Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The Jackson's tree snake is a species of large green non-venamous colubrid that lives in Africa. I have seen a few for sale and I want to get one, the problem is, I can't find any information on their captive care. I have searched all over the internet to find only one website that mentions the full name "Jackson's tree snake" and it was just a short story. If any of you know anything about Jackson's tree snakes, please tell me and/or if you know where I can find information, please tell me.

I have kept both forms of this species. Actually if you look under the latin name: Thrasops jacksoni you can find information easier. While a green form is mentioned the color is more greenish black. Solid black examples are more commonly available.

It is a large species (growing to 2.3M), and can be either docile or very aggresively defensive. it's strong similarity in appearance to Boomslangs is enhanced by it,s identical defensive posture (throat inflating).

There has been persistant warnings about this snake alledgedly being capable of significant envenomomation. Having been bitten several times I do not beleave this to be an accurate assessment. Nor did I see any sign of venom kills on prey. It kills indigo like (Using it's head to flatten prey against the cage bottom).

Though arboreal, they need a hide box to feel really secure. If not there is a tendency towards nose rubbing. Most specimens readily take mice or rat pinks and fuzzies (depending on size).

A peculiarity is that when freshly shed, they smell like black licorice.

The best book for info on them is:

A FIELD GUIDE TO THE REPTILES OF EAST AFRICA by Stephen Spawls
ISBN 0-12-656470-1

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Thank you, that was a very informative and useful reply!