Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, I have wanted a snake since before I can remember but my mother was rather against it. However, she had to care for a snake in her class room for the last year and has decided that it’s not that big a deal. She hasn’t quite broken down to getting one in the house but I think she is just holding it over me so she can get me to do something later. Anyway, I started looking into what kind of snake I want (on her suggestion) and I was having a very hard time till I saw the ATB. I fell in love the second I saw Tony Nicoli's web page on Amazon Basin's. Unfortunately, I don’t make enough money to afford a "Pedigree" snake so I decided to get a Northern ATB. In preparation I also ordered the book The Guide to Owning Tree Boas and Tree Pythons by Tom Mazorlig because it was cheep and I figured that it would have the info in there I need to decide if the ATB is really the first snake I want. (I have herd that the ATB should not be the first snake you get because they are very hard to handle but I just LOVE them) Anyway, I wanted to hear form others who owned one their thoughts on the ATB. Also, I wanted some thoughts on this book and where I can go to get information on handling and caring for the ATB (remember I'm a first time snaker and need all the info I can get). Anyway, the snake I'm hoping to get is http://www.signalherp.com/Collection/Emerald Tree Boas/Northern/01007/01007 2003 litter/03078web.jpg (sorry I don’t know how to make it linked) Also, I was wondering if anyone knows this breeder and whether or not I was getting the quality a snake that I would think the cost would infer since I see them much cheeper on kingsnake.com. If I could get a snake that looked as good at a cheaper price or from a more reliable breeder I would be more than happy to change snakes. I’ll probably need more information later but that’s it for now.

Thanks,
Novack

I'm thining of getting this book as well "The Complete Chondro" by Greg Maxwell ... its a $45 book so im hesitant to get it ... oh i started reading the tips for begginers and saw some of my answers were answered there thanks anyway

Hi Novack,
The Guide to Owning Tree Boa's and Tree Python's by Tom Mazorlig is a real good care guide,for Emerald Tree Boa's And Amazon Tree Boa's and Green Tree Python's AKA Chondro's, It would be a good idea to buy that book before makeing your decision,it's real informative The other book you are thinking of The Complete Chondro cover's the care and other info. on the Green Tree Python only.I would'nt buy that one unless you are considering a Green Tree Python.
Have A Good One ! !
Kenneth

Hi,
Well, the first thing is that you are looking at an ETB, not an ATB (Emerald Tree Boa vs Amazon Tree Boa, big difference in the two). ETBs are shades of green, yellow, and white. ATBs come in lots of colors, patterns. Amazon basin ETBs are usually shortened as "basins" or AB ETB.

I've never bought from Rico, but have heard only good things about him and Signal.

Some of the babies being sold for much less $$ are babies that have been born at the exporters facility, then imported into the country, then sent to dealer, then (hopefully no more middle men and travel time) to the consumer. Technically, they are captive born, but have been thru quite a lot in their short lives. I've heard of some babies like this doing extremely well, some babies not. Basically, you are taking almost the same chance as buying a WC adult, although the babies probably have a bit better survival rate.

Other babies being sold at less $$ are drops from imported gravid females, again technically captive born (CB), but from a freshly WC mother. Some are just simply animals that were produced by a hobbiest, who just wanted to make a few $$ and told them wholesale cheaply to a dealer.

If you buy CBB (captive bred and born) from a US based reputable breeder (like Signal, Tony, and many others in the US), you are getting a baby that goes directly from the breeder's facility to you (no extended travel times, international flights, multiple flights, etc), a feeding, well established baby, and help if you have problems. I don't know of any reputable breeder that will not provide assistance with problems when needed. You also will know the parentage since most reputable breeders will provide pics of dam and sire. Try finding out for sure what the parents looked like for an imported baby. Try getting help from an overseas breeder.

As far as care, there are many care sheets out there. Rico has one on his site, there are several here on Kingsnake, and corallus.com has a few. Your best bet though is to talk with the breeder you are buying from and do what they do, that is what the baby you are buying is used to.

Good luck if and when you become a proud new ETB parent.

Karen Clark

yah i ment ETB not ATB ... sorry for the confushen ... anyway thanks for the info and like i said i already ordered the first book and will give it a read threw first i guess i'll pass on the other one Thanks again for the info

It seems like you are looking for something that you can handle. Most Corallus are fiesty and bite quite often, if you are trying to win your Mom over then you may not want her getting snapped by an ATB or ETB. I know some people here do handle their corallus I think most will agree they are more display animals than pets. If you go on the Urban Jungles website there used to be a pic showing an ETBs teeth, take a look, its impressive. I dont know about GTPs but perhaps they are milder in temperament. Boas and rainbow boas are good choices as well as Ball Pythons for handling. I dont mean to discourage you from corallus, I love ATBs and ETBs but most can not be handled without attempting to bite.

Chris

oh i have looked at their teath i love them and my mom isnt going to be doing anything w/ the snake anyway id be the one who takes care of it. Even if it is a display snake because it wont let me handel it then thats fine i love the snake!

I can't speak for ATB's, but you are way off the mark about ETB's. I wish folks would quit passing these myths on about emeralds for the most part always wanting to bite. It's just not true.
CraigC

Of my 11 emeralds, all can be handled and would not be catagorized as aggressive or fiesty, quite the opposite. However, I don't think that emeralds tame to the same level of many colubrids, boas and pythons just because they are so sensitive to radiant heat. Blanket statements can be deceptive. In my experience with my amazons, they tend to be quick to defend and bite; however, I have never attempted to handle them for taming purposes. I suppose it may be possible but I don't have experience from trying.

Alex McVicker

HANDLING EMERALDS

Expect to get bit in your life if you buy one...you can handle them without bites but with the amount they try, you are going to take a hit some day. I like to take a few shots before taking mine out bare handed. I can deffinitely get them out of the tank and handle them all night without a bite...I can even get multiple ones out and have them climb on me and have no bites...but you have to be watching all the time and distract them when they stare at a vein too long. But if you can't take the bite from a little ATB, you don't need a snake since they have long teeth but they let go and they are not big (even a day old green anaconda hurts much worse with those stupid shark like teeth). Now for Emeralds...not even close to the same temper but I have friends say they want to get bit just because they want to experience the awesomeness of those teeth...I think the amazons are pretty long, whoa those emeralds got it going on). Now for a first snake...Emeralds are much harder to keep since they are not giving with less than perfect conditions...I would say amazons are a better first if you have to get a tree boa. But there are a fair share of folks in here with trouble getting them to eat...I account some of that due to the price of amazons is more tempting and owned by less experienced people than emeralds. But I know many folks with plenty of experience have had trouble with both. I wish you luck and be very picky about the animal you get no matter what it is...you don't want the trouble to start you off or you will be on her every hour waiting for help and this forum moves slow. Good luck

Do you have emeralds? If not, don't tell folks they are are harder to keep! I'm really getting tired of people spewing B.S. about emeralds! If you have never kept them, how can you justify giving advice? Books are good referances, but they are not the gospel by any means.
CraigC

I have 1 WC ETB that is surprisely calm. I have 1 ATB that was cbb by me that can be handled with some caution so yes I know there are exceptions. I hear Basins are easy to deal with but I think Fexore said he can't afford a Basin right now (unless someone here is donating a specimen in which case send me one too! All Im saying is that you are more likely to get bit dealing with Corallus than say a corn snake or ball python.

Chris

Hay, I agree with Alex,(Blanket Statement's can be Deceptive) all snake's are (Individual's) no two are the same.You got to know your snake.
Have A Good One ! !
Kenneth

It's not just basins that can be calm. All of our northerns are handleable, some more so than others. Our first northern up until he was about 2 years old used to warp himself around my wrist like a braclet and hold his head up for me to rub under his chin. He would sit like that for as long as I let him. We don't do that now that he's about 4' long since he's more like an arm braclet and a bit heavy after a few minutes.

All of our northerns, basins as well, are quite calm unless it's feeding time, then that's a whole nother ballpark.

Karen

Get your self a beautiful chondro. Very similar to tree boas. Most chondros I have come across are friendlier than most ATPs I have come across. I may be biased because I am the proud owner of a little yellow GTP and now have become a ChondroHead.

Sorry I meant ATB not ATP.