Tree python (Morelia viridis)

🧬 1. Taxonomy and origin

Scientific name: Morelia viridis

Common names: green tree python

Family: Pythonidae, non-venomous snakes that reproduce by constriction (pulling and suffocating prey)

Origin: tropical rainforests of Papua New Guinea, surrounding Indonesian islands and northern Australia (Cape York Peninsula)

Habitat: fully arboreal species, spends most of its time higher in the treetops.

Historically, the species was referred to as Chondropython viridis - the name "chondro" is still used in terrariums, although today it is officially classified in the genus Morelia.

🐲 2. What they look like (morphology)

Appearance characteristics:

Length: adults usually 1.5–2.2m (sometimes up to ~2.4m).

Body: slender, muscular, ideally adapted for climbing branches.

Color: adults are mostly bright green with possible patterns, dots or stripes in white, yellow or blue - variations depend partly on the "locality" of origin.

Young individuals: in bright yellow, red or orange, only later turning into "green" colored muscle - this is a process of ontogenetic color change.

Head and body: triangular head with thermoreceptive pits (heat receptors) towards the mouth, which help in locating prey.

Tail: partially prehensile - serves as a "foot" for better grip on branches.

🏡 3. Care requirements (breeding)
🏠 Terrarium and equipment

Environment type: fully arboreal; the terrarium should be taller than it is wide, with many branches and hiding places at different levels.

Recommended size: e.g. 60×60×90cm and more for a single adult (vertically oriented).

Branching: different thicknesses and textures of branches for secure grip and movement.

Substrate: moist, well-cleaned substrate, leaves, moss; bottom with a water dish for humidification.

🌡️ Temperature and humidity

Daytime temperature: around 28–32°C in a warm place.

Nighttime temperature: around 21–24°C.

Humidity: 60–90% - regular misting or misting systems.

☀️ Lighting

UVB light is not strictly necessary, but can help overall well-being and activity rhythm.

🍽️ Food

Adults: small mammals (e.g. rats or mice) depending on the size of the snake, usually every 7–14 days.

Young: more frequent, smaller meals.

🧠 4. Nature and behavior

💠 Nocturnal and active at dusk: adults rest most of the day in a typical position - wrapped around branches with their head in the middle of the loop and are mainly active in the evening and at night.
💠 Hunting: ambush predator - waits for prey from a branch and quickly attacks and grabs it.
💠 Character: variable - from calmer behavior in cultivated, captive-bred individuals to more nervous and defensive reactions in less handled snakes.
💠 Handling: generally not an ideal animal choice for frequent keeping, as the snake can be sensitive to stress and may bite when handled.

🩺 5. Health status and common problems
🐍 Common health problems

Problems with lynching (eczematic skin replacement): with insufficient moisture, remnants of old skin can stick, leading to complications, especially around the eyes and fingertips.

Respiratory infections: in high humidity without proper ventilation.

Lack of nutritional supplements: if the feeding is not balanced (e.g. calcium deficiency), metabolic bone disorders or poor condition can occur.

Stress and psychosocial problems: if improper handling or poor terrarium layout lead to stress reactions.

🧪 Veterinary care

Regular check-ups with a veterinarian specializing in reptiles can prevent or detect health complications (e.g. parasites or infections) in good time.

🧬 6. Species, variations and taxonomy

Currently, Morelia viridis is considered a single species, although differences between populations from different areas of Papua, Australia or the islands suggest that it may be taxonomically divided in the future. Some publications identify variants or "races" such as Aru, Biak or Sorong, but official subspecies do not yet exist.

However, in terrariums, you will often encounter "local types" or color lines by origin, which have specific patterns or color shades - but are not recognized as separate scientific species.

👍 7. Advantages and disadvantages of breeding
✅ Advantages

✔️ Impressive appearance and color change: from bright yellow or red juveniles to green adults - a fascinating phenomenon.
✔️ Interesting behavior: characteristic arboreal posture and nocturnal activity.
✔️ Long-term life potential: with good care, they can live for 20+ years.

❌ Disadvantages

❗ High care requirements: need a special terrarium, temperature gradients and high humidity.
❗ Not for beginners: requires experience with reptiles and precise environmental control.
❗ Sensitivity to handling and stress: frequent handling can lead to aggressive reactions or health problems.

🎯 8. How to choose the right individual

🔎 Origin: choose captive-bred individuals over wild-caught ones – they often carry parasites and stress from transport.
🔎 Health: clear eyes, no body deformities, regular coloration and good posture