GTP keepers, I have questions

[Brandon Osborne]

First let me say, you will probably never work with a more enjoyable and rewarding species that chondros. They are really amazing animals to watch and keep. Now to get down to the nitty gritty.

As a long-term keeper(17 yrs) of chondros, I would recommend an animal no less than 6 months old. In my opinion, juvenile chondros are the hardest snake species to get feeding, next to gray-banded kings. The little suckers just do not want to bite and you really have to pester them for a strike. Usually by 6 months, you should establish a normal feeding schedule and the animal feeding on small fuzzies at a minimum. The more documented feedings the better. Once they begin feeding they are bullet-proof. The seem to always be hungry. What better snake is there than one that only eats 2-4 meals per month and only poops once a month?

As far as color, locale, and temperment.....I've experienced everything from kitten tame, trust them with a 4 year old.....to eat your face off demonic. In my experience, even with imported adults, Jayapura and Sorong locale seem to be the easiest to handle and most reluctant to bite. Every Biak I have ever owned has been defensive and will not hesitate to bite. The one Aru I had was the absolute nastiest chondro I've ever witnessed. She would chase you across a room to get a bit on you. With mix locale, it is all in the genetics. The SCZ line I have worked with since 1999, has produced some of the sweetest animals I've ever owned. I could trust my male with absolutely anyone capable responsible handling. If you want bright green animals with nice blue markings, Sorongs, Jayas, and Arus are the best bet.....Aru can be hit and miss though.

Cage size is subject to opinion. In my experience, animals have done better in small to medium size cages. I keep my adults in 20x20x20 and have had success in doing so for many years. I switched to 30x20x20 and 40x20x20 and had more trouble with humidity and heating. It mainly depends on what works for you and more importantly your animals. I have kept and bred them in Rubbermade tubs, so as long as your animals needs are met, you will do just fine. Humidity is an overly concerned topic for people that haven't kept chondros much. High humidity can have negative results if not done right. Warm and humid conditions can cause bacterial and fungal growth. As long as your cage isn't dry within a few hours of a good misting you're set....but always allow for a drying out period between "rains".

Now on to what makes them so great!









and can you believe all those beautiful HY critters were produced by this girl?.....


Now some locale animals.
Biak

Aru

Cyclops Mountain

Jayapura

Kaufia Island


I would post some designer stuff, but I figured you are probably tired of the pics by now. If you want a quality animal worth your money, anyone of the breeders on moreliaviridis.com should treat you right. As mentioned, Rocky has some great animals. Rico Walder is the king of chondros and usually has a wide variety of locale and designer animals available. Shows, unless there are breeders there, are usually imported farmed hatchlings or wc adults. The best way to know is to ask for pictures of their breeders. If they don't have them, they more than likely didn't breed them......chondro owners are a proud group of people that love to show off their collections.(see above)
Don't setting for an animal because of price. That CBB baby is worth the extra $100-250. Get the book "The More Complete Chondro". I think it runs about $50-60 and is an excellent reference source. Good luck with your search.