Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Green Tree Python Care Guide
Morelia viridis
Green tree pythons are medium-sized, nonvenomous constrictor snakes that are native to the tropics of southeast Asia. They are naturally found in northern Australia, New Guinea, and the surrounding islands. They are a crepuscular species, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk (though juveniles are more active throughout the day time), and are predominately arboreal (living in the trees). They are well-known for their exceptional beauty and striking green coloration, with some morphs appearing aquamarine or yellow. Notably, juveniles are very different in coloration than they will be as adults (this is known as ontogenetic color change). Male pythons grow to a length of 3-4 feet, while females usually average about 4-6 feet long. Their lifespan in captivity typically ranges from 15-20 years.
Enclosure
The length of the enclosure should allow the snake to stretch out to its full length. The enclosure’s width should be about half of the snake’s length. Vertical height is also important for this species. For a full-grown adult, the enclosure should measure at a minimum 3’ L x 2’W x 2’H. Green tree pythons are arboreal, and require tall enclosures with several sturdy branches or shelves available for climbing and perching. Other furnishings to reduce stress, provide security and enrichment may include vines, cork bark flats or rounds, live or artificial plants and hollow logs. Green tree pythons are incredibly active animals, so having more opportunities to explore and engage with their environment will promote long-term wellbeing. The larger the enclosure, the better for your pet! Green tree pythons are not social and solitary housing is recommended.
Substrate
Green tree pythons live in tropical forest environments, and do best with tropical soil mixes. These usually comprise 40% plain topsoil, 40% coconut fiber, and 20% play sand. Other options include cypress mulch or Reptichip. Adding a layer of leaf litter can also help maintain humid conditions and can act as enrichment for your snake. A substrate depth of 2-4 inches is recommended. Frequent scooping of urates and feces as well as replacement of the substrate every 3-4 months will ensure that your snake’s enclosure remains sanitary.
Humidity
Tropical snake species like green tree pythons require high humidity levels in their enclosure. Ideally, humidity should be maintained at 40-70%. Hand misting or use of an automatic misting system (such as MistKing or similar) 2-3 times daily can help to maintain humidity. Fluctuations in humidity are common in the green tree python’s natural habitat, so it is recommended to allow the enclosure to dry out to 40% humidity between misting. Purchasing a few digital hygrometers and placing them in different locations within your enclosure can help you monitor humidity levels easily. Because their enclosures will be very humid, providing excellent ventilation and a drainage layer beneath the substrate will be essential to prevent the substrate from becoming oversaturated with water.
Temperatures
Reptiles require specific temperature ranges to remain happy and healthy. Green tree pythons prefer a temperature range within their enclosures, with one side being warmer and the other being cooler. The warm side of the enclosure should be maintained at 80-86F. The cooler side should be kept at 70-80F. Nighttime temperatures should range from 68-72F. Ensure that all heat bulbs are kept at a safe distance (ideally mounted outside of the enclosure) and that bulb cages are in place to prevent any burn injuries on your snake. Thermostats are highly recommended. Infrared temperature gun devices are a cost-effective, accurate way to measure the temperature within the enclosure.
Lighting
Although green tree pythons do not strictly require UVB lighting for survival, provision of UVB lighting for 12 hours during daylight hours is still beneficial and recommended for them. Green tree pythons can be provided with either a 5.0 or 10.0 UVB bulb, depending on the enclosure setup. When placing the bulb, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended distance guidelines to provide appropriate UVB exposure. UVB lighting should be installed over the warmer/basking side of the enclosure and placed in a reflective fixture. We recommend using Arcadia or Zoo Med products. A Solarmeter device may be used to measure the UV index within the basking area, which should ideally range from 2.0–3.0. Additional lighting is also recommended to replicate bright, natural daylight. Large, strong LED grow lights can be used for this purpose.
Diet/Feeding
Like all snakes, green tree pythons are strict carnivores. They consume whole prey, which provides them with complete nutrition they need to thrive and remain healthy. Prey items should be 5-15% of your snake’s weight, which you can determine using a kitchen scale that measures in grams. Snakes fed larger items will need longer intervals between their next feeding in order for them to fully digest their meal. In general, hatchlings and juveniles can be fed every 1-2 weeks, and adults can be fed every 2-4 weeks. Providing a balanced diet with a variety of prey items is the best option for life-long health and wellness. Appropriate prey items include: mice, African soft-furred rats, domestic rats, hamsters, gerbils, quail, chicks, or Reptilinks. Frozen-thawed prey is preferred over life prey, as this is the safer, more humane option. Your snake should always have access to a clean bowl of water, which should be cleaned and refilled every day.
Handling
Green tree pythons have a reputation for being skittish, sometimes aggressive animals. Regular, gentle handling of your green tree python can prevent adverse behaviors such as striking or biting. Captive bred snakes also adjust to handling better than wild caught individuals and make better pets overall. Once your snake is settled into their new home, 5 minutes of handling once every few days is a good way to start socializing your snake. As time goes on, more frequent handling sessions that last up to 15 minutes can improve your snake’s tolerance towards your presence. Green tree pythons like to wrap around branches for stability, and when handled will usually curl around their handler’s arms. This is usually safe, but do not allow the snake to wrap itself around your neck. Children should not be allowed to handle snakes without supervision. Always wash your hands well both before and after handling your snake.
Wellness / Preventive Care
An annual wellness examination and fecal screening for parasites is recommended for all reptiles. A minimum quarantine period of 3 months (with 6 months ideal) is recommended for all new snakes.
