My New Emerald Tree Boa (DUW)

[Michelle.C]

Wow! She's gorgeous! I love her tounge in the one pic.

I never knew how much ETBs looked like GTPs. I haven't researched many other snakes besides BPs so I don't really know anything about any of the boas. But when I started seeing pics of GTPs I fell in love... How do ETPs compare to GTPs for care requirments, tempermant and price? I'm not in love with the fact that you're not supposed to handle GTPs until they're a year old.

I don't mean to hijack the thread by any means, just a quick question, hopefully get an answer in 1 or 2 posts and we can go back to fawning over this beauty.

Thanks

No worries, I enjoy answering questions about them!

I like to think of it as being Green Tree Pythons looking like Emerald Tree Boas.

Seriously though, they are both arboreal boids, but they have several differences, as well as similarities.

Starting at birth, and before hand. Green Tree Pythons are oviparous (egg layers), while Emerald Tree Boas are ovoviviparous (live birth). Emerald Tree Boas are also larger and less fragile at birth.

You should not handle Green Tree Pythons because possible damage to the spine. Vs. Emerald Tree Boas who can be gently handled. As long as you have a removable perch, and don't try to unwrap them, you can technically "handle" both.

Both go through an ontogenetic color change. Green Tree Pythons don't start their color change for a year, possibly more. Their change happens quite suddenly. Vs. Emerald Tree Boa who start changing colors at 3 months (sometimes earlier) and it can take some of them nearly a year to complete their change.

There are cosmetic differences as well. Green Tree Pythons have a short, stocky head, large bumps above their nostrils and a more pronounced spine, along with other things (such as color).

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=83851 Green Tree Python

Temperament is debatable. Some say Emeralds are calmer, others say Green Tree Pythons are. I believe both species, depending on the individual animal, can be calmed enough to manage them.

Price, they are quite similar in. Locality of the animal plays a large part in price. A Northern Emerald will run you around $400, and most localities of Green Tree Python will run you similar ($300-$400).

As far as care, I'd say Green Tree Pythons can be a little more difficult, especially as neonates. Once they are adults, both become quite a bit easier to keep.

http://www.sprucenubblefarm.com/chon...ncaresheet.php Green Tree Python Care Sheet

http://www.emeraldtreeboa.org/daemons/etbcare.htm Emerald Tree Boa Care Sheet