GTP a good second snake?

i dont plan on getting one any time soon, but next to ball pythons i believe a GTP is something id really love to have in my collection and im curious if they are something people would suggest..

Im very good at checking and rechecking everything i can to make the habitat as good as i can for any snake.

Not worried about any extra costs that would go along with correct care for one

curious how they are tempered to handling? or if they will just be something to look at and enjoy

been reading what i can on this site and http://moreliaviridis.yuku.com/ to learn more about them

any info you care to share is greatly appreciated thanks !

They can be nasty and have very big teethe so they are more of a display snake. Not really something for handling. SOme people have handlable GTP but that isn't the norm.

If your only experience is a bp it is probably not a good second snake. THey are usually more recommended for experienced handlers becuase of their temper. THeir teeth can cause some big damage.

http://www.seanthomas.net/oldsite/gpython.jpg

oh wow haha, nice teeth..

id be fine with it being a display snake, i think they are beautiful

When I first got my GTP, he was pretty nasty. Once I moved him / her from a 6 quart tub to a 2x2x2 cage, he calmed down right away. I do not handle him, but I'm sure I could if I tried. You just can not handle them at night. You would get bit for sure. There are a few users on this forumn that have a few GTPs, and handle them.

also you never want to handle a GTP under a year of age. handling when young can lead to spinal kinks. during the first year, their spines are really fragile.

Keep in mind that even if it is a display animal , you still need to feel comfortable in taking care of it.
I keep both Ballpythons and borneos. I have no fear of handling the Big borneos which many people find to be temperamental.

But I once on a whim bought an beautiful amazon...I knew it was a display animal. The little bugger struck at me any time I even walked by his cage. He terrorized me to the point I was nervous when doing any maintenance. Then he had a bad shed ...I ended up giving him to a friend of mine who is more experienced. My friend still laughs at me about having no fear of the bloods and being 'wimpy' with a puny little amazon. I go visit 'Nippy' every once and a while but I swear he still gives me the evil eye.
Here is "Nippy"
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h8...ing1-5-082.jpg

When choosing to keep an animal that can be difficult, you really need to be very sure that the risk of getting bit will not scare you out of taking proper care of the animal.

BTW I am waiting for a new carpet python that my friend's daughter just hatched.

Best of luck

alright, thank you all for you information.. will definatly come into consideration in the future when i get closer to deciding !

I just wanted to chime in and say there is no reason you'd be incapable of providing perfect husbandry for a GTP, especially with some previous snake experience.

I'd say if you really want one, there's nothing that is going to stop you from giving one a loving home.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mainbutter

I just wanted to chime in and say there is no reason you'd be incapable of providing perfect husbandry for a GTP, especially with some previous snake experience.

---

What he said. Certain species are more forgiving of husbandry mistakes than others, but if you provide your Chondro with all the requirements it needs then it will thrive and be a rewarding captive. There are no begginer snakes only begginer keepers.

agreed, they are not any 'harder' to keep than balls or carpets. making sure it has proper caging is paramount so that you can more easily provide for it's needs.

by the way, you don't ever have to 'handle' them... you just need removable perches. treat them like a hot if you're worried about being bitten.

Chondros are really amazing animals. If you look back a few pages in the morelia forum you'll find threads I've posted with me holding about 7 or 8 different chondros. Green trees are not as hardy as most other snakes, but once you learn proper husbandry it becomes second nature. Quality cages, or tubs are your best friend. Glass cages is pretty much a No with these guys, especially being new to them. I have a few chondros, and two other species of snake and I always consider selling my others to make room for more chondros. It's an addiction and an amazing passion. I would suggest picking up the Greg Maxwell book "The More Complete Chondro". It runs between 50 and 60 bucks and can be found on a ton of sites. Finegtps.com is his old sight (I Think Rob Keller is running it now) Which will have a ton of information, cool pictures, and a way for you to make the best investment you can when you decide you're ready to consider one. Aru, Sorong, and Jaya locals are known to be a bit more calm than others. I've had the huge honor of putting my hands on Midas, and despite the usual bad aggression rumors of color deformed snakes he was super calm. Just like people, it all depends on the animal. Biaks are well known to be the most aggressive, I've handled some fine but most hold true to this. The internet is full of great people willing to share information. Lurk MVF as much as possible.

make sure before you get it you find a vet that can treat it for you. not all vets know the differences in giving one kind of med to all snake species just cause it's a snake. and some that are commonly used on other pythons are very hard on tree pythons and other arboreal snakes.


just rember if getting neo's they need allot closer watch on the humidity and temp then the bigger ones. while at the same time need you to basically let them see you as little as possably. they stress

i still don't know if im allowed to hot link other forums, havn't got yelled at yet

http://moreliaviridis.yuku.com/forum...dis-Forum.html

and don't listen to the stupid sterotype of their nasty bitey snakes, some are yes, each snake has its own personality. I own 1, had another that passed away, both i can/could give to my 5 year old little cusin to hold and not worry about a thing. come to think of it, out of al the gtps I've handled, only 2 were pretty nasty.

opinion of mine...I think alot of the sterotype comes from the fact that up until resently alot of gtps were imports out of the wild, well what would you expect with wild caught anything?

also another personal opinion of mine, handle a snake and they will learn to tolerate you and no longer see you as a threat. so far it works that way in my collection.

As long as you have looked looked up their care requirements, etc. I think a gtp would be fine as your second snake. Setting up the cage ahead of time well help you get comfortable keeping the humidity and heating where they should be so everything can be perfect before the snake arrives. I handle all 3 of my gtps and have never even been struck at....unless I open the cage after dark, which is to be expected. However, I've found that if I really need to get one of them out at night for some reason, they calm down pretty quick as long as they are removed on their perch.
This is my most recent addition, a seemingly biak (although she is undocumented) female that was imported in March. She has a few good-sized scars so I'm wondering if she was WC, especially since "import" is such a catch all term. She has perfect manners and is easily handled and has been since the day I got her.
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/p...thia27/573.jpg

if its your passion to get into GTP then do your research and get one. We all were beginners at one point. I don't find them harder to keep than other reptiles. they are everyday care but I check all my animals everyday... with GTP I mist mine daily and they are perfect. I feel strongly once u get a good habitat and system down for your GTP they thrive... yes u have lots to learn but its like with any reptile.
Pick up the book 'more complete chondro' by Greg Maxwell.
Awesome book and full of knowledge... once u read this book u will know what they need and what your expected to do in keeping them!

good luck!

BTW...GTP are addictive...

also even people who have kept greens for years will loose one unexpectedly even with all set perfectly. but if you want one i say go for it they are awesome looking snakes. if you can give them a good home then why not you will see even though they are suppose to be so hard to keep and such they are surprisingly simple to keep even if you dont buy maxwell's book (i ordered mine from local library and read it a couple times

I had to reply , a GTP would be an excellent 2nd snake & a 3rd & a 4th &.....in other words if you desire something new go for it. I have a 5 mo. old patternless aru- type GTP that is just beautiful. I call it a she just to make it simpler for nameing & such. Azure Jaden Mist is no more trouble to take care of than my other 20 snakes. Her home is a Reptology 7 39"x39" enclosure with sliding front doors. To help keep more humidity in I cover the top with press & seal & I have a small fountain for her water. It is also planted with live plants & has a layer of cypress mulch over the soil. She is my display snake so I keep it lighted during the day & she is just fine with it. She is not agressive one bit, but I only handle her if I really need to. Not because I fear being bitten, but to not damage her tail or back before she matures. I have some pics, but want to take more & then I will post them.
Good luck & do try a GTP, they are not only beauttiful they are super awesome!!