GTP vs. ETB

[Evenstar]

Thanks for all of the responses everyone. I think I've finally made a decision, and I'm gonna go with the Green Tree Python. I gotta build a cage and get everything set up perfect before I get one though and that could take awhile. There is one thing I'm gonna have to go against though. If I'm gonna spend $400 on a snake I want to get a baby while it's still red so I can watch it change colors as it gets older. I understand I'll have to be extremely careful while handling it, if I get it out at all. One question though, what would you feed a snake that has a head the size of a dime or smaller?

First off, congrats!! You will not be sorry and you'll really enjoy a GTP. They are amazing animals!

But, and I can not stress this enough, I HIGHLY recommend you start with a juvenile or young adult. Neonates are extremely fragile. You can break their spine just picking them up. This is why most people don't handle them AT ALL for the first year at least. They can also be very hard to feed. Sometimes they have to be assist-fed. Neos are generally better left to someone with GTP experience or a LOT of general snake experience (and if you have that, forgive me, it's impossible to know personal details about everyone on these forums, lol, but just based on what you've shared thus far, I did not get that impression. I apologize if I'm wrong).

As far as what a GTP neo would eat, they can eat pinky or even hopper mice right from the egg. But the younger they are, the harder it is to feed them. MANY breeders have neos in almost every clutch that never do eat. DO NOT buy a baby that hasn't eaten at LEAST 1/2 a dozen times!!

Lastly, it's not impossible, but it is very very hard to find a RED neo at or under $400. Be prepared to spend $600 or even double that or more for a red neo. You may well find a yellow neo for less than that, but GTPs are high demand animals so it's hard.

Personally, I would check with Ryan Burke of Clockwork Reptiles (he's on Facebook). He has some very nice GTPs IF you have your heart set on a neo. Ryan's neos are well-started and eating well at the time of sale. And he sometimes has yellow neos for $375 and up. Occasionally he offers red neos for around $450 and up. He is a great guy to work with. Doolittle purchased her recent neo from Ryan and I'm sure she'll chime in on that.

Allie Watson is another great person to buy from. Look up AllieCat Watson on Facebook and she's on iHerp too. I got our recent yearling GTP from her and I am extremely happy with the snake and with the whole transaction. Allie was fantastic to work with and I'd buy from her again in a heartbeat.

Good luck!

[KMG]

I second buying a young adult. The color change is nice to see but you live with the end result.

It is possible though to get a young gtp that is well established that has not started the color change but not so fragile. Still fragile but not like fresh out of the egg.This is how I bought my first. I had her a few months and then the change started but I lost her. Or maybe you can find one starting to change.

But buying a young adult can make the experience much more pleasant since you can have a good idea of what your actually getting.

[KMG]

I ran across this pic on google images and thought it was great. Really shows how small and fragile they can be.

[Evenstar]

Temperament is a known quantity with an young adult too!!

[Brad91]

Lastly, it's not impossible, but it is very very hard to find a RED neo at or under $400. Be prepared to spend $600 or even double that or more for a red neo. You may well find a yellow neo for less than that, but GTPs are high demand animals so it's hard.

I found a little red one at a pet store about 20 minutes from home for $400. It's the same pet store where I get my feeders and he keeps all of his reptiles in amazing condition, he breeds his own BP's there even. I'd hate to get a little one and lose it though... Along with all of that money... That's a paycheck for me... Any suggestions on how small I could safely go? I got my BP's at about 150g and never had a problem.

[KMG]

I would make sure its captive born and bred here in the USA. Many pet stores get farm raises wild captured eggs or from wild caught adults. The problem with those is they can be full of parasites and have much nastier attitudes.

[Evenstar]

I found a little red one at a pet store about 20 minutes from home for $400. It's the same pet store where I get my feeders and he keeps all of his reptiles in amazing condition, he breeds his own BP's there even. I'd hate to get a little one and lose it though... Along with all of that money... That's a paycheck for me... Any suggestions on how small I could safely go? I got my BP's at about 150g and never had a problem.

Does he breed the GTPs himself too? If not, can he garauntee where it came from - as in who bred it?? If not, it is almost certainly a farmed animal or from wild-caught parents. The most important piece of advice I can give you is to only buy a GTP from a reputable breeder! It is even more important to do this with GTPs because there are so many farmed animals out there and there is little documentation on them.

I understand about the money. $400 is a lot for me too. But that's why its even more important to buy from a reputable breeder - even if you have to pay a little more up front. You'll spend less in the long run. I mentioned both Ryan and Allie earlier because they are very reasonable and have excellent captive bred and born stock with documented lineage.

GTPs are not ball pythons. Just because you can raise a tiny baby ball doesn't mean you'll do well with a baby GTP. I have raised numerous boas starting with babies as young as 6 weeks old and only at 110gm and I am hesitant to raise a neo GTP. You are best off starting with a yearling. You'll still see a lot of color changes.

I would make sure its captive born and bred here in the USA. Many pet stores get farm raises wild captured eggs or from wild caught adults. The problem with those is they can be full of parasites and have much nastier attitudes.

Exactly.