GTB vs. ETP

Yes, Amazon Basin Emeralds are normally very mellow but also very expensive. I acquired my 3rd yesterday... yay! They are expensive for a few reasons: they are very difficult to import legally, they are very beautiful, have great dispositions, females need to be 5-6 years to breed (sometimes in 4, but its rare), and they have few offspring (1-15 max, usually 6-10).

To care for arboreals isn't all that hard... they need a humid environment, they eat every 3 weeks due to a very slow metabolism, a hot side and a cool side of a cage to thermo-regulate(I recommend radiant heat panels), and they need to perch on branches. I also suggest a thermostat to control the temps... hot side shouldn't exceed 86-87 degrees. Most arboreals prefer cooler temps.

I have both GTP's and Emeralds. I like them both, but the Basins have a certain dignity about them. They just have a certain thing in the way they act that sets them apart from all other arboreals. I hope to get more in the near future.

GTP's are more diverse in patterns than emeralds. GTP's can be green with blue, yellow, black, white etc. They have many different patterns depending on locale. Just google Green Tree Python and start reading about different locales… you'll find a lot of info...

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Originally Posted by mjvale1

Comparitivly on the issue of being able to hold the snakes is the Green Trea Boa more firendly than that of the Emerald Tree Python??? I did a seach but could not find much on the subject comparing the two.

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in my experience sorongs and arus are by fare tamer than most gtp locales. gtps and etbs couldnt be more different(to some extent) beside looks. gtps and etbs are not naturally tame although somecan be extremely tame. aside from all that they have extremely delicate spines and with the least bit of accidental abuse they will perish. i suggest you do not get an aboreal species if you are looking for a handleable snake. i cannot tell you how many times i see customers at my shop(kindof ironic that someone pays 400+$ on a snake and dont know how to care for it) bringing back dead baby gtps because they werent careful with them

Just joined and want to add something, even though this is an old thread. Emeralds, both northerns and basins, can be held if done properly. Starting off with cage design that includes removable perches. Trying to remove an arboreal from a fixed perch in a cage is an accident waiting to happen. Considerations must be made as to environmental requirements during handling. You can't take an animal that requires 80-82 F and 80% humidity into an air conditioned environment at 72-75 F (not so bad as this is their usual NTL) and 54% humidity ( this is the real problem) for extended periods of time. You also can't handle them for hours at a time, maybe 15 minutes or so at most. Handling needs to be done during day light hours as after dark, only a fool will put body parts insided an emeralds cage. LOL

We live in south Florida, so we are lucky that we can take our emeralds outside for exercise almost year round. This is when we handle them for the most part. The snake is removed from it's cage, on a perch, and taken out to our "jungle-gym" for exercise. This is a great way to get the bigger animals to eliminate as well. We "rain" on them with the hose to stimulate them. When done they will most often "reach out" to climb on us for the trip back to the cage. We will interact with them for 10-15 minutes by letting them roam around on us. We never restrain them and never approach them from above.

Here is a pic of my wife holding Rica, one of our sub-adult female northerns.

http://redtailboa.net/pp/data/3980/11-27-05b.JPG

Craig