Hi there,



I've found that reptiles in general and snakes in particular look at approaches from above as a predatory threat. Tree snakes have a reputation, probably well deserved, for being bitey (is that a word?) I set up my tank (with my yellow neonate) with sliding glass doors on the sides, so that I can approach from below, and am careful not to present my hand in front of its face. Also never grip the snake, and allow it to crawl around from hand to hand, with me moving very slowly. Any quick movement will probably provoke a strike, and gripping any snake will result in a bite 99 if not 100% of the time. You have a branch in your tank I assume? Try to lift the branch and approach it from below the body and behind the head, lifting it gently from the branch and slowly unwrap it from the branch. Green tree pythons, captive born or not, are not domesticated animals. They may not be tamed. Snakes are animals with strong instincts to guide them and they don't really learn many new tricks. It is our responsibility to understand those instincts and react and act accordingly. They can learn that when approached in a cautious and non threatening manner (of course dont act like prey or predator) that you aren't a threat to their survival, and calm a bit. As someone said before, young snakes tend to be extremely defensive in general, as in the wild they are prey for a large variety of animals.

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