Green tree python – Jayapura (Morelia viridis)

Short answers

Green tree python – Jayapura: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 135×90×200 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, diamond and amethystine pythons up to 2 m, tree pythons — this species lives in the branches, so height matters more than floor area).

Green tree python – Jayapura: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–31 °C, basking spot 32 °C, at night 22–25 °C.

Green tree python – Jayapura: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0).

Green tree python – Jayapura: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years.

Green tree python – Jayapura: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–31 °C

Night temperature

22–25 °C

Basking spot

32 °C

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 135×90×200 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, diamond and amethystine pythons up to 2 m, tree pythons — this species lives in the branches, so height matters more than floor area)

Substrate

Coco humus and bark mulch, horizontal resting branches at several heights, a water dish

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice of a suitable size

Feeding interval

every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

120–180 cm

Life expectancy

15–20 years

Origin

Northern New Guinea (the Jayapura region)

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Snakes are solitary and do not seek company — a shared hide is competition for the best spot, not social behaviour. The concrete reason is the feeding accident: if two animals grab the same food item, one can swallow the other along with it. On top of that, once they are kept together you can no longer tell which animal has eaten and which is losing weight. For breeding, put them together under supervision and separate them again afterwards.

Notes

A local form usually with a continuous blue dorsal stripe and a strong green. Like all chondros: horizontal perching branches at various heights and stable humidity are decisive; keep handling to a minimum.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Centralian carpet python (Morelia bredli) – Intermediate
• Darwin carpet python (Morelia spilota variegata) – Beginner
• Green tree python – Aru (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate
• Green tree python – Biak (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate
• Green tree python – Lereh (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate
• Green tree python – Merauke (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate
• Green tree python – Sorong (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate
• Green tree python (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Green tree python – Jayapura (Morelia viridis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 135×90×200 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, diamond and amethystine pythons up to 2 m, tree pythons — this species lives in the branches, so height matters more than floor area)), substrate (Coco humus and bark mulch, horizontal resting branches at several heights, a water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.