The Arboreal Enthusiast???

[Evenstar]

I am considering adding a GTP to our family and I found a couple young adults I may be interested in from Rocky Gravley at the Arboreal Enthusiast.

However, I have not found ANY information on this guy or his chondros on the BOI or Kingsnake or anywhere. Does anyone know anything about him? Any recommendations? And since I am still looking at various options, any recommendations for anyone else I may look into???

**I am just looking for a nice pet and do not have any interest in genetics so my primary concern is temperament. Please keep that in mind when making any recommendations and I thank you all very much!!

[babyknees]

Don't know anything about them but the snakes look really nice. I'll have to watch this thread. I might be interested in getting one of them.

[Evenstar]

Yeah I was quite attracted to them. And he has a couple young adults for sale which is what I'm interested in - I want a well-started individual as this would be my first GTP. Hopefully someone here will be able to help us both out!

BTW, if anyone has any ideas, please feel free to pm me if you're more comfortable with that.

Thanks again!

[lostinstall]

While i haven't had any personal dealings with Rocky Gravley, i know that he is a reputable breeder of chondros. Check out the MVF (where all the hardcore chondro heads go) and do a search for Rocky. You'll see his name pop up a lot.

http://moreliaviridis.yuku.com/forum...-Viridis-Forum

Also, check out their classifieds:

http://moreliaviridis.yuku.com/forums/64

[lostinstall]

Also, you mentioned keeping them as "pets", but i just want to let you know that generally, they should not be handled often because they get stressed out easier than other types of snakes. They're more of a display snake. Also, even the tamest chondro can change into a feeding machine at night, so you need to be careful with them during that time. They switch into hunt mode and can strike at anything warm in their cage like your hand. They're great, beautiful snakes and i recommend them, but i just want to make sure you know their personality first. Of course there are exceptions to the rule and there may be chondros out there that tolerate frequent handling without getting stressed, but as a general rule, they're display snakes. You could always tell the breeder exactly what you're looking for and he/she will find the best matching individual for you.

[kristan]

+1..Rocky Gravely is a reputable breeder.

As far as gtps tolerating handling..I think many of them do. I handle most of mine whenever I want to (day or night) and they do not seem to show any signs of stress (they are not jumpy, do not miss meals, etc). I do not handle my biak often...she is not aggressive but she's a bit jumpy, breaths heavily, and overall does not appear comfortable when handled. I also do not handle new acquisitions for at least a month or two. There is a vid of one of my males being handled here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bke-NRE6unQ which is pretty representative of his overall demeanor. Most of my animals have very strong feeding responses (and have been known to strike at anything warm OR moving) so I always turn on the lights for a few before opening the cage.
I do not consider any of my gtps to be "aggressive", although as with any species, there are many aggressive specimens out there.

[wwmjkd]

+1..Rocky Gravely is a reputable breeder.

As far as gtps tolerating handling..I think many of them do. I handle most of mine whenever I want to (day or night) and they do not seem to show any signs of stress (they are not jumpy, do not miss meals, etc). I do not handle my biak often...she is not aggressive but she's a bit jumpy, breaths heavily, and overall does not appear comfortable when handled. I also do not handle new acquisitions for at least a month or two. There is a vid of one of my males being handled here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bke-NRE6unQ which is pretty representative of his overall demeanor. Most of my animals have very strong feeding responses (and have been known to strike at anything warm OR moving) so I always turn on the lights for a few before opening the cage.
I do not consider any of my gtps to be "aggressive", although as with any species, there are many aggressive specimens out there.

Kim is dead on as usual. GTPs are not what I would consider to be an aggressive snake in the slightest. the neonates are snappy, and certainly there are some adults probably best never being handled, but I've had absolutely no issues with my adult sorong x jaya. although I have found it useful to keep a water bottle on hand and spray him down once or twice before handling. it seems to make him aware that I'm not bringing dinner in tow. I've posted this picture before, but it's indicative of his personality every time I take him out:






I have no experience with other arboreals, but I would recommend GTPs to anyone.

[Evenstar]

Thanks everyone very much! I really appreciate the extra info. I've done a fair bit a research so far and am aware of their general temperaments. I am glad to see my findings are confirmed! While I do want a pet and want to be able to handle him now and then, I do know that GTPs are not like, say, ball pythons, lol.

I have talked to Rocky about his now-retired breeder, Hunter. He has told me that this particular snake is the most laid back chondro he's worked with and in the 6 years he's owned him, he's never once bitten. If we're able to work out the rest of the legistics, I'm thinking Hunter will make a good choice.

Thanks again for all the info and the help!


wwmjkd - that is a beautiful GTP!! Thanks for the pics!

[lostinstall]

I have talked to Rocky about his now-retired breeder, Hunter. He has told me that this particular snake is the most laid back chondro he's worked with and in the 6 years he's owned him, he's never once bitten. If we're able to work out the rest of the legistics, I'm thinking Hunter will make a good choice.

Sounds like you found the perfect match! Get him! Heh heh. He has that nice classic GTP look to him.

[Evenstar]

Sounds like you found the perfect match! Get him! Heh heh. He has that nice classic GTP look to him.

I hope so! I'm going ahead with the purchase. I've spoken with Rocky on the phone and he's been very nice and helpful and, with the recommendations I've gotten now, it seems like he'll be good to work with. We're going to work out a pick up at the spring Tinley show. It's a long wait, but he's willing and I'd rather do that than risk shipping in this crummy weather.