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ryancbj22
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 747
Location: Columbus Ohio
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 Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject: Green Tree Pythons.... |
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I don't want to get anyone's hopes up there are no pics Yet.....
I saw this GTP for sale at the local reptile store, and this thing was HUGE  I didn't know they got that big! She was probably 6ft maybe longer hard to judge, but her head was enormous.
I couldn't get over how big the head on her was. She had amazing blue markings all over and real bright green.
I'm going to go back and get some pics if they will allow it. The thing is it's not the best of conditions for this poor thing. She is in a nice big aboreal tank, with plenty of perches, and water, but there is a heat bulb in the top that is exposed and not covered.
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Buck_99
Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1358
Location: Midlothian, VA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:28 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, that's not good.
As one of the few GTP keepers on this forum (are there any others?), I feel compelled to add a few thoughts. Chondros pretty much don't move during the day, so having an exposed bulb like that in the cage won't likely cause any problems as long as it's turned off before they wake up at night. Still, not all chondros get the memo about sleeping in by day, so keepers court disaster by exposing animals to an uncovered bulb like that.
It is a common practice among experienced chondro keepers to put the heat source inside the enclosure. This is a big difference with ball python keeping, where it's pretty much always a bad idea to have a heat source in the cage. The commonly accepted "best practice" is to use heat panels such as the Pro-Heat panels available at Pro Products. These provide overhead heat at perch level on one end of an enclosure without the threat of burns. They also allow for overhead heating despite an enclosed cage top (to maintain high humidity).
I hope you get the pictures. As to size, that's a large specimen you're talking about. I've got a male that's over 5' long and around 14-1500 grams, and he's considered exceptional. Females top out at around the size you're talking about, but there are plenty of females out there who successfully breed without breaking 1200 grams.
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ryancbj22
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 747
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 11:49 am Post subject: |
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I will definitely try and get some pics. I'll be back in there monday or tuesday for supplies. I don't know if pics are allowed, but i'll do it anyways lol. It may not have been that long it was coiled up on the perch, but the head on this snake was ENORMOUS.
I'll do my best for the pics though....
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Buck_99
Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1358
Location: Midlothian, VA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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Now look what you've done! You've gone and given me a pretext to post a picture of my own.
Check out the head on Ted Striker (2002 Aru male):
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snakesRkewl
Joined: 20 Jun 2008
Posts: 1178
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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LOL Buck, he set u up 
Sweet pic 
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PlayBall
Joined: 11 Feb 2008
Posts: 620
Location: Chicago, IL
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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Awesome pic Buck! Poster quality! 
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magana559
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Posts: 1132
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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Now Thats A Picture!
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Dread1318
Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 69
Location: Memphis,Tn
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:54 am Post subject: |
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WOW! Very beautiful! I've read that GTP are snakes that shouldn't be handled that much. Is that true?
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Kaa
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 94
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:03 am Post subject: |
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WOW
That is bad to the bone. Now I want one. How much are those (just wondering) ?
Ulf
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6872
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| Dread1318 wrote: | | WOW! Very beautiful! I've read that GTP are snakes that shouldn't be handled that much. Is that true? |
Buck didn't get that memo! 
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zee-man
Joined: 08 Aug 2008
Posts: 65
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:50 am Post subject: |
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I was checking things out last night Kaa and GTP's go for about 700-5k, which I think was where I stopped counting. Although they are also attempting to establish a solid albino breeder and the only albino recorded has offspring going for about 16k. Sad part is they don't even know if they are het yet or not so they are selling 50% possible het meaning if you buy it and it doesn't produce, it was a dumb one on your part. One of the coolest parts about GTP's is that when born they look nothing like they do as adults. Most are born either yellow or red, but I believe some contain white as well. Then within the next to years they achieve their adult coloration, talk about a transformation heh. These guys would have been fairly called Draconic Python or something along those lines. The eyes, scales, and tongue all make it look like a dragon. Slap some wings on that bad boy and you've got yourself a fantasy novel in the making, heh. Absolutely beautiful though.
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ryancbj22
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 747
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Buck_99 wrote: | Now look what you've done! You've gone and given me a pretext to post a picture of my own.
Check out the head on Ted Striker (2002 Aru male):
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Buck awesome pic man! That looks nothing like the one I saw, that one does have the dragon look lol.
I was just shocked at how big they get. I had this impression of bp size only a little longer and not as fat. Even some of the bp's I've seen that are considered huge still had fairly small heads lol. This one I saw could eat a full grown rat without much effort. They are amazing animals and just gorgeous colors...
This IS going to end up the same as everything else I see does!!! IN MY LIVING ROOM....LOL 
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snakesRkewl
Joined: 20 Jun 2008
Posts: 1178
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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As much as I love the green, I could only afford a brown tree python
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Buck_99
Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1358
Location: Midlothian, VA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Dread1318 wrote: | | WOW! Very beautiful! I've read that GTP are snakes that shouldn't be handled that much. Is that true? |
They suffer from bad press. Main reasons:
- Neos are almost universally nippy. They become more docile after about a year. But it's good the neos are nippy, because docile neos are hard to establish as feeders.
- GTP's are often confused with Emerald Tree Boas. ETB's have worse eyesight, more heat pits, and heartier appetites than GTP's, so they're more apt to make accidental feeding strikes. When they do, it's bad: they have the longest teeth of any non-venomous snake. Robin Saunders of the National Zoo keeps a set of pliers on hand for ETB strikes because sometimes they can't let go, even when they want to.
- Wild caught GTP's will bite more often than CBB.
So yeah, I handle GTP's, and so do my kids. Example:
Disclaimer: My oldest daughter (the one shown) was bitten on the face by another of my GTP's, a Biak type. Biaks have a well-deserved reputation, and although some people consider them mean or aggressive, I tend to think of them as having trust issues. I can handle my Biak just fine, but it is dicey getting him off of his perch. That's when he feels most insecure. After that, he's a breeze.
My kids are no longer permitted to handle the Biak.
My other three GTP's have never struck or shown any aggressive behaviors.
"Should" you handle GTP's is an entirely different question. In my opinion, handling always introduces an element of stress into any snake's day. As a general rule GTP's tend to be slightly more nervous than other snakes, so you have to consider the health of the snake and how high stress from frequent handling may weaken their immune defenses. I make the decision to handle my greens on a case by case basis, taking into consideration factors such as the general disposition of the individual, the shed cycle, recent feedings, and body language. On average I handle each animal about once every two or three weeks, and not at all during the two weeks leading up to shed.
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Buck_99
Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1358
Location: Midlothian, VA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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snakesRkewl: LOVE the BTP!
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