Green Tree Python What Goes in the Cage Information

Generally speaking the choices about what to put in your cage are very personal and based on what you think is pretty. There are a few things that every cage needs but almost anything can be placed in a cage if you have taken the time to think it through and make sure the item is safe for the animal. It is OK to have some fun with this - from Lego to Geodes the only limit to what your cage can look like is your own imagination.

Substrate

We use paper liners as substrate for all of our Green Tree Pythons. Newspaper is acceptable but harder to work with than the paper liners (but newsprint is often free) - some folks like to use mulch for attractiveness. The key with a substrate is that it be easy to clean and not cause mold problems – which is why we are not big fans of mulch. Some folks love it for humidity control but we find a clump of sphagnum moss does the same job for less money and is much less hassle.

While aspen and other "reptile" substrates you see in pet shops can be Ok for Green Tree Pythons we generally wouldn't recommend them. If you want it pretty and are willing to put up with it being a a bit of a pain to clean use cypress mulch, otherwise use paper.

Water Bowl

The main purpose of a water bowl is to increase the humidity in the cage, Green Tree Pythons are more likely to drink from their coils after being sprayed than they are to use a water bowl. Some do drink from bowls though so it is imortant to always have one in the cage. Choosing a bowl is all about what you like - we use the super boring buy them at any big box store plastic and glass bowls, but all of the fancy looking ones are just fine as well.

Some people like to mount an elevated water bowl but we've never found that practical or worthwhile. Waterfalls can be pretty cool but are often high maintenance, especially when they get pooped in.

The larger the bowl the more surface area the water has, so bigger bowls provide more humidity. Placing a bowl over an under tank type heat source can also help with this issue.

We go over the issue on our basic care page but it is worth mentioning here as well - the water bowl is one of the most common places for creepy crawlies to grow in any reptile cage. Simply changing the water won't do, you need to clean the bowl and the best bet is to soak it in a 10% bleach solution for at least 15 minutes before rinsing it and air drying. Every time we clean a cage at Spruce Nubble Farm the animal is given a "new" water bowl and the soiled one is removed to be bleach soaked before the next week's cleaning. A water bowl that has just been "rinsed out" will have a negative impact on the health and well being of your animal.

Perches

They live in the trees and rest in the open - one of the coolest things about Green Tree Pythons is the way that they perch. Here at SNF we generally use plastic perches - coat hangers and PVC pipes of appropriate size. High Humidity and High Temps = Mold Possibilities so we like plastics.

There are many different types of wood perches that can work well - you just want to be sure it is possible to clean them and that they are safe for the animal.

We think the commercial flexible reptile vines are pretty nifty - you can bend and twist them which makes for a cool look.

Generally speaking you want to provide perches of proper size, which is about the same thickness as the thickest part of the GTP. You also want to make sure perches are securely mounted so they don't roll or tip over - one of the things we like about PVC is how easy it is to mount in a secure manner using end caps. You can see some photos and a better explanation of this over on our basic setup page.

Plants

In most of our cages we don't use plants and they aren't necessary for the health of the animal.

Our favorite live plant for Green Tree Python cages is Pothos - we like it because it is hardy, looks good, and it really doesn't need dirt to do well, stick a piece into a clump of spag moss and it'll last for many months.

There are lots of really realistic looking plastic and silk plants available - they work well.

Plants can help your Green Tree Python feel more secure and the natural vibe is nice. They can get in the way at feeding time and they can be a pain at cleaning time. A few small plastic zip ties with this in mind can work wonders. If you choose to use a live plant that requires a pot with dirt in it it is important to be aware this can - and often does - become a prime site for problematic creepy crawlies to grow.

Gauges & Probes

We talk about gauges and probes on our heat and humidity page. You want to try and place gauges centrally , some folks like to keep a set in each end of the cage. You want to place the probe from your thermostat directly under the heat source where you'd like the "hot spot" to be. It is important that it be mounted very securely, a probe that moves wreaks havoc on your ability to control temps.