Docile Green Tree Python. Is It Possible?

snowblsm · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 10:01 AM

One snowy evening I decided to visit a reptile shop I had never been to before. Once inside, a tank with two juvenile Green Tree Pythons soon caught my attention. They apppeared to be the same age, maybe even born of the same mother. One was the typical bright yellow with black markings. The other had a base color of an army green with black, yellow, and a little bit of blue coloring starting to show. I had to have it. Bought it right there. Brought it home and now she (I *hope* its a she, any boy named India would surely resent his mother) is a part of our family.

"The Green Tree Python typically is a snake to be seen and not touched" <--- what I have been reading. I suppose its common knowledge, but as much as I see it written and discussed, I still have hope that I can raise a docile GTP. So far she's been fine, we have had her for about a week now. I've had her out each day since we brought her home, except for the next day after she had eaten. I was really worried she would be a picky eater; another characteristic of these snakes that I've read about. But we made her a special feeding container with a wooden dowel so she can hang while she eats, and she took the food we offered her without hesitation.

Anyway my question is, has anyone here successfully raised a friendly Green Tree Python? As I've had India out of her cage, she hasn't shown any defensive behavior and hasn't attempted to bite. She flicks her tongue and moves it up and down like any curious snake. She will move around a bit, sometimes stretch herself out as far as she can hover, or as far as I'll let her. Soon though, she situates herself on whoever is holding her and just hangs out. I suppose I'm spoiled with a rather unusually friendly Suriname Red Tailed Boa (see my avitar) and would just love for India to be half as friendly.... Any suggestions? Any encouraging stories? Anything I should avoid doing? Thanks in advance!

EDIT: typo

LdyDrgn · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 10:31 AM

The reason GTP's and ETB's are "no touch" snakes is because many of them stress so very, VERY easily. Handling them so often will often times cause them to regurge their meals and begin refusing to eat all together. No, it is not impossible to have a handleable, tolerant (tame and docile are horrible words to use for snakes, but anyway...) GTP.

NicoleRussell · #3 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 11:22 AM

Hi SB---now that you have such a beautiful snake (I'm jealous BTW) I think you should stick around and get some husbandry info. I know it will sound like I'm trying to sell you something but honestly as far as snake info, some of the people here are just wonderful!

najaboy · #4 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 01:58 PM

I just wanted to share some thoughts on this one

1) Getting a chondro as an impulse buy was a bad idea, but at leat you're doing your homework now. You'll find that once their specialized needs are met, chondros are easy to keep. While they're not quite as easy as a cornsnake or a boa constrictor, their care is not out of the grasp of the average hobbyist.

2) Michelle pretty much summed it up in regards to why chondros are a "loo but don't touch" snake. In addition to stressing easily, chondros are (literally) thin-skinned snakes.

3) I would strongly advise against any and all unnecessary handling of your chondro, to include feeding in a separate enclosure at this time. At this stage in its life, its spine is very delicate, and will kink easily. In a few months, this will be less of a concern, and you will be able to handle it for short periods on an almost daily basis (so long as this doesn't appear to cause the snake undue stress).

JuliusSqueezer · #5 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 03:20 PM

I have an adult male gtp...he is as tame as any ball python...so are all of my emeralds and SOME of my amazons...well maybe one of my amazons lol. BUT for all the reasons stated above, they rarely get handled. Another thing to consider is that when you handle them in the day time, you are disturbing their sleep and they seem to take sleep time very serious. When a snake is overall considered a display only animal...Noone really cares about if they are tame or not. That will always be a matter of individual animals anyway and nothing you can really blanket across a species. ALL of the concern is meant for the well being of the animal. I also agree with Naja..You really should feed him/her in the cage....OH...and if she turns out to be a he...just call him Indiana Jones or something :P and welcome to RTB

louise · #6 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 03:50 PM

I have an adult male gtp...he is as tame as any ball python...so are all of my emeralds and SOME of my amazons...

see julius you could do wonders with mr. redic!

snowblsm · #7 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 07:33 PM

Thanks for the advice all. Although I did buy India on impulse I have been interested in these snakes since I had seen one at Serpent Safari at Gurnee Mills Mall in Gurnee, IL several years ago. I've done some reading over the years, and I understand that they are a hard pet to keep and that they are in no way comparable to corn snakes or boas. I have had Gotham, my Suriname Red Tail, for going on 4 years now. He is not handled everyday, but when he was young and I had more time, he was handled several times a week. To compare Gotham and India would be like comparing apples and oranges, I know, but I can't help but think that I did SOMETHING right with him, as he is absolutely wonderful. I trust him completely.

India's cage was a rather costly initial expense. I've layered small stones, potting soil, and live moss for substrate. She has a corner water dish, big enough to emerse herself in. Under the cage in that spot I have placed an under the tank heater to help keep humidity. The moss and sides of the tank are misted twice a day. She has a single branch that crosses the tank diagonally. I'm working on obtaining more branches and possibly a plant or two. The temperature in there right now is 84° F.

So far, India has only been fed once since she's been with us. This was on the third day we had her home. We tried feeding her in a tupperware container the day after we brought her home, but she wasn't interested. When we made her the special container with a wood dowel she took two pinky mice no problem. That was one week ago. Tonight we will try again. This time she will only get one, as this time I KNOW when she ate last. Depending on how this goes, I think I'm gonna still try to separate her when feeding just because I am a strong believer in the association thing. (I've really seen it firsthand, but again, with boas.) If at any time she doesn't eat when outside of her cage, I will absolutely for her best interest, feed her in the cage.

Perhaps its a gruesome assumption that I can read my snakes' behaviors. From what I've experienced, India hasn't shown any discomfort or signs of stress with our handling of her, but then again I'm comparing this to the experiences I've had with boas. I am aware of the risk of her spine kinking, this is why we haven't had her sexed yet. But I can't imagine that my skin is any more abrasive than the branch she coils herself and moves about on all day. Could anyone specify how a stressed GTP behaves? Are there any ways of determining if the snake is stressed?

Thanks again for the help and the warm welcome.

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