Pros/Cons of ETB vs. GTP?

Eric From Cincinnati · #1 (**permalink**) 02-14-2006, 03:06 AM

I'm debating getting one of these green guys and I'm doing a lot of research. One thing I haven't come across is their differences. They seem to have similar Husbandry needs. Both have a reputation for being aggressive, needing lots of privacy, no unnecessary handling etc etc. Can anyone say one does this where the other does that or say why, other than my preference, one would be a better animal to keep in captivity than the other?

Thanks in advance. -E

Lfsabch · #2 (**permalink**) 02-14-2006, 07:45 AM

when i was looking into the tree boas and pythons, my deciding factor was

'if i was to get bit, would i want the small teeth or the giant fangs, to go into my arm'. thus i sided with the emerald tree boa, but i wanted a snake that could be held, and not just a decorative peice so i went with a redtail boa

Nexus · #3 (**permalink**) 02-14-2006, 11:29 AM

Not sure which has the biggest teeth personally I thought it was the Emerald Tree Boa. I can't give any info really on GTP's but I do have a captive bred male ETB that is quite pleasant and inquisitive although I do not handle him as much as my boa constrictor. CraigC has a lot of experience with these and am sure he will be along shortly.

Their is a whole thread on the hype and misinformation about aggressiveness here :-

http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/t20...-are-they.html

However I still would not necessarily stick my arm in after lights out when he is hunting, I have done when he drops the mouse in the water bowl and he tends to have a quick look then decide to ignore me but you never know he's probably just lulling me into a false sense of security

Cheers
Nick

CraigC · #4 (**permalink**) 02-14-2006, 12:14 PM

There isn't much difference in the care for either. I do believe that emeralds have the longer front teeth. Reputation is a mystique that may well make you avoid meeting some interesting people. Same holds true for emeralds and morelia, IMO. I think the aggression factor is more an association to WC animals. I noticed that our surviving wc emeralds were initially " nervous" around us, but after they got accustomed to our presence settled in just fine. I sure there are individual "demons" in both species, but have yet to meet one emerald "demon".

If you were at my house during feeding time you would understand where privacy isn't an issue and the don't seem to mind mating in our presence either. Of course my experience is limited to emeralds.

The choice IMO, should be based on what you really prefer.

Craig

Eric From Cincinnati · #5 (**permalink**) 02-14-2006, 03:41 PM

Thanks tons gang...I think I'll go with whichever one I come across in person first that I like.

CraigC · #6 (**permalink**) 02-14-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E_rock212001

Thanks tons gang...I think I'll go with whichever one I come across in person first that I like.

Before you do, I suggest getting an enclosure set up and make sure you can maintain correct temps, humidity and air circulation. A lot easier to deal with adjustments without worrying about making them with the snake present. Just keep in mind that what you might observe behaviorally at a shop or show isn't necessarily consistant with normal behavior.

Craig

huntx7 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-14-2006, 06:21 PM

Not much of a difference, personally I'd pick a GTP... but I already have one and I'm getting an emerald soon

Just go around and look at caresheets/articles/pictures and decide which one you'd like the most.

And yeah, get everything setup before you start looking for one to buy

Good luck

JuliusSqueezer · #8 (**permalink**) 02-14-2006, 06:46 PM

I'll try to be as unbiased as I can. I love my emeralds and don't really have any interest in GTPs...but it's a personal preference to live bearing animals...nothing personal against the snakes.
Emerald pros:
Live birth! I hate dealing with egg layers.
Sadly, that's the only pro I can think of...but it was a big enough pro to turn me

Emerald cons:
While they require similar care to GTPs, emeralds are a bit less forgiving of mistakes and they really keep you on your toes constantly.
Bigger teeth but ...so what? Don't mishandle it and it won't bite you...maybe

fewer extreme color choices
**************************************
GTP pros:
smaller teeth...woopee
Not AS stressed about handling..still shouldn't be an every day thing but they have a little bit of carpet python attitude in them and are more up to it however slightly than emeralds.
A little more resiliant to husbandry errors but not by much so don't push it!
Less prone to regurge
more varieties of colors/patterns
GTP cons:
hmm care to guess? LOL That's right. They are nasty little egg layers. Ick!

Eric From Cincinnati · #9 (**permalink**) 02-14-2006, 10:10 PM

I'm definately gonna have the cage set up around a month or so before I get the animal. I have lots of research, on top of that, to do. Plus that will give the weather time to warm up so I don't have to transport the guy home in the cold.
On another note, anyone have any recommendations for a reputable breeder near Cincinnati? I don't mind driving a few hours to anywhere in Ohio or IN. I'm just very apprehensive about shipping one of these little guys. I fly for free with Delta so flying somewhere and renting a car for the drive back doesn't seem an impossiblity either. I hope I'm not being a cheapskate but I'm expecting to spend anywhere between 3 and 4 hundred bucks. Anyone got any recommendations?

NocturnalCreations · #10 (**permalink**) 02-15-2006, 02:29 AM

Your best bet would be to have the cage setup and running for awhile and save up about double what you are thinking your going to spend. Just in case any health issues come up you want to have some extra cash too. Check out several breeders that specialize in either animal. All thats next is to decide which you like more. You will get a lot more help from a breeder after the sell is complete and done down the road unlike some dealers vanish after they have your money and you have not even opened the shipping box. They both are awesome snakes!!! I have kept both for years. Pros and Cons I don't think there is any if you have studied every aspect of keeping them and read everything 3 more times. Teeth wise Emeralds teeth are a lot bigger but they don't strike as fast as Chondros. Chondro's still have very big teeth and they strike very, very, very fast and far out.

Just remember to buy captive born animals from Trustworthy Breeders. You can't skimp on the price, you get what you pay for and no breeder is selling either for that cheap. Those animals for sell on the internet that cheap are farm bred in Indo and other countries outside with all the problems that any other wild caught animals could have. They are not bred by the person selling them. I might sound harsh but I know what the downside of buying imports can end in and by that I mean two maybe three times the money at the vet over their lifetime that could still end with you waking up one morning and finding one dead that showed no signs on the outside but were slowly dying on the inside and you never really new you were watching it die. It's heartbreaking and I will never, never, never deal with imports again. I don't need New Blood there is enough for me to collect from breeders here in the states that were able to go threw everything from start to finish.

Tim Rash

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