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[NCHERPS]

Originally Posted by Jones of the Jungle

Just wondering if anyone has a Green tree Python, and if you could share your knowledge and experiences with me.
my husband and i have had our sights set on buying a pair in a couple of years time, but we have just been told of how different they are to other pythons. We were told they are only an ornamently snake and can't be handled due to how fragile they are. For example when we want to get our current pythons out and they are wrapped around a branch, we just gentle unwrap them, but apparently if you were to do this to a Green Tree Python, you break their tail!? Also their scales are so fine, that you can't even tell if they have incomplete shed left on them. This info shocked and disappointed us, since we have always dreamt of owning one, but we don't want a pet that can't be handled. If anyone owns one and handles it regularly please let me know so I can convince my husband to still get some.
Thankyou for your time.

I have kept them in the past and know plenty that keep them now.
Most people don't handle them much at all, but I know a few that handle there young ones regularly with no problems.
Older animals feel more robust and can be coaxed off there perches easier than the young ones so can be easier in some respects.
I believe they do have thinner skin than some other pythons, and can bruise easier IMO, but gentle handling won't cause this.
You can tell if they have a peice of shed skin left on the snake, just like any other snake.
There has been reports of people pulling them off there perches, rather than unwinding there tails, this has caused kinks on occasion, this is more common than being probed an early age.

All that said, handling some snakes will cause stress as you are aware, so not all are good candidates for handling, some just look nice and can be admired from a distance with little handling at all, apart from cleaning etc, and this may be best for them.

Cheers Neil