How to Care for a Pet Green Tree Python

The green tree python is a bright green nonvenomous snake with a diamond-shaped head and irregular scales. Found in the tropical rainforests of New Guinea, eastern Indonesia, and the Cape York Peninsula of Australia, their coloration helps them to remain camouflaged within their environment, as the bright green color helps them remain hidden among the leaves of tall trees in the rainforest.

As pets, these are shy snakes that aren't particularly high-maintenance (with the exception of the required humidity level within their enclosure). Though vibrant and exotic, they will not tolerate being handled often, can be prone to biting when startled, and may not make as good a pet as some other snakes.

Learn all about the green tree python’s temperament, care needs, and more.

Green Tree Python Behavior and Temperament

Snakes like the green tree python prefer to have a place to take cover, so it's important to provide a hiding place in their enclosure. However, you won't want them to have a place where they could hide potentially permanently.

The green tree python is not considered to be a particularly social species of snake. If given the opportunity, they are likely to hide constantly and remain in one place—this could interfere with their ability to thermoregulate properly and potentially lead to illness.

Their shy nature also means they often feel threatened and can be prone to biting. These nonvenomous snakes may have more than 100 teeth, and their bite is painful. They can be socialized over time so they become more docile and receptive to handling on a regular basis.

Housing the Green Tree Python

The green tree python is named for their vibrant green color (although they are generally born red or yellow and then change color as they become adults). They may also have white or yellow vertebral stripes, while some of these snakes have yellow, green, or blue spots. This snake is also known for their prehensile tail, which helps them climb and assists with catching prey. Add branches and live plants to their cage so they’ll be able to blend in with their surroundings as they rest on branches like they would in the wild.

In the wild, the green tree python lives in tropical rainforests with lush vegetation and high humidity, as well as other forests and gardens, where they spend most of their time hiding in the trees.

As a pet, these snakes are relatively easy to care for, but they are not a species that's going to want to be held and handled often. These are exotic display animals that are best for intermediate to advanced snake owners.

Heat

It's important to provide a range of temperatures for your pet snake. Create a basking spot with an over-the-cage heat lamp, ceramic heat emitter, or radiant heat panel, which should be controlled with a thermostat. The temperature in your green tree python's basking area should be 86-88 F.

The cooler side of the cage should hover around 78-80 F. At night, the temperatures can drop to 70-75 F. Avoid going below 70 F at any time.

Light

Unlike many other reptiles, the good news about most snakes, including the green tree python, is that they don't require special lighting. While they don't require full-spectrum lighting, it will enable you to truly see the brilliant colors of the green tree python.

Humidity

The green tree python is a species that requires humidity. Once you have an appropriately sized enclosure, which should have the ability to retain humidity and provide adequate airflow, you have to be sure to keep both the temperatures and the humidity level within the correct ranges.

The green tree python's enclosure should be kept humid (but not wet) in order to prevent both skin and respiratory issues. Use a hygrometer, a device that measures humidity, to ensure that the humidity level in your green tree python’s enclosure is between 40-70%. 

Substrate

Most substrates will be suitable for green tree pythons. While newspaper is the cheapest and probably easiest to obtain, many snake owners opt for a more natural substrate, such as coconut husk. It can hold moisture for several days and help ensure proper cleanliness and hygiene in your snake's enclosure.

Food and Water

In the wild, you might find a green tree python coiled up and hanging horizontally on a branch. They will dangle their tail to lure prey, and then continue to hold on to the branch while they attack and devour their next meal. Better yet, they have heat-sensing pits on their mouth to allow them to sense when a warm-blooded creature is approaching.

Green tree pythons prefer to eat mostly small mammals and other reptiles. In the wild, these snakes eat frogs, birds, lizards, bats, and other vertebrates, especially those found in trees. They will even sometimes leave the trees and feed on ground-dwelling rodents, which is why they can be fed a diet that primarily consists of rats and mice.

Add a water bowl designed for snakes to the enclosure, and keep it filled with fresh, clean water.

As juveniles, these snakes are diurnal, which means they'll be more active and hunt their prey during the day. But as they become adults, the green tree python will become nocturnal and their hunting and other activity will primarily occur in the overnight hours.

Common Health Problems

Some health issues, such as dry skin, respiratory issues, and an inability to shed, can stem from improper humidity levels. Therefore, carefully maintain the right temperatures and humidity levels during the day and at night.

As long as you properly care for your green tree python, you can expect them to live into their mid-teens or even early 20s. Though they are considered a bit more fragile than other popular pet snake species, such as boas, ball pythons, kingsnakes, or corn snakes, if their care requirements are met, they generally live a long, healthy life.

Choosing your Green Tree Python

When purchasing a green tree python, be sure you're working with a breeder in order to avoid ending up with a snake with health issues such as parasites or other conditions. Keep in mind that this is definitely not a snake that's meant for inexperienced keepers.

Other Species of Snakes

If you’d like to discover other pet snake species, you can start with these:

• Reticulated Python
• Corn Snake
• Boa Constrictor
• Red Tail Boa
• Burmese Python

You also can check out all of our other snake species articles.