I would really like to get a Gree Tree Python

[Evenstar]

How many of you keep chondros and how many have you raised or bred?

That sounds like a question for a new thread.......

However, I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of. I don't breed chondros and I only have one and it is my first. However, I am the sort of person who very carefully and extensively researches any new interest with particular regard to my animals. I feel it is my responsibility to know as much as I can about a species before ownership so I can provide the best care possible. I have spoken with multiple well-respected breeders of chondros, I am a member of the morelia viridis forums, I have read "The More Complete Chondro" cover to cover several times (yes, several times; you should see the book - sticky notes and notes in the margins - it looks like one of my old college text books...), and, along with contiued education, as a result, I feel I have learned a great deal about these snakes. Do I know everything? Absolutely not, nor have I ever alluded that I do - experience certainly counts for something and I don't have much of that. But learning is a life-long process - and even breeders or keepers of decades with dozens of these snakes should always still be learning and attempt to keep an open mind.

The information I gave the OP in my first post can all be found in "The More Complete Chondro" alone:

"GTPs are small, as pythons go... The author has observed specimens over six feet in length and approaching 2000 grams in weight, but these are exceptional. The average adult male will be between four and five feet in length and will weigh 900-1200 grams..." (TMCC pg 11)

"...the smallest size I would recommend for the average adult is a cage 36" long, 24" high, and 18"-24" deep. Larger animals, especially mature females, should have a cage 36"-48" long, and I consider this an ideal size for most chondros. Conversely, a cage longer than 48" or higher than 24"-30" is excessive and can have disadvantages... Most importantly, it is nearly impossible to provide an adequate thermal gradient in a smaller cage." (TMCC pg 170-171)

"...chondros benefit from cages oriented on a horizontal plane rather than a vertical one. It has been my observation that most chondros will ignore a vertical thermal gradient and will select the perch that makes them feel most secure regardless of whether or not that location is within the ideal temperature range... A horizontal cage, wider than it is tall, is more practical and is better utilized by the animals than a tall narrow cage... [a perch] is located in the top third of the cage, and when a radient heat panel is installed at one end the animal has both a heat gradient and the highest perch in the cage!" (TMCC pg 171-172)

All of these quotes come directly out of "The More Complete Chondro" written by Greg Maxwell, owner, breeder, and keeper of exclusively chondros with over 30 years experience and one of the most highly respected authorities of GTPs in the world. All of this information has been confirmed by the 3-4 other highly respected breeders I've spoken with.

Any advice I ever give a person is thoroughly backed up by research with the animal's well-being in mind. This advice is given with the hope of getting the person in a position to experience the best chances for success. It is very possible for a "newbie" to offer legitimate, truthful, helpful, and effective advice. It is also possible for other newbies to recognize good advice and perfectly acceptable for them to agree with it. Just because they are new does not mean they can not have valid and helpful opinions. Your question, Brandon, might be more justified if I had offered inaccurate advice which I do realize can happen with a newbie if there is a lack of educated research, but the fact remains that I did not offer poor advice. I stand behind the advice I offered. It is, of course, up to the OP to accept it or look the other way. Either way, I would hope he will continue to do his own research on the subject.

I have respected your opinions on this forum, Brandon, so I sincerely hope you aren't being antagonistic. If I am misunderstanding you intentions, I am truly sorry. The "experts" of GTPs on this forum had not answered the op's questions yet so I took a shot. If there was any issue or question that I did not know the correct answer to, I would have stated that and also looked for the future advice from others with more hands-on experience.

Also, if you feel the advice given was inaccurate in any way, why don't you point out what you feel was incorrect? There is nothing wrong with disagreeing and offering another perspective.