Great to be green
March 12, 2005 | 12:00am
I have a bias for slithering snakes though I love all animals. Observing and handling serpents struck fear in Snakeyphobics but always mesmerized me as a boy. I have been the proud keeper of a plethora of slithering ssspecies but none fascinate me as much as the Green Tree Python.
I remember seeing my first GTP (Chondropython viridis) very vividly. It was my initial term in the council and going to Cartimar to view animals was how I spent the very, very little leisure time I had. I saw the four-foot green snake in a lonely bird cage all dehydrated and skinny. The poor creature was so stressed from all the traveling, changing hands from one trader to the next that she looked emaciated and dehydrated. Despite this, I knew right away she was a rare Jayapura variety from the speckling of blue and yellow on her skin. I quickly purchased and took her home. That was eight slithering scintillating yearsss ago and the Chondropython is still alive, well and hopefully will still breed today.
Native to Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia, quite variable in color although predominantly green, the blue or yellow colored varieties are highly prized (and priced) by hobbyists. Herpetoculturists from the west find them difficult because of high humidity needs. Since native Indonesia is not much different from (our politics crazy) 7,107 bio diverse islands, caring for GTPs really is no sweat in sunny, humid PI.
After some experience in keeping more basic python varieties like the Burmese and Ball, you may be ready for a Green Tree Python.
Housing: GTPs do not need much space since they are happy sitting immobile on a branch and will only move at night to hunt. A good 20-gallon aquarium with a locking lid you can buy from Bio Research will do. A perch is very important since GTPs are not comfortable laying flat on substrate because of their slender body, highly adapted to dwelling in trees. It is also important to put a big water dish since they love to soak especially on warm summer days. All snakes are escape artists so be sure the lid is secure. Newspaper may be unsightly but this is the best substrate and is the easiest to replace when soiled.
Feeding: In nature, Green Tree Pythons feed exclusively on birds but can be trained to eat mice and rats. GTP experts usually (not for the faint-hearted) squeeze some cute Maya bird blood or squeeze some of the bird’s brain juice on the rodent before feeding. This makes almost blind Snakey think that Tweety bird is actually Mickey! (Again my apologies to bird and rodent lovers, Snakey’s gotta eat!)
Feed two rats every 10 days for adult specimen.
There was a time when herpers thought the GTP is a very difficult animal to care for since they used to be imported illegally in large numbers and those that survived the journey were sick, dehydrated and perished within a few months of purchase. Many breeders from abroad have been successful in propagating the species and captive bred specimen have become easier to buy. If you have the commitment, the Green Tree Python shall be the pride and joy of your pet family.
Reptilian jottings: I believe DENR spicy secretary Mighty Mike is correct in having all pet keepers and traders registered, being lenient on licensed trade of captive bred species and clamping down on clandestine dealing of animals most of which are wild caught. Less on the market are the exotic endemics like Sail Fin Lizards being passed off as "Philippine Iguanas" (though a few store owners are still guilty). Conditions are relatively better the last time I visited Cartimar.
There is a pesky persistent e-mailer that keeps sending mail about coconut. This is an animal column and I am a Mister (as you can see in the macho picture) and not a Miss. Snakey says: Nakakainisssss!
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