Trying to learn about snakes

watkintd · August 28, 2020, 1:55pm

Hello, my name is Tracey I am new to this site, I joined because my guy likes Pythons and we were looking for an Emerald Green Tree Python, I myself like Chameleons. Thank you so much for allowing me to join this unique community.

stewart_reptiles · August 28, 2020, 2:29pm

Hi and welcome is this gonna be your first snake? Because if so you will soon realize after doing some research that GTP are not a beginner snakes.

jrc_retics · August 28, 2020, 3:09pm

Hi Tracey welcome to the community.
As far as Green Tree Pythons go, I definitely would not recommend those as a beginner species. I’ve been in the hobby for a long time, and I keep reticulated pythons which are a more advanced species of snake to keep. I’ve always wanted a GTP but even for an experienced herper like myself, I’m still hesitant to get one. I’m not trying to discourage you at all, but that species is expensive to care for, hard to feed at times, and not handle friendly most of the time. They are a very advanced species of snake, and definitely do some research on them.

nathan_e · August 28, 2020, 4:23pm

Welcome to the forum Tracey! Just as others have said I would definitely hold off to get a GTP for reasons already stated. A chameleon could possibly be do able but even then can be challenging for a new owner because they can get easily stressed and are somewhat fragile. I think some good alternatives to a GTP would get rough green snakes or vine snakes or anything that is beginner level. Hope this helps and take care!

t_h_wyman · August 28, 2020, 4:43pm

Welcome.

I will buck convention here a little… How old are you? I ask this because, while I can generally agree that chondros are not great beginner species, that is usually because the “beginner” is a younger person who is acting more in an impulse buy “snakes-are-cool” fashion. I do believe that a more mature individual can successfully keep a chondro as their first animal after they have put in all the preliminary research needed before making a purchase. I would generally say the same of chameleons; not the best for that impulse buy “baby dinosaur” feeling beginner but certainly alright for someone that has put in the time to do their homework before hand
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Also, you said you were interested in an ‘Emerald Green Tree Python’. I feel like you may have lumped the names Emerald Tree Boa and Green Tree Python together and those are two completely different snakes. So as a small clarification, which is it you were interested in? Because I might well change my above answer as I do not believe ETBs are a candidate beginner animals regardless of maturity level.