Green Tree Pythons

[chibbi]

so...i'm looking into getting a gtp, so i'm trying to find as much information i can. this'll be my second snake (my first being a rtb).

does anyone own any, or can give me information about them?

besides the fact that they're pretty.
hehe.

[Slithers]

They are a more advanced snake than RTB.
They are arboreal and require an arboreal cage.

Really you should read a caresheet or 2 or 200. You can never learn too much about them. They ARE beautiful, though, thats for sure! Good Luck.

[Schlyne]

A step up snake is often considered to be an irian jaya carpet python or an amazon tree boa.

A great book on the subject is The More Complete Chondro by Greg Maxwell. The Complete Chondro is his first book, and the more complete chondro is basically an updated version. If you're serious about getting one, I'd recommend reading it first.

They have far more delicate spines than a RTB and are not really considered to be a handling snake btw.

[TekWarren]

Use the search here on the forum, there where some topics not to long ago on this subject. I've just started with my first arboreal snake an amazon tree boa and I couldn't be happier. It was WAY less expensive as a starter arboreal and is a beautifull yello color with black markings. There are many color variations with ATB's and they hold their colors pretty well from what I'm told.

[Freakie_frog]

They are by no means a starter or a step-up snake in my option. They tend to be very.. bite first and ask later type of snakes. More of a show animal than a hands one. Much like keeping chameleons. Very specific humidity and temp requirements. Require a good area to climb around in for long term care.

Hope this helps and specific questions they we might could answer?

[chibbi]

yea, i've read probably about 10 care sheets by now. and i did the search and all that fun stuff.
now i have some questions about heating/lighting. the guy that i might order the cage from recommended using these "pro-heat" radiant heating panels because they retain heat and humidity better than heat lamps and wont harm the snake if he rubs up on it. However, they are a little on the pricey side ($85-$95) so i was looking for a cheaper alternative. Any suggestions?

[SatanicIntention]

You pay for the quality. Not to mention, you are wanting to own an animal that is going to cost you $450-$600 depending on locale, age, and what breeder it came from. I don't think the cost of a proper set up compares at all to how long you may have this animal. If you set it up properly the first time, regardless of how expensive it may seem, you will be saving yourself the cost of very expensive, multiple vet visits and a possibly dead animal.

Sure, you could spend alot less on a less-than-adequate set up, but is it worth it?

If you are planning on getting a neonate-juvie sized snake, a small shoebox sized plastic tub is all you will need until the snake is at least a year old.

You would need:
-shoebox sized tub
-proportional thermostat
-heat panel for the larger enclosure and heat lamp for baby tub set up
-small diameter pvc for perches(and if you want it to look nice, you can burn it slightly with a propane torch, or so I've seen) Wooden dowels mold and can't be cleaned very well except for a full on soaking in bleach, so that's not a very sanitary way of providing perches
-paper towels for substrate
-spray bottle
-water bowl

Everything else is just for you to enjoy. It doesn't cost very much to properly set a baby Green Tree up. Just remember, these are not a handling species, they are very fragile and can easily get kinks in their spine. The older they get, around 2 years or so, they can be handled every so often. I plan on having one eventually, but not for a little while yet.

Hope that helped a bit.

[chibbi]

thanks. it totally did. I talked more with the vendor of the cage, and yea...better to pay a little more now than a lot more later.

now i'm pretty much just asking for opinions.
the cage is goiing to be an all acrylic cage, but i have the option of putting making the back and top panels black acrylic instead of clear acrylic like the rest of the cage.
What do you think will look better?
here's the website if anyones at all intersted: http://www.repti-racks.com/acryliccaging.html

the guy is very professional and they look amazing (i cant really say anything until i get one).

also, as i narrow the list down, cna i ask for opinions as to which one to get.
since they're mostly for viewing purposes, the prettier the better.

thanks everyone!
i'm excited.

[BPdad]

They have far more delicate spines than a RTB and are not really considered to be a handling snake btw.

Which is not a "handling snake", the GTP or the Irian Jaya?

[uro1001]

gtps are not handling snakes. babies are smaller than a hatchling corn snake. id step up to an iran jaya other than a gtp or atb