Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a 14" GTP. I was also considering an Retic or Anaconda but after endless hours of researching I didn't have the answer until I saw this animal in person...awesome! I just spent as much on a cage (Designer Showcase - side vents to be added) undercage heater, thermostat, humidity/Temp monitor and timer. I have one question...How can you tell the approx. age? Is it usually based on length? Anywa, here he/she is...wish it waould stay this color.

Congrats on the snake. Just a little advice... since they are arboreal animals if your cage is very tall at all, an undertank heater wont do any good. Either a heat lamp or heat panel would work better. Enjoy!

This particular cage loses a lot of its internal space for the heat/lamp placement. This also forces the perch to be lower than I would like. I have the heat lamp for this already. The undercage heating pad will be directly under a water dish for the needed humidity. I hole this would help to reduce the amount of spraying and calcium build up....Im thinking long term. Thanks....any idea how old a 18" GTP would be?

I think I've heard to be cautious of keeping a water bowl over the heating pad. The warmer water is more prone to building bacterial populations, so make sure you change it very frequently. Also, you can use distilled water for spraying, and eliminate the problem with calcium buildups. That's what I do, and so far, no major water spots.
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0.0.2 Aeluroscalabotes felinus
1.2 Paroedura androyensis
0.1 Uroplatus fimbriatus
1.0 Uroplatus peitschmanni
1.0 Varanus beccarri
0.0.2 Morelia viridis 'Cyclops Mountain'
0.0.1 Cyriopagopus 'Singapore Blue'

Makes sense. I read there was a need for bacteria in the water for the animals to be healthy. Nevertheless, I change the paper and water no less than once a week. Thanks for the info.

Hey, back to my original question....how can I get an idea of the age of this snake? I want to evntually get it sexed and then look for a mate......Anyone??

the people you bought it from can't tell you age?

either way, you need to wait until the snake starts to change color before you sex it. this way you at least know its around a year of age.

It came from a pet shop and I want to know for sure before buying another one. It's changing color now and Im guessing it's about a year old. I was hoping there was a way that I could tell by watching its response to football or gossip. Looks like I'll need to take it to someone.

Thanks,

The water will not be very enticing for him/her to drink if it is kept warm. Hydration is very important, you want to encourage drinking so I would keep water in cool spot of cage.

Age is hard to tell on farmed imports, that looks like a biak baby that is starting to undergo it's color change, they start usually at 4-6 months and change up until 5 years or so.... sometimes continue changing even as they age more. It is better to judge by your snakes weight for determining sex... it's generally accepted that once they reach about 100 gms it's fairly safe to sex. If it's extremely difficult to hold you may want to let it get a little larger. This is about the age though that you'll probably see a major growth spurt so it shouldn't be too much longer.

Breeder pages advise spraying instead of water dishes for drinking, which was my plan. I'll work it out, the snake won't go thirsty.

So, it seems to be less than a year. I'll wait a while before I take it in to be sexed. I asked this forum because it's concentrated with experienced GTP owners and most likely better than asking a retail person.

When it comes time to buying a breeded mate...are there any recomodations on a breeder?

Buy a breeder from a breeder specializes in GTPs. Im in your same boat. Just got mine last month and its 3 months old now. Can't wait for mine to start changing.

You'll need to wait and see if its a male/female before picking a breeder anyway. If Im not mistaken, males can breed after a year of age but females need to be at least 3 years before breeding. I hope mine is a male!

Im excited about the whole process. Good luck to you!

At 18" it's probably younger than a year old. I've had changes start from 8 months to over a year old. It's hard to tell though. Probably much too small to probe though. I'd be surprised if an 18" snake weighs over 100 grams. Be cautious if you use distilled water for spraying. It's supposed to be very bad to use as drinking water and if you're spraying for them to drink, you'll want to use something purified by reverse osmosis or spring water or something like that. I have well water that is very clean so I spray with that. Where I used to live, the city purified the water with chloramines, which are fatal to snakes. I used reverse osmosis.
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4.5~Cornsnakes
2.3.1~Green tree python
2.1~ATB
Dogs, cats, horses....
www.franclycac.com

I have a nice size tupperware filled with Beaked Moss, a water bowl and a spray bottle all lovingly embraced with Arrowhead spring water. Having had it for 4 days, it is becoming more managable for handling, I find that it's actually closer to 30". I can handle it without a strike now but still waiting for it to eat.

It shedded last night and early this morning was roaming its cage like a garter snake...I tossed in a mouse and Boom...killed and ate it in under 6 min. I am so relieved! I have been trying to get it to eat for about 5 days. It is now very active and was roaming his cage looking for a way out before I left.

Any particular reason why you're risking feeding live? Glad he ate for you.
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4.5~Cornsnakes
2.3.1~Green tree python
2.1~ATB
Dogs, cats, horses....
www.franclycac.com

I always have. What do the numbers and decimal points represent?

1.1.1 means one male, one female and one unknown. 1.2.3 means one male 2 female and 3 unknown. It's just an easy way to tell what you have or what you want to buy when you go to a breeder.
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4.5~Cornsnakes
2.3.1~Green tree python
2.1~ATB
Dogs, cats, horses....
www.franclycac.com