I’ve always been fascinated by green tree pythons. There is just something so cool about a green jungle snake! The kind of exotic reptile that you may only ever see in videos or a zoo.
I’ve always thought it would be so cool to have one as a pet. It’s amazing that you can actually own one. But the question is, are green tree pythons’ good pets? I decided to do some research and here’s what I found.
Green tree pythons can make great pets but that depends on your definition of pet. If you are looking for a pet snake to hold and handle often, then a green tree python is not the best choice. If you are looking for an amazing, exotic, display animal that is not particularly difficult to care for, they are a great choice. Green tree pythons are best for intermediate to advanced keepers.
Interesting Facts about Green Tree Pythons
- Where do they come from? – Green tree pythons are a classic jungle snake. They come from the jungles of eastern Indonesia, the Aru Islands and the Cape York Peninsula of Australia.
- How big do they get? – Green tree pythons are a smaller sized python. They are long and slender and reach an average length of 5 to 6 feet.
- How long do they live? –Green tree pythons can live 12 to 20 years.
- What do they eat? – In the wild green tree pythons eat, frogs, lizards, birds, bats, and other vertebrates found in trees. Sometimes they will leave the trees and feed on ground-dwelling rodents. Green tree pythons can actually use their tail as a lure to attract prey. Once their dinner is close enough, they strike. They also have heat-sensing pits on their mouth that allows them to sense warm-blooded creatures. This helps them locate their prey when hunting. In captivity, they are usually raised on mice and rats.
- They change colors! – Green tree pythons actually change colors! Not like chameleons do but as they grow into adulthood. When green tree pythons are born, they are not green at all. They are usually a deep maroon, red or a bright yellow. As they age, they turn green.
What Makes Green Tree Pythons Good Pets?
Green Tree Pythons
- Are Colorful
- Are not too big
- Are hardy with proper care
- Do not need special lighting
Considerations
- They need humidity
- Not suited for frequent handling
- Are expensive
- Should only buy from a breeder
Why Green Tree Pythons Make Good Pets
Are Colorful
Green tree pythons are very colorful. Breeders have been able to produce several morphs. Adults can be green with white, yellow or blue speckles, or green and yellow to shades of blue. They can even be a combination of them all.
They are truly beautiful snakes. Imagine your friends coming over and seeing a beautiful exotic jungle snake perched on a tree branch in its cage. I can almost hear the oohs and awes.
Are not too big
There are about 41 species of pythons in the world. Most people hear the word python and think giant 30-foot constrictor. Pythons come in all sizes.
Green tree pythons are long and slender. Adults only reach lengths of about 5 to 6 feet. This is a very manageable size for a python. They are long enough to be impressive but not so big that they need an entire room in your house!
Adults can live comfortably in a 3-foot by 2-foot by 2-foot cage. Most breeders recommend height as opposed to length.
Are hardy with proper care
When properly cared for green tree pythons will live to their mid-teens or even into their early twenties. They do tend to be more fragile than other commonly kept snakes like ball pythons, boas, kingsnakes or corn snakes. For this reason, they are better suited for intermediate to advanced keepers.
With this in mind, if their care requirements are met, they will live a long and healthy life. Once you have the proper sized enclosure, with the ability to retain humidity and provide adequate airflow, the task is keeping temperatures in the right range as well as humidity levels.
Keeping the enclosure humid but not wet is important to avoid respiratory and skin problems. A basking spot should be provided which can be achieved with an over the cage heat lamp, ceramic heat emitter, or radiant heat panel. Be sure to control these with a thermostat.
Temps should be around 86-88 degrees Fahrenheit in this area. You need to provide a range of temperatures in the enclosure. The cool side of the cage should be about 78-80 degrees. At night, temps can drop to between 70-75 degrees but should not go below 70.
When keeping snakes, and most reptiles for that matter, it is usually recommended to provide a hiding place. Green tree pythons should have cover but not a place to hide permanently.
They are shy snakes and if given the opportunity they may tend to hide constantly, always staying in one place. This means they won’t thermoregulate properly and could become sick.
Humidity levels in your green tree python’s enclosure should range between 40-70%. You can mist the cage once a day with a simple hand mister or you can set something up automatically. It’s a good idea to use a hygrometer (a device that measures humidity levels) to make sure you are in the proper range.
Do not need special lighting
The great thing about green tree pythons and most snakes, in general, is that they don’t require special lighting like many other reptiles. This makes keeping snakes quite a bit easier. It’s also less expensive.
Green tree pythons do not require special full-spectrum lighting but if you have it you will be able to see all of their brilliant colors much better.
Things You Need to Know
They need humidity
As discussed above, green tree pythons have specific humidity requirements. Though it is not too difficult to provide it does take extra attention, effort, and expense. For some people, this can be daunting and one reason a green tree python may not be a good pet for them.
Not suited for frequent handling
Green tree pythons have gotten a bad reputation over the years of being aggressive. They are an arboreal species and therefore have very long sharp teeth. A bite from a green tree python can be very unpleasant.
In the past, most green tree pythons available were imported wild-caught animals. Imported animals are generally much more defensive than captive-bred animals. Today there are a good number of breeders working with green tree pythons and it isn’t hard to get a captive bred individual.
This is great for many reasons. Captive-bred green tree pythons will be healthier and hardier and your chances of keeping them alive for a long time are much higher. Captive-bred green tree pythons also adapt to handling much easier than their wild-caught brothers and sisters.
Even when captive-bred, green tree pythons are shy snakes. They can feel threatened and be prone to biting. It is possible however to socialize them with patience and care.
If one is willing to learn their phycology and how to approach them correctly, with time they can become docile and accept handling on a more regular basis.
Many other snakes are far better choices if you are interested in handling and interacting with them regularly. I’ve already listed a few of those above. Others include hognose snakes, gopher snakes, garter snakes, and milk snakes.
Are Expensive
Green tree pythons are being bred more widely now than ever before. That said, they are still fairly expensive to purchase compared to other pet snakes. They usually range from about $300 to $1500 or more depending on the specific species or genetic morph.
Should Only Buy from a Breeder
If you are excited about owning a truly exotic and amazing pet snake it’s important that you start off on the right foot. With green tree pythons, it is very important to buy only from a breeder. I’ve already listed a few reasons for this.
Many green tree pythons that are available for sale actually come from farms in Indonesia then imported for sale in the U.S. or other countries. This is something to look out for. These snakes can appear healthy but often harbor parasites.
This may be okay if you plan to take your snake to the vet immediately after purchase and spend the extra money to address this issue. You could still find yourself in a disheartening situation, pretty quickly, when your snake’s health declines in spite of these efforts.
It’s too easy to find a captive bred green tree python. They may be slightly more expensive to buy but you will have a much higher chance of keeping them healthy from the beginning.
I have always been drawn to green tree pythons and have often thought about how amazing it would be to own one. Green tree pythons are truly exotic jungle snakes that are colorful and captivating.
Though they are not the best choice for beginners, they can be an interesting and rewarding pet for experienced keepers.
Related Questions
- Are green tree pythons aggressive? – Green tree pythons are shy and can be defensive. They don’t attack people on sight. They have a reputation for being aggressive but this really is not true.
- Can you keep a green tree python as a pet? – Yes, but they are not a good choice for beginners. They are not the kind of pet snake you will handle on a regular basis. They have specific care requirements and are best suited for intermediate to advanced keepers.
- Do green tree python bites hurt? – Green tree pythons are arboreal snakes with very long teeth. Their bite can cause deep lacerations and be quite painful.
- Do green tree pythons have fangs? – No, they do not have fangs. Green tree pythons have longer teeth than other snakes but they are nonvenomous and do not have fangs.