True / high blue green tree python

[minxy-mnb]

I'm more into ball pythons myself ,but my brother is looking for a blue Green Tree Python not a maternal blue. I don't know much about the genetics or lines ,it's not really my forte. I was trying to get him on for his birthday later this year, I know he just wants something that stays very blue. I'm having trouble finding breeders that have a high blue lines or babies for sale.

does anyone have any recommendations?

[Kcl]

High blue green tree pythons is a very different proposition than something like a ball python morph. It's likely incomplete dominance and polygenic like height in humans. Most ball python morphs are dominant/recessive, which is much easier to breed for. Basically it's like breeding for a 7ft tall human vs breeding for blue eyes or brown eyes. It started out rare and is harder to get.

The long and short of it is, it's my understanding that if you can even get an ontogenetic high blue GTP, you're probably going to have to pay something in the thousands. He might want to reconsider the need for it to be blue.

[Kcl]

Oh, and for added fun, the babies from high blue lines won't necessarily be high blue and there's no way to have any idea what they'll look like since they start red or yellow. (and many of the high blue ones go through a green phase too. The ones that don't are even more rare)

[redshepherd]

Vibrant Viridis breeds blue lines, you should message them. Be prepared to spend something like $2k~$3k for a neo though. If you guys have never owned a GTP before though, I wouldn't start with that investment on a neo...

If you join the green tree python groups on facebook, you'll find breeders and can look through snakes you might like. There's also a GTP forum to post this on, http://moreliaviridis.yuku.com/

[loonunit]

I've shopped for them (unsuccessfully), and they are extremely rare and extremely expensive. As others have pointed out, the genetics are not straightforward, so breeding two blues together will not guarantee blue babies.

Green trees are also somewhat harder to keep healthy vs. ball pythons. I strongly recommend getting a regular green (you can pretty easily get one with blue striping/flecking, and it will still be just AWESOME) and raising it up so that you get your husbandry dialed in before you invest in a true blue.

[minxy-mnb]

Thanks for the advise! I agree I think I may go more for a regular green .