Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Seems like this breeder has reasonable prices and takes good care of the snakes they sell. What's the difference between a gtp that sells for $450 and one that sells for $500. Is SH a good breeder you can trust that takes good care of gtp? I see small price differences between different patterned snakes and wonder if it has to do with aesthetics or temperaments. Also what does on hold mean. Does that mean someone put down a deposit or does that mean the breeder is holding the snake decided whether or not s/he wants to let her/him go?

Rico Walder is a great breeder and person... Trust me you can't go wrong with his stuff... I have never ever heard a bad thing about him and I guarantee your snake will be a really good eater...

the price will be determined by the seller... usually the breeder can tell which ones are going to look the best as adults and they kinda price from there... it is also based on how fast they started to eat ect... there is a ton to keep in mind when pricing a snake...

on hold means its on hold...

Shiloh
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Shiloh Hawkesworth
kansas
(Midwest Serpents)

I understand what you were saying about buying from a reptile store because the store near me had at large quantity of newborn gtp and I don't see how they can possibly sell that many or raise them with that many other exotics snakes, lizards, and frogs needing specialized care in such a small store with so few employees. The other reptile store nearby used to have a lot of gtp for sale but yesterday had one enclosure with nothing in it but the label gtp near the enclosure. Jeez I wonder if they died? If they were committed to the species in some capacity they might have gtp in various stages of their age and not just babies. Someone said they try to sell as many as they can before they all die. It's pretty sad but I know it happens. I believe they had at least one adult gtp for sale but two max. It's kinda like a misrepresentation to the public when you have all these kids and families looking at these delicate little mini-dragons in deli containers and will sell anything to anybody to make a buck when lives are at stake.

I just received another gtp from Rico a week ago. As Shiloh stated, you can not go wrong with him. I highly recommend him to any first-time buyer. You will get a healthy established animal for a very reasonable price along with pedigree and feeding data. He will even provide you with his "Owners Manual" that is very informative for the novice keeper. Typically, "on hold" animals are those that already have a buyer.

Bart

I have a while before I can afford the gtp and have to read a lot more information and set up the enclosure first but in a month or two after I learn more and save up enough money to afford one I would order from that place. I want the best terarrium I could possibly get for the gtp because my girlfriend raises birds lol! She has 80 of them and should the gtp happen to get loose near the birds OMG! I seen some really nice and elaborate setups on this site but some seem to recommend simplicity first and foremost. I would just want the gtp to be happy on the branch and stimulated not stuck in a tiny little space for the rest of his/her life. Especially since they really aren't the type of snakes to be handled often.

Just don't make the mistake of putting your needs before the snake's. Keep it simple such as a 12qt. rubbermaid tub for the 1st year then move it up to a 5 gallon tub for the 2nd year. After that you could look into a larger enclosure. I recommend checking out www.pvccages.com. Too many new keepers want to jump straight into an elaborate setup for a neonate or yearling only to later find the setup will not maintain the appropriate heat and humidity (rubbermaid tubs will do both).

Another option if you want to avoid the tubs for the first couple years and have a nice display right from the start is to purchase a juvi or sub-adult. Something to consider.

Bart

I agree 100% with keeping it simple at first... If you try to rush into a the cool looking enclosure you will run into problems...

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Shiloh Hawkesworth
kansas
(Midwest Serpents)

I live with my girlfriend in a duplex in South Florida but nobody really comes over my house much. It's usually just me and her in the house but we both work full time but at different hours so it would be peaceful and quiet. It can have a relatively distraction free existence but I wonder what sort of stimulation would benefit them? Being outside on occasion...?...listening to the birds chirp?...There has to be something they enjoy doing that will help them thrive? I wasn't thinking of an elaborate showcase type terrarium to show anybody the snake I just wanted what was in the best interest of the animal for happiness and a long life. Someone was saying by having an enclosure that doesn't open from the top is key and it makes a lot of sense. I have wanted an emerald boa for as long as I can remember and only recognized the Chondro species a few years ago and am learning so much from you guys / gals by reading the posts. I can't believe how beautiful all your snakes are and the great pics you all seem to take too!

Since GTP are nocturnal, their day is spent curled on a branch resting. They have no external ears so listening to chirping birds is really not an option for them! I provided multiple level branches with lots of fake greenery and a large water bowl for my larger girl. The baby is in a rubbermaid tub with a crisscross design of branches and some greenery. They seem to prefer safety to beauty. Both are very active at night.

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1.0~amel corn~C.S.
1.3~Aztec Okeetee corns~Coatl,Maya,Acatl,Tepin
0.1.1~Green tree python~Tempest, Whisper
0.2~Rhodesian Ridgebacks~Akilah, Ona
0.1~Old black Lab~ Callie
1.0~Black fat cat~Topper
3.0~Horses~Zaarah,Galliano,Achilles.....
www.franclycac.com

Your snake is AMAZING! Looks like it is outside? Do you let it chill on a branch?

Thank you. It is outside. I take her out when I hold her during the day if it's not too cold. She's actually crawling on a walking stick that I use for taking photos on. It's long enough that I can take the photo without her climbing up to my arm and then the camera to peer in the lens. She's quite the curious gal! You can see the stick a little better in this picture

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1.0~amel corn~C.S.
1.3~Aztec Okeetee corns~Coatl,Maya,Acatl,Tepin
0.1.1~Green tree python~Tempest, Whisper
0.2~Rhodesian Ridgebacks~Akilah, Ona
0.1~Old black Lab~ Callie
1.0~Black fat cat~Topper
3.0~Horses~Zaarah,Galliano,Achilles.....
www.franclycac.com

Wow! Totally amazing gtp! You raised a beauty!

I appreciate the compliments! She's very tame and one of my favorite animals.
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1.0~amel corn~C.S.
1.3~Aztec Okeetee corns~Coatl,Maya,Acatl,Tepin
0.1.1~Green tree python~Tempest, Whisper
0.2~Rhodesian Ridgebacks~Akilah, Ona
0.1~Old black Lab~ Callie
1.0~Black fat cat~Topper
3.0~Horses~Zaarah,Galliano,Achilles.....
www.franclycac.com

I am totally in awe of your snake to be honest with you. That snake has to be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. Just the fact that you say she is tame is overwhelming in itself. You should be pretty proud about that. You are incredible!

Gad zooks! I'm not sure I deserve the praise. I got extremely lucky getting her and I was even more lucky getting such a tame one. She was sold to me as such and it wasn't a lie. For a first chondro she is the ultimate, and I hope someday to breed her and hopefully get more tame ones like her. Now if my Jayapura type will just cooperate and turn out to be a boy....

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1.0~amel corn~C.S.
1.3~Aztec Okeetee corns~Coatl,Maya,Acatl,Tepin
0.1.1~Green tree python~Tempest, Whisper
0.2~Rhodesian Ridgebacks~Akilah, Ona
0.1~Old black Lab~ Callie
1.0~Black fat cat~Topper
3.0~Horses~Zaarah,Galliano,Achilles.....
www.franclycac.com

I had always thought that a GTP would eat you alive. They were very beautiful, but douwn right mean. Especially a baby. Then I met Kissy. I saw this little snake wraped around it's branch in the pet store my Mom is a dog food rep at. Mom is not a employee of the store, but due to a current high turn oner rate of employees she feeds the snakes to make sure it gets done. We get to talking about the little GTP and she says that he's even nice. And he was. he's never once struck at me. He willingly transfers from his branch to my fingers. (I am extreamly careful of his tail). He likes to perch and not move around. No squrming or upset breathing. Eats every time. I bought him after several animals got shop liffted. I wasn't going to let what I was already thinking of as "MY" baby leave in someones pocket.

This little snake has changed my views on GTPs.

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3.2 Ball python (Hoss, Little Man, Adam, Helen, and the new girl who gets named when she eats)
2.2 Corn snakes (Orlando and Legolas and the newbies)
0.1 King snake (Sidhe which sounds exactly like "she"
0.0.1 GTP (Kissy the Red)
1.1 Haitian Boa (Enkil and Akasha)

And bunches of furry pets

To me anyone that respects the animal and take proper care deserves praise. You can get "lucky" by getting a docile gtp but luck only goes so far if you don't know how to nuture it. Your one is really pretty though. I love the coloring. He looks frisky and healthy. Does yours strike occasionally or never? Is yours fully grown do you think? How big is she?

Kissy's not grown. Not even changed colors. He's 32g last time I weighed him. And he's never struck at me yet.
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3.2 Ball python (Hoss, Little Man, Adam, Helen, and the new girl who gets named when she eats)
2.2 Corn snakes (Orlando and Legolas and the newbies)
0.1 King snake (Sidhe which sounds exactly like "she"
0.0.1 GTP (Kissy the Red)
1.1 Haitian Boa (Enkil and Akasha)

And bunches of furry pets

Both of mine are tame. Even the baby, although it has struck at me while I was replacing the temp probe in it's cage. I think it thought I was feeding it or something. Otherwise, no problem with handling. My girl has never bitten even at night when I had to help her with a bad shed. I just reached in there, sprayed her with water and helped her squeegee out of her skin right in her viv. She's very cool!
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1.0~amel corn~C.S.
1.3~Aztec Okeetee corns~Coatl,Maya,Acatl,Tepin
0.1.1~Green tree python~Tempest, Whisper
0.2~Rhodesian Ridgebacks~Akilah, Ona
0.1~Old black Lab~ Callie
2.0~fat cats~Topper, Briscoe
3.0~Horses~Zaarah,Galliano,Achilles.....
www.franclycac.com

Wow! That sounds like an awesome experience!! My gf raises birds and has over 80 small birds where we live. Cockatiels, finches, lovebirds, doves, and budgies. She also takes care of three turtles, a rabbit, and guinea pig!! HAHA. I have a cat. lol...we also feed a stray feral cat every day. She doesn't sell her birds though just takes good care of them. They are her life. I love them and have met some special ones. A gtp would have a field day over on my porch if s/he got loose!!! Can they squeeze between the bars of a bird cage when they are young?

I suspect they could fit as they are quite small when they are young. I don't think they'd pose a threat to any decent sized bird at that age though. Most likely the bird would be the threat.
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1.0~amel corn~C.S.
1.3~Aztec Okeetee corns~Coatl,Maya,Acatl,Tepin
0.1.1~Green tree python~Tempest, Whisper
0.2~Rhodesian Ridgebacks~Akilah, Ona
0.1~Old black Lab~ Callie
2.0~fat cats~Topper, Briscoe
3.0~Horses~Zaarah,Galliano,Achilles.....
www.franclycac.com

I was surprised to read that gtps weren't found to eat many birds in the wild. The Maxwell book said they eat a lot of terrestrial animals. Like lizards and moths. You never fed yours lizards did you? I couldn't handle feeding a snake a lizard or a bird. Almost anything else but definitely not a lizard or a bird. The thought makes me cringe. Interesting you say the snake might feel threatened by the birds. Some of the love birds can be fiesty like flying pirhanas but they are no match for a rat of medium size. The finches...well that would be like a dragon eating a fly. Keepers say gtp strike pretty quick but finches fly like greased lightning...I don't know if they are that fast.

They will eat birds if offered. I know one of the girls on the other forum fed some finches to hers. They nabbed them no problem. I've never fed lizards. Didn't want to risk parasites, and mine have always been good eaters since I got them. They never refuse a meal of mice.
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1.0~amel corn~C.S.
1.3~Aztec Okeetee corns~Coatl,Maya,Acatl,Tepin
0.1.1~Green tree python~Tempest, Whisper
0.2~Rhodesian Ridgebacks~Akilah, Ona
0.1~Old black Lab~ Callie
2.0~fat cats~Topper, Briscoe
3.0~Horses~Zaarah,Galliano,Achilles.....
www.franclycac.com

That's an expensive snack! Feeding finches! Awww...I could never do that. My gf had a rat kill her lovebird Pirhana when he squeezed in the bars of the cage so I don't have much sympathy there.