Green Tree Python Cage Recommendations
Choosing the perfect chondro cage
There really is no magical formula for choosing the perfect cage for a green tree python. In fact, there are countless varieties of commercially available cages which work very well and if you are so inclined the possibility of building your own chondro cages is a viable solution as well. Probaly the only categoric advice I will give in this regard is to put your snake in a snake cage and keep the aquarium for your fish! This is particularly true with green tree pythons for reasons which I will discuss more in a minute. No matter which path you decide to take, you will want to consider the following important factors:
- Heat retention
- Moisture resistance (you will need HIGH humidity)
- Dimensions
- Front Opening
- Proper ventilation
- Ease of cleaning
Heat retention in your chondro cage
Green tree pythons come from tropical Indonesia where temperatures are not only relatively high, they are also quite consistent. A cage which is appropriate for keeping green tree pythons should have good heat retention characteristics so that the temperatures can be kept stable. As a general rule you will want to look for a cage that does not have a screen top. The material it is constructed from plays a role here as well. and while wood is a better insulator than plastic, it is not very good at dealing with high humidity unless coated with some type of laminate such as 3M contact paper or melamine (more on that later).
Moisture resistance
Green tree pythons come from the tropical rain forests of Indonesia. In their natural environment it rains every day for most of the year and the average humidity is generally within the range of 70% - 90%. This part of the world is also known for moderate and predictable winds which work in conjunction with the rainfall to produce a cycle of rising and falling humidity which repeats itself on a daily basis. It is the recreation of similar conditions which makes moisture resistant cages a must for green tree python keepers.
Chondro cages should be misted daily to saturation point (at or near 100% humidity) and allowed to "dry out" to about 50% humidity before the next spraying. With constant humidity like this, cages which are not extremely moisture resistant will be ruined in short order.
Dimensions
There are no magic dimensions which makeup the perfect chondro cage. However, some basic understanding of green tree python behavior can be extremely helpful when either choosing a premade cage for your animal or building your own. The green tree python is, of course, an arboreal species which spends a great deal of time on perches above the ground. Unlike some arboreal serpents though, Morelia viridis also comes down to the ground to hunt and explore. They are often very active at night and this needs to be considered when designing or purchasing a cage for them.
I prefer chondro cages which are 24 inches tall and consider 18 inches to be a minimum height for all but hatchling pythons. The depth of the cage (distance from front to back) should be somewhere around 18 inches with anything more than 24 inches being excessive; remember, with too large a cage it becomes much harder to control the heat and humidity levels. The length of your chondro cage should be in the 24 to 36 inch range to allow for a lateral thermal gradient and "room to stretch." Eighteen inches long will work, but would be an absolute minimum in my opinion.
Front opening design
Aside from the fact that a front opening cage is simply easier to access for common tasks such as misting and maintenance, I have found that this design is actually less stressful on the animal. In fact, I have found that green tree pythons are less prone to strike at their keepers, are much easier to handle when needed, and that even many "problem feeders" will be more apt to feed than when placed in a top opening design cage. Before you start laughing, bear with me a moment and let me explain. Remember, this is based on my own personal observations and though not true for all animals, does seem to make a noticable difference in most instances.
So how can a front opening cage make the animal more at ease than a top opening cage?
In all honesty, I do not know for sure--but, here is my theory:
Being arboreal in nature, chondros are used to being in an elevated position to both prey and predator. It is their natural tendancy to see most activity beneath them; I feel that even with captive raised animals this is embedded at the instinctual level and is simply part of the natural behavior of the species. If you accept this basic premise, it becomes easy to see how green tree pythons can feel threatened by the keeper, or even a food item on the end of tongs, approaching from above. Since a front opening cage allows the animal to be approached from below, your python will naturally feel more "in control" of the situation and less threatened. As such, they are calmer and both more likely to feed and less likely to bite the hand that feeds them.
Proper Ventilation
The correct amount a ventiliation in your chondro cage(s) will almost certainly be the factor which requires the most experimenting and tinkering. While you need enough air flow to keep the inside of the cage supplied with fresh air, you also need it to be tight enough to allow the temperature & humidity ranges to remain stable. No matter what type of cage you settle on, you will almost certainly have to adjust the ventilation somewhat to work with the ambient conditions in which the cage is situated. Luckilly, most cages are over-ventilated since it is usually easier to block existing holes as needed as opposed to making new ones.
Ease of Cleaning
Chances are that if the cage design you choose meets the requirements listed above, particularly the moisture resistance and front opening design, the ease of cleaning factor will take care of itself. It is something to consider though and should be given some thought up front.
Pros & Cons of Various Cage Choices:
Exo Terra Terrariums
Exo Terra terrariums are readily available at many pet stores and are both well designed and affordably priced. They have a sleek modern design which makes for a nice display cage and they are very easy to clean. They also feature securely locking front opening doors and (with a few minor modifications) can be a very good choice for an attractive and affordable display cage for your green tree python.
Exo Terra terrariums come in a variety of sizes, several of which are ideal for keeping a green tree pythons. The only real downfall of this design is the fact that the entire top is screened and must be covered to have any hope of maintaining the proper level of humidity. Fortunately, this is quite easy to accomplish by simply covering the screen with properly cut pieces of glass or other such suitable material.
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