Just got a Green Tree Python, one of the prettiest snakes in the world!

So I've been wanting my dream snake species since I got into snakes, but I never thought I would get one because of their temperament. GTPs are known to be a vicious species, but when I went to the Iowa herp show he was the only GTP there and the guy sold him to me for about $150 less than he should have gone for. He was still pricey though! That's another reason I wasn't sure about getting a GTP! I might try my hand at breeding them in a few years time.

Meet Hacksaw!




I'm not done with his tank, it needs some fake plants and the perch fixed, but I'm letting him settle in before I bug him anymore.


When I put him in his new home, he looks huge stretched out. He's 6-7 years old and 6 feet long. Besides the fact that he's mean, it's hazardous to handle them because their spines are so fragile.


I misted his tank and he was not happy. I couldn't tell you how many times he has tried to bite me already! Luckily he is fairly slow moving so it's easy to get out of the way. He doesn't care one bit about the dogs or cats, but if I come near he gets all huffy!

Thank you! Nope, I named him. He was a breeder before I got him and the owner said, "you know you don't hold these animals right?" I said, "Oh, no, I don't want him for holding," he said "Good, because he bites." I have 14 ball pythons for breeding and none of them have a name, but I thought the GTP needed a well fitting name!

They are gorgeous as babies! I've been researching them on and off for the past year, but everyone kept telling me to get an adult because babies can be finicky about eating.

He has been on that size of perch for the last 4 years I'm guessing. The owner was a breeder and he told me that's the only size I should offer and to keep him in that size of a tank. That's about the size he uses for his GTPs.

Snakes don't really roam. In fact, most often, if your snake is roaming he's stressed and needs a more secure cage/hides. GTPs don't use a hide which makes them a good display snake, they just sit on their perch all day and night. Since I put him in that tank on Wednesday he hasn't gotten off the perch once, he doesn't need to. He can reach food/water from where he's sitting. If they are roaming around or on the floor of the tank that's a sign of a stressed GTP, and a stressed snake means eventual death. I have the tank set up exactly as the breeder did. He told me one perch that size in a tank that was roughly 2x2x2. He was a breeder GTP so he was kept in a very similar set up, possibly even smaller. My ball pythons are in small tubs compared to what the pet stores tell you, but they thrive much better in small areas and do not need exercise. I breed ball pythons.

Yep yep. Thank you! I was in the same boat! I thought they were just absolutely stunning! Their attitude, their price tag, and their advanced husbandry needs scared me off for a little while, but I have so many thermostats and heat element strips laying around I thought, how hard can it really be! We'll see He ate for me last night no problem.

I wasn't a huge fan of snake either before I actually got into them. I think corn snakes are really creepy as well! I don't like fast moving twitchy snakes. Ball pythons are what got me into snakes. Now three years later I have 14 ball pythons with at least two clutches of eggs on the way in a week or two!

I've put up pictures of all my BPs on here before, but here's my collection page if you haven't seen them, and care to see them! http://www.slitherinsisters.com/our-collection.php

Thank you!

I love how bright they are!

That's pretty cool. My brother had a "pet" bull snake a few different times but lost them in the house. They are native to our area, and we used to have a ton on our farm.

That's my favorite part about GTPs, their beautiful eyes!

Lol oh man, they do make journalists do some pretty crazy things! It's not surprising that people haven't seen/heard of GTPs. They are actually a fairly new 'pet' in the US because they were extremely hard to keep in captivity until about 10 years ago. Once they started being breed in captivity the babies were easier to care for. So GTPs got past that hurdle, but they still have that nasty attitude which turns most people away from them. I keep getting comments from snake people that I'm bad... (you know what) now, lol.

They originate from New Guinea, Indonesia, and Northern Australia.

Thank you! Aww that's too bad

No they aren't venomous, they just have big teeth and a bad attitude.

Feeding can be hard some times. It has been three years and it still bothers me sometimes and I have to leave the room. The young BPs aren't very efficient killers.

I know plenty of people that have made that mistake. Unfortunately people jump into uncommon pets likes snakes and don't know all the "rules" to follow. That's why there is a rule of thumb to not leave a live rodent in with a snake for more than 10-20 minutes. Rodents have such high metabolisms that they need to eat every few hours to keep their protein levels high enough. Which means their only source of protein is the snake, and BPs for some reason let the rodents eat them to death. I couldn't tell you why.

I actually feed solely live, as do many breeders. When you have a lot of snakes to feed every week it's more economical to breed your own rats, and you'll often have several snakes that refuse to eat frozen thawed, at least when Ball Pythons are involved. Plus, being a breeder you really need your snake to eat every time you feed it. Females lose about half of their body weight when they lay and they need to gain all of that back, plus some within 5-6 months. You definitely can't expect them to be eating frozen thawed just because they are from a breeder. Of the 14 BPs I have bought, only two of them were eating f/t and all of them are from very reputable breeders. If you want one that is eating f/t ask the breeder if they will try feeding f/t before you get it.

Anyhow, I've been feeding live for 3 years, roughly 14-20 rats a week and I've only had one minor bite. As long as you know what you are doing, and don't leave live prey in for more than 10-20 minutes you should never have a problem of your snake getting eaten to death.

Thank you, they do have beautiful faces! That's the main reason I love GTPs.