Amazon Tree Boa?

[BPBabe448]

Hi. I have read up a little on these, but I still have a lot of research to do, but I just have some questions. My mom has had a Uro, BP, CG, LG, and a RTB. She really wants a ATB. I know they aren't the most docile snakes, but I heard they were more docile and easier to care for than the GTP and ETB. Is that true? And I was also wondering, do you guys hold yours ever? And I was wondering if there were any ATB's that are green? Because she really likes the ETB's because they are so pretty and she likes their color, but she wants something easier to care for and a little more docile. I want to get one for her in like november. But do you think she can care for one? Thanks

[CraigC]

Hey,
The biggest part of keeping arboreals,IMO, is getting the set-up right. This is where I personally think the cart should come before the horse. Get your caging well before the snake and get used to keeping the humidity, temps and air circulation correct for the species. Get the appropriate perching for the species and size you choose, in place. I think most folks bad experiences with arboreals stem from trying to get the set up right after the snake has been purchased. A secondary problem is the animal itself as to whether its is cb, ch, cbb or wc. Too many times the most attractive prices end up being for the most troublesome animals. Well established, cbb animals are worth their weight in gold.

I will not make a recommendation as to what species of the three you mentioned are the best to start with as I am biased. However, I think the info you have on ETB temperment is not accurate as a general rule.

As far as handling, yes we do. But, not on a daily basis and not for extended periods.


http://www.gemsoftherainforest.com/BP1033/9-26-04d.JPG

CraigC

[BPBabe448]

So, you think I should get her an ETB? She really wants one of those, but I was told they were very very nippy and hard to care for.

P.S. Are you by any chance CClark on a few forums? Sorry if you are not.

[CraigC]

P.S. Are you by any chance CClark on a few forums? Sorry if you are not.

LOL, I don't think I go to any forums anymore where I used that, but yes that is me. I also go by Dogboa. You aren't Camelita are you?

My answering you about getting her an ETB as a first arboreal may cause a debate. That's why I answered as I did.

CraigC

[BPBabe448]

No I'm not Carm. I'm BoaBabe, from repticzone. Dunno if you remember me though.

Okedoke.

Do you have an ATB? If so, wich one is more handable? a ETB or Atb?

Thanks,
BPbabe

[CraigC]

Yes, I remember you. I don't think I posted anything on that forum since October.

Sorry, I'm a one trick pony and only keep ETBs. I'll let others write about handling ATBs or GTPs since I can't attest to their temperment first hand.

CraigC

[BoaMan Jon]

I've handled several arboreal boid species and to me the ATB gets the "Most Bitey" award. I've seen racks of ATBs, and when opened they just go nuts. Rapid fire biting out of the bins. I like what Craig has to offer. Most will tell you to crawl before you walk and get an ATB; it's the poor man's Emerald, but if you have the confidence in your husbandry, I don't think you'd kill an ETB or GTP if it's your first arboreal. Heck, my ex's first snake was a BRB and most say that's a terrible first, but it was her first, not mine. I taught her right and that snake thrives to this day. That being said, it would also really suck to lose a $400+ animal due to improper husbandry. It's up to you. If you can master its cage I don't see why your first arboreal couldn't be green.

[Schlyne]

I've also heard that carpet pythons can be a good starter to the arboreal species. ATB's can be really nippy, from what I've heard. Carpets also have that rep, but they seem to be nippy as babies and then settle down (I'm generalizing). I am still waiting for my baby IJCP to nail me, but she hasn't yet. She's hissed at me a bit though.

If you're really interested in chondros, the Complete Chondro is a great read.

[chondrogal]

Like Craig, I am also biased but have a pretty fair amount of experience with GTP's and can speak for the good nature of at least one pair of Basins from personal experience.

I have several GTP's that are dog tame night or day, I clean enclosures during the day and don't have any that strike at me during regular cleaning/maint. During the evening hours, they wake up and cruise around their enclosures enjoying life and looking for food.

I like the size of the gtp's and the variety of colors they come in.. and their faces... and the caudal tail luring!!

A couple of the things I like about the Basins are the way they "feel" in your hands... they are much more "hard bodied" and inquisitive in my limited experience. The greens on them can be real cool with striking white contrast. My pair were already adults when I acquired them and have been very gentle and easy to handle.

I like the size of the ATB's an awful lot too and have seen some incredible ones lately online! I can see how some people would absolutely fall in love with these exquisite tree snakes!

I also agree, no matter the species providing the proper husbandry and enclosure will assure you success with whichever one you decide on. Then... there is NO rule that says after you get one kind of snake... you can't get another one later on!! :smt016

[JonT]

I'm with Schlyne on this one...I'd start with a carpet for a "semi" arboreal...ATB's are nice but not what I would consider a hands on animal...same for etb's and gtp's ...better to look and touch only when needed....if you want something that you can take out and handle freely a carpet is the way to go....perching though in carpets seems to be a snake specific trait...some do it all the time others not at all...

[Beardo]

ATBs get a bad rep in my opinion. A snake's "personality" depends on both the individual snake and how you interact with the snake. I have 2 adult ATBs and I have had several babies in the past.....none of which were aggressive. I have only been bitten once! If you get a CBB ATB and handle it often as it matures, you will likely have an beautiful animal you can handle without problems. My adult male is as docile as any snake I've ever owned.

[LdyDrgn]

We have a completely docile male ATB. When we had his sibling (also calm as can be) I could put both of them around my neck and do whatever without fear of ever being bitten.

We also have two ETB's, one from a Danny Mendez line, she has eaten only once in the 2 months we have had her. She is not handleable, she has the 'typical' ETB behavior of rubbing your skin with her nose in order to determine exactly where to bite, LOL. We also have a male produced by CraigC. He is the calmest ETB we have ever encountered. He will only eat when it suits him. He must be fully awake and hunting, can't wake him to feed him, he shies away. We had a LTC last year that had ERS and died on us. Never get a WC Emerald...

ATB's and carpets don't have that problem. You can feed them pretty much anytime of day and they won't refuse unless something is REALLY wrong. They are much more tolerant of husbandry mistakes, too.

This is based only on our own experience having worked with all three. I can't tell you anything about GTP's though since we haven't acquired any.... yet! ;)

[BPBabe448]

Oh, Ok. I think we can handle any of those husbandry requirements, for any of those snakes. I'm more concerned about her wanting to handle it a ton and stuff like that then the husbandry. And also..the price. I would get it at a herp show..but what is the cheapest? I am on a really tight budget. She said a carpet python would be fine as long as it will climb. How much do ETB's, ATB's, and Carpets cost? Thanks. :smt024

[The Cleaner]

Before pricing an animal you must consider one VERY important thing.......know who you are buying from! Getting emeralds, amazons, or GTP's can be very tricky at shows because you don't know any history behind the animal most of the time. Buying from a reputable breeder or dealer is much safer and will be less of a hassle in the future, I guarantee it! What kind of budget do you have for any of the arboreal animals?

[BPBabe448]

Do you mean like buying just the animal or setting up the cage and everything?

Well...probably 400$ all aroud like including the setup and everything.

[The Cleaner]

Well $400.00 is pretty close on the emmy and GTP and way overkill on the amazon. Caging for any can be made inexpensive by smart shopping $30.00 for any will due. Now you just need to find someone with a nice c.b. chondro or Emmy that has a good reputation. Cathy......anyone you know of that is selling good GTP's for $300.00 - $350.00? Noe Perez just had a litter of emeralds born. Check out his site at noahsboas.com for contact info! Maybe Kev and Kara have a nice GTP in your pricerange....guys? :smt004

[BPBabe448]

I dunno she really really really likes those little itty bitty GTP's, but she would want to handle it atleast like once a month. How are their tempermants? And how do they compare in care to the ATB's and ETB's (harder, easier, etc.)

[The Cleaner]

Getting the right 'local' of green tree will help with a lot of things. Biaks are pretty nippy and usually stay that way. Aru's are very docile but are sometimes hard to get going feedingwise in the begining. Sorongs are usually good for both feeding and handling. Wamenas are voracious feeders and are usually pretty tame. The great thing about GTP's is that when they are babies if they do bite it is like nothing, kind of like a rat snake bite, so taming them down is a piece of cake.

What state are you in?

[BPBabe448]

So out of all of those wich would be the least inexpensive, yet handleable? The ones she saw at a herp show last year that she really liked were just labled as Green Tree Pythons, so I dont know the local, but while they were curled around the tree, if you lay your finger across them it would probably be longer than the space they took up. They were yellow with a little bit of red coloring.

[The Cleaner]

I would contact Kevin Mc Curley and ask him to see what he has in stock. Most green trees that are your basic locals should be all pretty much in the same price range for farmed babies (c.b.b. in Indonesia) and that is around $300.00 - $400.00.

[chondrogal]

Right now there are a lot of people sititng on eggs and have breedings currently going with the gtps. In just a couple more months I expect we'll be seeing a lot more babies becoming. Gary Schiavino might still have some nice babies in . Find out what kind Kev has and his prices, if I remember they were quite reasonable in Daytona.

Once a month is not too often to handle the snakes, of any species imho. I like the idea of checking them out closely on a regular basis anyways just to make sure all is still well.

I would stay away from the biak types for sure, and look for an aru or mainland type if you decide to go with gtp. I am personally biased toward the arus... in addition to my "designer" gtps, I hope to raise arus as an "entry" level gtp. I think they have it all, beauty, disposition and ease of care and readily available as cbb babies.