Basic Green Tree Python Care Information
Is a green tree python right for you? - first things first
Green tree pythons (Morelia viridis) are not for everyone, they require much more attention to detail and specialized care than a corn snake or a ball python. At the same time, they are not as difficult to keep as some would have you beleive either. Certainly we would not recommend getting a green tree python for your first reptile, but it would be just as foolish to say that in order to provide proper care one must have had X number of snakes in the past or have X number of years experience.
A more accurate method of assessing whether or not a green tree python is right for you involves some reading and research ahead of time and the making that decision based on whether or not you are honestly able to devote the necessary time and financial resources to ensure the animals continued health.
Things to consider include:
- Your ability to provide an adequate cage and environment (heat and humidity)
- Your ability to recognize problems early if they arise
- Your access to resources such as experienced keepers and veterinary care
- Your ability to deal with an aggressive animal (this is always a possibility)
- Your ability to realize that handling your snake should be kept to a minimum
Record Keeping - The core of good husbandry practices
Perhaps the most important aspect of successfully keeping green tree pythons (or any species of snake for that matter) is the use of an accurate means of record keeping. The method need not be elaborate; in fact, often a simple file card system will suffice. For someone keeping dozens of snakes, the need for record keeping is obvious. But, what about for the individual with only 1 or 2 animals?
Although the means of keeping records becomes less important with fewer animals, the importance is just as great for the keeper of a single green tree python as it is for the breeder with twenty. Record keeping helps to develop a good schedule of feeding and routine maintenance. It also eliminates the element of human error which is sure to creep in where only the memory is used to determine when an animal was last fed or when a cage was last cleaned. They also help to spot patterns of behavior (either good or bad) and can be a very good tool for determining if some behavior is unusual or not. In the event that an animal needs veterinary care, good records can be very important and will be much appreciated by the veterinarian when examining an animal.
My preferred medium for keeping records is a program called Degei Husbandry Database (click on the image below to visit their site and download the program). This very reasonably priced program was designed by and for reptile keepers and is very robust. It is both simple and intuitive enough for the young hobbiest keeper and complete enough for the large commercial breeding operation. I am also pleased to tell you that Degei runs very well on Ubuntu Linux under Wine.
But whatever method you choose, from index cards to a more advanced database system, accurate record keeping should be the foundation of all of your green tree python keeping practices.
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