How handleable is the GTP species?

[stkkts]

Are they good handelin' snakes? Are some from one locale more handleable than others? Or is it kinda luck of the draw if you get one that has a good temperment.

[reverendsterlin]

basically a display animal, I would believe more from being easily stressed than temperment. A stressed animal can quickly begin refusing meals.

[Julian Garcia]

Right now i only have 1 chondro that i can not handle and it is a baby that i am sure will calm down once it gets older.

I would not reccomend handling them much as they don't seem to mind short handling sessions, it's stressful for the animal. As a rule of thumb these animals are a hands off species.

One thing I have noticed about chondros that sets them appart from most species is there ability to calm down on their own with out handling. I take my chondros out about once a month, if that and they are all kitten calm. I also belive temperment can be a inheritable trait.

However like all animals there is a broad spectrum to their temperment. And nasty chondro's usualy for the most part always remain nasty. My advice if your looking for a chondro with a calm temperment, is to purchace a calm yearling.

Also I would not look at chondros from a locality perspective. I highly reccomend you read this (if you have not so already)

http://www.chondroweb.com/fineGTPs/Editorials.html#TheLocalityDebate

[Clownfishie]

GTPs are display animals, they're not the kind of snake that you take out and handle every day -- especially when they're babies, you should handle them as little as possible because they have very delicate spines. As adults they can be handles a bit more regularly, but they should still be considered to be a display animal...
Some chondros are better natured than others (as with all snakes). Definitely read that article by Greg Maxwell on localities... however, as a general rule, Aru's tend to be fairly calm (for a chondro), and Biaks tend to be among the more aggressive chondros...

[TheRedDragon]

It really varies from snake to snake. Some are quite mean tempered, whereas others are completely fine to handle. I've managed to hold one specific GTP owned by a breeder I know, and it's the only handlable one out of the four or five that he has. So, you could luck out and get one with a friendly disposition.

[Sonyr]

Everybody here has given valid statements. I just want to add oen thing. Please do not handle neo's or juvies if it isnt necessary. the adults though, I do handle all of mine. I've had a few nippy ones, but in time, all of the nippiness went away. I don't play with them or anything like that, but I clean cages every day and try to take pics alot, and so I kind of have to. But they are display animals....