GTP or ETB?

[mpgt]

The ARU looks like Stargazer's avatar.

[Texas Rattlesnake]

Originally Posted by ssjsmits

The color variations in Chondros are unreal.

Yes, but they all turn green eventually. Even the blue ones, mite phase, etc. At some point, even if it takes many years, they turn green. And the green they turn, isn't as pretty as an Emerald. As a general rule, they are not as slow-moving and laid back as Emeralds.

Of course, what you decide on (or anyone decides on) boils down to personal preference. We'd like to own a GTP one day too.

	Green Tree Python

[campbellexotics]

Originally Posted by Texas Rattlesnake

Yes, but they all turn green eventually. Even the blue ones, mite phase, etc. At some point, even if it takes many years, they turn green. And the green they turn, isn't as pretty as an Emerald. As a general rule, they are not as slow-moving and laid back as Emeralds.

Of course, what you decide on (or anyone decides on) boils down to personal preference. We'd like to own a GTP one day too.

I definitely disagree! The blue Aru that i posted is 7 years old and the blue isnt fading at all. We had a biak yellow that stayed vibrant and didnt turn green until the day it died. Its true MOST GTP's eventually turn green but not ALL of them.

	Green Tree Python

[mpgt]

Well I waited too long and he sold it to someone else. Just as well I guess.

[ReptileMan27]

Holy crap, that blue on is amazing.

[campbellexotics]

Originally Posted by mpgt

Well I waited too long and he sold it to someone else. Just as well I guess.

too bad. go check out http://www.kingsnake.com
and hit up the classifieds. you can usually find some good ones on there

[froglegs]

ETB's are kida creepy looking I think!! lol! Now GTP's are definitly awesome looking snakes! No where near as creepy looking!! :laugh:

	Green Tree Python

	Emerald Tree Boa

[CraigC]

Originally Posted by razeraze

I am a huge fan of ETB. If they were not $600+ I would have one.

That is an interesting statement. Let's look at things in retrospect. You can get an emerald much cheaper, maybe. They come as "fresh" imports. The word "fresh" being figurative. Most spend a lot of time in bags with several others, for who knows how long, before being delivered to the exporters facility. No food, no WATER. Water being a key necessity to avoid dehydration, which is probably the key reason a large number of them do not survive once they get here. Kidney damage isn't repairable. Then they are kept in communal cages at the exporters facility waiting for an order to come in. Use your imagination about the conditions in these cages. There is a theory among many corallus enthusiasts that being in close proximity to birds at the exporters facility, exposes them to what is thought to be the pathogen (this is not proven, as no real, documented research has been done) that is responsible for ERS (emerald regurgitation syndrome).

It is my understanding, the country of export issues quotas to each exporter for the year. Once these quotas are filled, that is it. What do you think they do with the excess, left over after the quotas are filled? Yup, the first quotas for the next year are started with the "left over" animals. Imagine what shape these emeralds are in.

Once landed, local dealers generally are allowed to come look at the shipment and hand pick from what is available. Dealers else where don't have that luxury and must settle for what the importer sends them, IMO. Now these emeralds are offered up for sale. I have no way of knowing what treatment these emeralds get or don't get before you see them advertised for sale. Usually in the $250.00 to $400.00 range for individuals. My guess is that if they are treated for internal parasites it is a "shot gun" treatment with panacur and flagyl. I'm basing this on my personal experience with imports. Before I really learned my lesson with imports, I had a survival record of 3 out of 14, with most lasting up to 18 months before dying. I don't want to think about the money I spent on vet bills, not to mention the original cost of the animal. I knew the risk going in and accepted it. Those low prices were very tempting, but in the long run, the expenditure per animal exceeded what the cost per animal, on average, would have been if I went with CBB instead. LOL, I almost forgot a pet peeve. I see a lot of WC emeralds advertised as LTC. A few years ago, folks at corallus.com tried to put together a registry of animals from CBB breeders. It kind of went by the wayside when the forums were shut down. One of the things we did decide though, was a definition of LTC based on our experiences. To me and several others, LTC, in corallus terms, is a minimum of 2 years with out problems. So, someone advertising WC emeralds as LTC after 6 months is laughable to me.

Why $350.00, $400.00, $600.00 or more for CBB emeralds? Well to begin with, breeding emeralds is a long term commitment. On average, F2 offspring require a minimum of 5-6 years for the parents to sexually mature, with no guarantee that you will have successful breedings. There are no short cuts. Emeralds don't usually drop double digit numbers and if they do it is usually less than 20. Once you assess the cost of care, the time commitment and the success rate, you come away with a more enlightened idea of why prices are what they are. Also pattern, sex and bloodlines figure into the over all pricing. LOL, if I were doing this for money, I'd be in deep kimchee. I'll be happy if I see the day my passion pays for itself.

I saw that someone said they wouldn't pay more than $175.00 for an animal because there are so many needing homes. Look at the classifieds for CBB emeralds, (not dealers selling WC or "farmed" imports), you won't see many available. Most breeders will screen their buyers to determine that they have the knowledge and ability to care for an emerald before they will sell to someone. They will also offer "after the sale support". Personally, I have no problem keeping offspring if I can't find suitable buyers.

Craig

	Wild Caught Wild Caught

	IMO In My Opinion

[mpgt]

Very interesting Craig, thanks. One more important factor for me, is the "safety factor" if you buy from a reputable breeder. Once you have a few snakes in your collection, you don't need to take chances contagious disease. That's the thing that scares me.

[razeraze]

Craig you seem to not understand. I could buy a emerald or adopt a red tail, I would adopt before I would contribute to breeders. I understand some people are bent on a specific snake or specific morph, I am not one of those people. I am bent on helping a reptile out that needs a home, not satisfying my selfish needs to get a "pretty" snake. I love water monitors, and do not care for black throats or savs; yet I own a black throat and sav because they were up for adoption near by. I bought a red tail 6 years ago from a pet store and a tiger retic from Baldogo last year because the price was as much as an adoption fee ($100) And he had the snake on hand, I did not have to drive to Michigan (the only place with retics, and burms up for adoption) to pick it up.

Sorry but until I stop seeing reptiles up for adoption I probably will not buy another one and I sure as heck would not buy one over $175.00.