Tree Boids?

[Arboreal]

Hi guys! I haven't posted as much as I'd like t on this forum, so I decided to become a little more active! I have a a couple questions if you don't mind! :) I have never had a snake (taken care of them before), and I only have room for one. I do not want to get a ball python or a corn snake and not be happy with it, so I decided to get the snake I wanted initially (within reason). I am torn between three species of snakes, and I would like some guidance. I am stuck between choosing these snakes. Emerald Tree Boa, Green Tree Python and Amazon Tree Boas. From what I have read Emeralds tend to be more expensive, largest, but arguable most "docile". Green tree pythons are more expensive, smaller, and docile, but the price turns me off (I have a 600 budget for the snake and supplies which doesn't include vet bills), and finally the ATB which is least expensive (if i make a husbandry mistake, god forbid something happens it won't be a heavy financial loss), nice size, but least "docile". Is this true? Can an ATB be "tamed down", or is the aggression a misconception as it was with GTP and ETBs? I personally think ATBs have a lot going for them,I love the yellow phase! GTP's are a favorite too! I think ETB's look a little "bland", but that doesn't mean they aren't drop dead gorgeous! So, which of the three would make the best captive? Thanks for the help!

[Corey209]

If you can afford a GTP, they're easily the best looking out of the three. I don't care for the ETB head so if you're looking for cheaper I'd go with an ATB. They can be tamed out from a young age, they're not all chainsaws.

I know a guy who just got a litter of ATB's with a lot of red/yellows. PM me if you want his info.

[Mikoh4792]

Personally if I had to choose between one of them it would be between an emerald tree boa and green tree python. I like the head of a ETB, looks like lamborghini.

[poison123]

ETB all the way!

[Arboreal]

Okay I ruled out the ETB because of the price, and I personally don't like the head LOL. I think the ATB or GTP would be more for me. So ATB or GTP? I'm setting up a nice naturalistic terrarium, so I'm leaning more toward ATB, so I can spend more on a terrarium. :)

[poison123]

Yeah I would go with an atb.

[Mikoh4792]

Okay I ruled out the ETB because of the price, and I personally don't like the head LOL. I think the ATB or GTP would be more for me. So ATB or GTP? I'm setting up a nice naturalistic terrarium, so I'm leaning more toward ATB, so I can spend more on a terrarium. :)

It's your choice, but if you are letting money be the deciding factor, you may end up doing what you did not want to in the first place(when you said you will buy something you really want instead of getting a snake and end up not liking it).

If I were you I would give it a longer thought, decide what I want and save up enough money to buy what you like/need in the end. Afterall, this will be a long term pet.

How old are you btw?

[Arboreal]

I will give this long, hard thought, but just to be clear, money isn't a deciding factor. It is more of a "guideline". ;) If i needed to go off budget for the animal's sake, I would. That being said, I think an ATB would be my best bet. It is more "forgiving", in terms of husbandry, can be "tamed" down (however, I do like their attitudes!), and comes in a dazzling array of colors. With leftover monies, I would be able to buy/build a much larger terrarium, with more to offer in terms of husbandry for the snake.
How old are you btw?

I am 18 young ;)

[Mikoh4792]

I will give this long, hard thought, but just to be clear, money isn't a deciding factor. It is more of a "guideline". ;) If i needed to go off budget for the animal's sake, I would. That being said, I think an ATB would be my best bet. It is more "forgiving", in terms of husbandry, can be "tamed" down (however, I do like their attitudes!), and comes in a dazzling array of colors. With leftover monies, I would be able to buy/build a much larger terrarium, with more to offer in terms of husbandry for the snake.


I am 18 young ;)

What do you mean by tamed down? Because green tree pythons and emerald tree boas can be tamed down just as well. If anything, I heard ATB's are the hardest to tame down.

But I understand where you are coming from. Pay less for the snake, and more for the husbandry to take care of it.

[poison123]

What do you mean by tamed down? Because green tree pythons and emerald tree boas can be tamed down just as well. If anything, I heard ATB's are the hardest to tame down.

But I understand where you are coming from. Pay less for the snake, and more for the husbandry to take care of it.

From talking to the breeders on this forum, they say that atb's tame down just as easy an a corn snake if handled from a baby.

[smy_749]

I wouldn't say any of the arboreal species tame down to the level of a corn. They will always feel uncomfortable off their perches to some degree. And don't usually get a vicious corn who won't calm down, but you may end up with a ATB that never does, even with regular handling. They just don't enjoy it

[Mikoh4792]

From talking to the breeders on this forum, they say that atb's tame down just as easy an a corn snake if handled from a baby.

same thing could be said for gtp's or etb's. Look at cutegayjasons videos on youtube. All his green tree pythons and emerald tree boas are "tame". And by all I mean he has a lot of them.

[Arboreal]

It's more of a display animal. I will not be taking it out casually like a corn. I would like it to be "tame" enough for me to easily spot clean etc. Also, I do like to occasionally handle my pets, so maybe every once in a while I could take it out of it's cage for a "crawl". I will be "bottling" the snake. If you don't know what I mean, watch a couple "ViperKeeper" videos, and you will see him squeeze water droplets near the snakes mouth for them to drink. This assures the animal is drinking, and helps the animal understand you aren't a threat. (I will still mist the cage daily/have a water dish). That is why I'd like my animal to at least tolerate gentle handling/interaction. :)

[Mikoh4792]

I will be "bottling" the snake. If you don't know what I mean, watch a couple "ViperKeeper" videos, and you will see him squeeze water droplets near the snakes mouth for them to drink. )

I've always thought about trying this with some of my snakes but I always forget.

[Arboreal]

You should try it on some of your more aggressive snakes and tell me how it turns out, but also have a water dish as well in case you forget! ;)

[Mikoh4792]

You should try it on some of your more aggressive snakes and tell me how it turns out, but also have a water dish as well in case you forget! ;)

Why on my aggressive snakes? I just want to my snakes drink like that. I only have one aggressive snake which is a cali king. I doubt he would drink from that, but I think my carpets might since they always lap up the water I mist on them.

[Arboreal]

I want to see if any of the aggressive snakes become less aggressive from drinking from a bottle. I think that they would. I didn't say not to do it on all your snakes! :)

[rmfsnakes32]

I have a ATB that I've had a year and she hates being handled she is a chainsaw
Be forewarned they have long teeth

[continuum13]

Not sure if this applies but I have an ETB and it's easy to handle and do maintenance on the cage during daylight hours, but after the sun goes down... watch out! I usually wake it up and guide it off it's perch and it handles well and crawls around like anything else. At night I can't get within 8" or so without a snap or lunge or at least inquisitive nervous head movement, especially a few days after a feeding.

[Arboreal]

:eek:...no snake handling for me after the daylight fades....LOL ;)

[Will0W783]

I've personally owned all three species that you are considering, and I can offer some advice from what I've learned. ATBs are the hardiest of the bunch- they will not tolerate much in the way of improper care, but they will handle heat/humidity lapses better than an ETB or GTP.
I have found ETBs to fare better for me than GTPs did. A lot of people say the opposite is true, but I had a lot of trouble with GTPs, despite following Greg Maxwell's book's advice and researching extensively before getting one.
My ETBs were puppy dogs- they were laid-back, very friendly, completely handleable snakes. ETBs have the longest teeth of any non-venomous snake though, so rest assured that a bite will HURT. My veterinarian has nerve damage in his hand from an ETB bite that punctured into his tendons and nerves. ATB teeth are somewhat smaller, but the entire snake is smaller overall.
My GTP males were docile too; the female was snappy, but fine once you got her out of the cage. GTP teeth are nothing to sneeze at either, but they are smaller than ETB or ATB teeth.

Personally, I would wait until you are absolutely sure of which species YOU want. In the end, it doesn't matter what other people's opinions are, as this will be YOUR snake. However, make sure that you are prepared for the hard work, vigilance and care level required to keep any one of these three species. None are easy.

[Arboreal]

Thank you very much. The goal of this thread was to find which was the hardiest snake, not if someone preferred one over the other ;) I think ATB would be my best bet, but a GTP was always my dream snake. I still have a couple months before I get the animal, so i'll purchase the "More Complete Chondro", and a couple other books, and wait it out and see. ;)

[lady_bug87]

No arboreal is truly hearty what ever you get I suggest a well established yearling. The reason being that the more established the more forgiving they tend to be.

good luck

[desipooh.12]

GTP is a must :)

[charlesc84]

ATB's are awesome. I've never owned one but I would love to. It's something unique that not a lot of people have. Plus, you can get a pair of Amazons that look amazing and different from each other for the price of one Green Tree.