Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi everyone, i am wondering about how gtp's are as pets. i've had many other types of snakes, and all different animals (currently: 1 cat, 1 dog, 1 alligator lizard, 3 leopard frogs, 1 tarantula, and 1 gold ball python, and many others in the past). browsing this and other websites, i've fallen in love with gtp's, any and all that i see. so, i want to know whatever you think i should know about them: pros and cons to keeping them as pets, how many are ideal (do they need companions), life span, health requirements, housing requirements, handling-friendliness, where to get them, price estimations, and anything else important that i might be leaving out.

please respond, because i am determined to have my own gtp!! i looooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve snakes, and all other animals just about, and am eager to continue adding to my collection!

thanx for reading, and hope to see some replies soon!

-jazz

You are asking ALOT.

I would reccomend you pick up Greg Maxwells book "the complete chondro" you can order it here www.chondroweb.com/fineGTPs

Chondros need very specilaised and daily care. It would be a wise move to purchace another arboreal before delving in to chondros, as they don't make good "pet". But rater display animals.

But, order Gregs book even if your mildly intrested in chondros.

JG

Julian's advice is excellent. I have a copy of this book already and it is just full of excellent, solid information. It even includes a section on what makes a good GTP keeper that would be extremely helpful for anyone considering making the plunge into chondros. The pictures are awesome and worth the cost of the book itself.

Now, otoh, I specifically asked the author of this nice book if there was a lot of information in it that couldn't be found on his web site. The honest answer was that no, most of the serious information was still available to anyone for free that wanted to look for it. It's a bit more spread out and not as easy to index on the site...... but if you look, you will probably find most of your answers there. I can't snuggle up at night with the computer though..... the book is much better for that!!

Cathy

I guess there not begginer snakes, but if you can keep a ball python, you can keep a GTP. There not as hard as people make them out to be. Mine is actually much less flighty than any of my carpet pythons, and it is very easy to keep her in good shape (good sheds, regular feeding). They need a good amount of humidity, yeah...but they are very simple snakes to keep.
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"People change and your changing"
Seals and Crofts 1976

I AGREE GREEN TREE PYTHONS ARE NOT HARD TO KEEP AND CARE FOR, THEY JUST HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE TO BE MET. ONCE MET THEY PRETTY MUCH ARE AN EASY SNAKE TO KEEP. MY ADVICE IS TO BUY A BOOK OR AT THE LEAST DO SOME RESEARCH AND DECIDE IF A CHONDRO IS RIGHT FOR YOU. YEAH THEY MAY LOOK PRETTY AND COOL BUT IT NEEDS MORE TO THRIVE THAN A BALL PYTHON WOULD.

Though I have to say that though chondros are not difficult to keep, they require more attention to keep them healthy and happy than do many other snakes. Their needs are not many, but they do need to be understood and catered to for your and the animals' success.

Are you up to the task of daily, or possibly twice daily mistings to keep their humidity around the right levels?

Are you willing to leave them alone most of the time? Although many chondros can be very calm and tolerate moderate handling, they are not Ball Pythons. Over handling can easily stress out a chondro, and they are best kept as display snakes. Pulling them out and playing with them should be on the bottom of the priority list.

Are you willing to invest in the proper caging, handling, and heating equipment? This alone can be a hefty investment.

Are you willing to invest in the cost of a quality CBB chondro from a reputable breeder? This is one of the big questions, and in my opinion, one of the most important. If you aren't willing to, or can't afford to spend $400 on true CBB well started babies from a good breeder and you would prefer spending $275 on that fresh import, then are you willing to spend the additional fees you will incur in vet bills to get the snake checked out and treated for possible ailments that plague imported chondros(this is something you should plan ahead for anyway, as no matter what, sometimes animals DO get sick)? Chondros are a definite, "you get what you pay for" animal. I am not trying to be elitist or anything against those that DO have imports(I have several myself), but imports are cheap for a reason, and you will make up the difference very quickly on the initial cost in vet bills.

As Julian and the others here have said, I would recommend ALOT of reading and thinking before purchasing that first chondro. Greg Maxwell's book, "The Complete Chondro," is a good reference and resource, and I highly recommend spending the $45 on it before plunging into chondros headlong. Or at the very least check out some of the care info on his website, it is good solid stuff and will let you know just what it is you are getting into.

Best of luck!!!

I have to agree that buying a book is exellant advice. I have found that my baby GTP, Worm, needs more care than my ball pythons. He is a great snake but you have to be prepared for several differences in GTP than some other snakes. It's not "hard" just different and you have to be prepared for the differences. Visit Greg Maxwell's site and buy his book. You'll learn alot.
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2.9.9 Leopard Geckos
1.2.3 African Fat-tails
0.1 Gonisaurus Luii
1.1 Central American Banded Geckos
0.1 Gargoyle Gecko
1.1 Calabar Pythons
1.1 Savu Pythons
1.1 Cornsnakes
0.1.2 Chondropythons
0.1 Standing's Day Gecko
1.0 Frog-eyed Gecko
1.1 Ball Pythons

Well, you do ask a lot of questions...
First of all....NO they do not need a "companion". Gtp's should only be placed together in one cage for the sole purpose of breeding.
Do they make good pets? I don't really think that any snake makes a "good" pet, but they are delightful creatures just the same.
Gtp's should definately not be handled as much as you might handle a Cornsnake/Ball Python or a Boa.
They are more of a Display animal, as they are very fragile (esp. hatchlings and juvies) and stress easily.
I do handle mine occasionally and they seem fine with it and usually just calmly explore.
I think that with Gtp's it is a matter of how "tame" they are to begin with. Some are very snappy, others are very calm. It does not seem to matter how much you handle one (you should never handle one a lot, in order to "tame" it, you will just stress it) they are either "tame" or not.
Now comes the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT thing about becoming a Gtp owner.
Get a captive bred one from a reputable breeder. I can't stress enough how important this is with a snake like this.
If you get a cb healthy/feeding hatchling/juvie/adult it really is not that hard to keep Gtps at all. As a matter of fact mine are the most easy to take care off, of all of my snakes. They eat every time I offer (frozen thawed) they shed perfectly every time, they have never had any kind of problem whatsoever. They are also very "tame" and have never struck at me at all.
You just have to make sure you got the basics right. Make sure your temperatures and the humidity are right on target, mist once the day (twice if its very dry) and make sure they can thermoregulate.
All in all i can say that GTP's are delightful snakes to own and to observe, and after some more research you should go ahead and get one.
Just remember, the initial purchase is the most important thing, if you try to save by buying a import or captive hatched one, it might backfire on you and you could end up with a lot of trouble.
Also, if you work with a reputable breeder, you can let them know what you are looking for, and they will try their best to pair you up with what you want. They will also be there for you, if you need further assistance and help.
I was lucky enough to be able to handpick my Gtp's and i can tell you, they already have very different temperaments at that age....some were very "psycho" (got my first bite there...lol) while others were calm and easygoing.
I can also only recommend that you go to Greg Maxwells website, you will get all the info there that you might need...
Good luck and i hope you will soon have your own little glow-worm.

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repfriend