GTP vs. ETB

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yoimb0b

Feeder Fish
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Jul 18, 2006
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So I have decided I want to get back into snakes again. I just want one that I can kinda have as a centerpiece almost. Not gonna handle him too much, mainly for looks. The store I work at has both green tree pythons and emerald tree boas, and I am debating which one to get.

Anybody have experience with either of these snakes? I know they need humidty, and alot of people just keep them in a glass tank with pvc piping for them to wrap around on and thats it. Green tree pythons come in all sorts of colors as babies but they all turn green, and the emerald tree boa is green with white and blue. Both are very pretty snakes and both are very mean, but I would like to know some pro's and con's about each one.

Thanks
 
  1. i handled both my gtps on a regular basis and never bit but they are very head shy.I think they rely so much on heat pits because the pupils dang near disapear in the bright light.Mine would go off feeding at times and would stress me out but my cage was large and i dont think i ever got my humidity and temps just perfect.Nice tall tanks are nice,ppl think they just stay put all the time but mine were world travlers at nite.
  2. I did use 2 shower rods toward the top and a huge branchy drift wood log so they could climb all over.Large water pan in the bottom and i wire tied a hide box up in the drift wood.I misted them down a few times a day and they would drink from their coils.Fed frozen or pk rat pups and small rats with tongs.
  3. I never would reach in bare handed to get them out but used a snake hook,being carefull not to pull them too hard from a branch.After that i would slide my hand under the belly and then i was holding them,they are very interested in the surroundings but i wouldnt recomend waving your hand around its face,lol.
  4. The bottom was bare other than the water pan,plastic of course.From all the shops ive gone to and ppl i talk to the boa is more defensive.Just strive to keep the temps and humidity right and still have good ventalation.Hope any of this helps,i know im not a pro but what ever i can give you know.:)
 
evilxyardxgnome;1500001; said:
I like Emerald Tree Boas. But thats me.
Click to expand...
they are a bit edgier witch has its apeal and that mouth shape packed with teeth.I love those too,just never had one.I think if i wanted display only i would go with something more active.
 
sorry one more thing well 2.I di have a basking lamp and a uvb tube witch im not sure how important it was .Also i wouldnt take the pricy risk with a baby.I would try and find something a year or 2 old thats feeding good.Good luck.I have heard the boas strees easier but that might be crap,not sure.
 
Yeah, ETBs are notoriously harder to tame down, but if thats not issue, get which ever one you like better. Also, I would just make sure it eats if you plan on getting a baby.
 
Think the GTPs are easier keeping wise (either way get a cb of either), and that they also have prettier heads. ETB Basins have the the better markings than the northerns... the line down their spine and good ones have big stripes. There are a few pattern variations now, including a patternless.
However GTPs come in more locales and more "designer morphs". They differ a lot, some with white speckles all over the body, some just down the spine (some Meraukes have a complete lateral line), some have a blue dorsal and patterning, commonly found in sarongs. They differ in size (Biaks are typically bigger than others). There are also the canary yellow locales (some turn a bit green, but many stay yellow) such as Wamena and Kafiau Island. There is a lot of designers too, check out Greg maxwell or theurbanchondro, they have blues, calico, high yellows, limes, mustards etc. There are also the albinos now, and some melanistics too (Freek nuyt has some). The GTPs look a more interesting scene atm, and are generally cheaper just for normal animals, but if it is just to be a display animal, then hey, it's up to you. I like both and would find it hard to choose.
Oh and also both gtp and etb neonates are different colours till they reach adulthood.
Have you checked out atb's? They have a great range of colours, are thinner snakes and are easier in terms of care.
 
I haven't seen anyone handle a ETB without a bloodletting... yet. Apparently one of my mentors have a tame ETB, but I need to see it to believe it.

Here's a Jayapura GTP. It belongs to the guy who is holding the albino boa.

n688719539_614456_780.jpg
 
Get a GTP! They can be nasty but I have seen many cases of them being handleable, and i personally think they are prettier. If you get a sorong, I beleive they retain some yellow.

And if your gonna get a GTP for a show snake, you shouldn't just use PVC and a basic setup in my opinion. Even if you dont want to get too fancy (running water, etc.), you should do a basic vivarium. Coco-fiber substrate, lots of real or fake plants, and some realistic tree branches. You could also plant some pothos or even a ficus.
 
the only reason i didnt mention that is because remember they usualy crap and pee from above and it can go wherever,a bit harder to keep it clean but if you give it the time then i agree,that would look good.
 
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