How to Breed a Green Tree Snake
Green tree python snakes are green snakes that prefer to live in trees in the wild. They adapt well to cage living when you provide a mock tree for them to climb. The breeding process takes several months, and can be a profitable venture if done correctly.
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Things You'll Need
- Thermometer
- Cage heater (optional)
- Small fan (optional)
- Snake food
- Nest box
- Egg incubator
- 10 to 30 small plastic tubs
- Chopped pinky mice
Instructions
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Drop the nighttime temperature of the female's cage gradually to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also lower the male's cage to this temperature to prepare him for the transition to the female's cage. Keep the daytime temperature at 84 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Maintain this temperature cycle for three weeks. If you have difficulty getting the nighttime temperature that low, try placing the cages right next to an air conditioner vent or near an open window at night.
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Place the male snake in the female's cage. It is important for the female to remain in her own cage for a greater breeding success rate.
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Wait for copulating to begin. Usually the snakes will start the first night, but some snakes take longer to get started. The snakes will continue to breed for several days at a time. The snakes will take a break every few days, but will start to breed again soon after. Leave the male snake in the female's cage for several weeks.
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Keep the female well fed during the breeding process. During breeding, the female will continue to eat, but the male will refuse food.
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Remove the male snake back to his cage when he looses interest in the female. This will take about six weeks. If the female starts to refuse food, then you know that the breeding was successful and she will soon lay eggs.
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Return temperatures to continual 84 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit even at night, once the female ovulates. This should be about four to six weeks after she refuses food.
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Place a nest box inside the female's cage for the female to lay her eggs in about 30 days after ovulation. The female should lay the eggs about 40 days after ovulation.
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Place the eggs in an incubator. Incubate the eggs at an even 87 to 88 degrees for 50 days. At this point, the eggs will hatch. Place the baby snakes in individual plastic containers and start to feed them chopped pinky mice.
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Tips & Warnings
Wait until female is 2 to 3 years old. Female tree snakes will not reach maturity before this point, and it is futile to breed a snake before it will lay any eggs.
References
- Photo Credit green tree python image by Timothy Lubcke from Fotolia.com
