heat gradient and mist once to twice a week.

i have been popped with infractions for reccomending sites before but there is a web site that is dedicated just to GTP where top breeders come to share and answer questions. this site also has a classifed section where these top breeders list their animals for sale. do a search for the scientific name for GTP.

[DSGB]

Read The More Complete Chondro by Greg Maxwell.

[Wh00h0069]

i wouldn't start off with a hatchling. i would go for an older animal offered by a true breeder, not a broker. many breeders are selling well esablished animals at really good prices. older animals can handle SMALL mistakes in husbandry better than a hatchling.

you keep saying tank....i wouldn't reccomend that. a front opening cage is best for them. some GTPs can be skiddish and predators come from the top. i use a PVC cage for mine with three perches, all at different levels. plastic cages hold heat and humidity far better and glass cages. you can put live plants in there if you make sure they can't tip easily. i had live for a while but swtiched to fake because my animal would try and perch on the pots and the plants and would tip them over often.

with a PVC cage and a heat pannel, you can have a stable environment with heat gradients and good humidity. i offer a vertical heat gradient and mist once to twice a week.

i have been popped with infractions for reccomending sites before but there is a web site that is dedicated just to GTP where top breeders come to share and answer questions. this site also has a classifed section where these top breeders list their animals for sale. do a search for the scientific name for GTP.

That is some good info there. I keep mine in the same type of enclosure with the same type of heat, and my GTP (Morelia viridis) is doing great. Good luck if you do end up getting one.

[DavidG]

moreliaviridis.com

You should in no way be punished for posting valuable information regarding the care of an animal. If someone on MVF was to ask about BPs I would send them here. It's not about one site knowing everything, it's about sharing a wealth of knowledge no matter where it comes from.

finegtps.com also offers amazing information, along with a lot of high end designer blood lines. It used to be Greg Maxwells site, but Andrew Kelley took it over about a year ago. He's a really nice guy and knows his stuff. If you put the effort into learning about chondros then it's well worth the reward. I'm one of those who loves tubs! My chondros live in ugly tubs, if I want to see how pretty they are I just take them out. A baby chondro is less forgiving than an adult but you can honestly make huge husbandry mistakes and the older ones will be okay (not sure about smaller ones as I usually purchase sexed). My whole rack lost heat for what I figure was about a 15 hour span before I even realized. Everyone was just fine.

Rico Walder offers a much cheaper book filled with a lot of arboreal boid knowledge at a great price, he also produces a ton of gtps and etbs. Rico is the coolest guy, and a total nut when it comes to snakes.


Since you were looking for cool ascetics be sure to search the web for chondro bio active substrate.