GTP questions

[Beano05]

What are the problems that makes keeping and breeding the GTP's difficult?. One day I would like to get one and would like to be prepared.

If you have one please post a pic, I think they are stunning.

[spilota_variegata]

I strongly suggest you purchase "The more complete Chondro" by Greg Maxwell before purchasing such a valuable snake. I bought mine from Slothhead (a site sponsor) and it's good reading.

[Jason]

i dont know if saying they are hard to keep is correct, i think they are different to keep but if you know what they need ( as im sure you would before buying one) you'll be fine. yes they can prolapse but it is more rare then it is common, they can kink their tail (which seems to be common from what i have seen) but this can be prevented. as said buy the book, it'll hlp heeps!! like reading a recipe

[SuperSnake]

Well the re-payments are pretty high

[Beano05]

I won't be buying one for the next 5 - 10 years due to the price. what is it that makes them so expensive?

I will buy that book.

[Splitmore]

Originally Posted by Beano05

I won't be buying one for the next 5 - 10 years due to the price. what is it that makes them so expensive?

I will buy that book.

it's still very much supply and demand thats keeping the price high. They are probably the most specialised species of python to keep but they do quite well once established. They are on the way down in price but you won't see them fall too dramatically over the next few years.

[mrmikk]

Like any animal you want to keep in captivity, you should do plenty of research first so the animal is kept in the most stress free manner possible.

As for GTPs, on top of this the big $$$s you are going to pay is another incentive to ensure you know all you can before handing over lots of the hard earned folding stuff.

This GTP is not mine, a pic of one I took at Australia Zoo, I think the pic turned out pretty well, for one taken through glass.

[mysnakesau]

Read the Reptiles Australia edition that was about the chondros. You will see how much trouble Southern Cross had in the beginning before they finally got it right with them. They are obviously very fussy with their conditions and it would be a heart breaking not to mention an expensive loss if you can't get it right.

[NickM]

They are actually quite easy to breed, the trouble is with eggs and neonates. The eggs are very delicate and can be hard to hatch for many people. The babies are also delicate. Kinking and prolapsing are problems casued by the keeper and not inherent problems with the snakes. kinking is virtually always associated with keepers inability to leave them alone. pulling them from a perch when young can damage their delicate taile vertebrea. Also many people still insist on trying to sex juveniles at too small a size and this casues many kinks as well. I have seen and owned several horribly kinked GTPs, the kinking is usually not apparent at the time of the break but manifests itself sometime later and can get worse with age in some cases.

Prolapsing is purely a matter of people overfeeding them, its as simple as that. They are not particularily active anyway and most keepers here feed them far too much and far to often.

Feeding neonates very small meals and at longer intervals eliminates the problem.

Nick

[Beano05]

thats a great photo, no reflection

[Zdogs]

I absolutely adore this snake! Not only for It's colour, but their heads are just awesome, love the way It hangs with It's head resting in the middle of his body, I could sit and watch It all day
But could someone briefly explain what prolapse Is, or a link to an explanation please, I think I'll look into getting that book, even though I know I'll never get to own one, I'll just have to admire It from afar.

[ravensgait]

As Nick and the others here have said they are not that difficult to keep, I've kept a boat load of them over the years and if you provide them with what they need they do just fine.. Get the Book it will answer all your questions and many more that you haven't though of yet. Chonrdo's are more of a have them to look at species, sure some are dog tame the two in this photo can be handled day or night, yet I seldom handle them .

A father and son photo op that got a bit out of hand lol.. Randy

[Jason]

great pic ravensgait!! beautiful animals, you breeding from the male with the blue stripe?

[craftsman]

GTPs are not difficult provided your juveniles come from a good stock with sound reproductive history. The questions I would be asking the breeder are:
How many clutches the female had in the past and how many eggs in the last clutch?
How many good eggs, how many infertile and how many slugs?
What was the hatching rate and neonate survival up to 6 months of age?
Any deformed neonates in the clutch?
The answers not only determine the fitness of the juveniles but it also indicates their future breeding potential. Don't forget - poor reproductive potential is hereditary. If a breeder is not able / willing to provide this information or you don't trust the integrity of the information given to you - walk away!

[Beano05]

Great feedback from everyone, cheers.
keep the pics comming they are stunning!