Ok I have 15 minutes so....



Lets talk. My biggest fear when buying my first Green Tree python was the misconception that they are ALL maniacs, not simply nippy but ANGRY! I have five now and it's the farthest thing from the truth. They are pretty tame snakes. What I have learned is



1. No other snake sleeps like the dead than a chondro. So watch how you startle them.



2. Know your chondro body language!



3. No other snake appreciates respect and handling on it's own terms than a chondro (Don't manhandle.)



They are very rewarding/interesting snakes to work with and easily the most fun I have had with a boid.



As far as buying your first chondro. A removable perch of suitable size is a must. Proper humidity is very, very important. If you have or can get a rack 6, 12 or 20qt DO IT! I have found they acclimate super well in racks, it's easy to manage temperture and humidity and they really appreciate the security a rack provides and you will want more! I know they are expensive and when I bought my racks I was biting my knuckles.



As far as what to buy. With 10 minutes of research you will run into two camps.



USCBB - These are your US breeders with a good reputation. You will get a guaranteed, healthy, well adjusted feeding animal. The only problem I encountered with some of these people is they are completley out of step with the first time buyer and often offer $1000 and waayyy up thoroughbred chondros. Look on the Morelia Viridis Forum Classifed and you will find some reasonably priced gems if that is what you desire. Also do not be shy in letting them know you are looking for a "pet" or calm chondro, they will hand pick one for you based on temperment.



Bushmaster Stock - These are CB farmed animals (the facility is beautiful.) They breed different locality types and locality crosses. The snakes are usually healthy but simply because of the water quality and the prey items they use to get some neonates started you run a slight risk of getting a baby chondro with internal parasites (worms). That is the only downside to them really. You won't get much after sale assistance if you buy a BM neonate from a broker or a petstore and you need to be more careful and really verify with the seller that a BM neonate is eating well. Overall they are robust and healthy animals though.



As far as locality if you have a specific question I will try to answer it. Overall locality animals have suffered a downturn in popularity in the U.S.



Later, Good Luck.

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