Emerald Tree Boas Vs. Green Tree Pythons

Northern Emerald Tree Boa

Green Tree Pythons vs. Emerald Tree Boas

Morelia viridis Vs. Corallus caninus












A debate that plagues the reptile community; which is better, which is easier to keep, which is which? Often people confuse the looks of GTPs and ETBs. I'll go over the visual as well as subtle care differences in a GTP and ETB.

You'll hear each crowd that favors one over the other generally give the same response. That their favored tends to be easier to keep, more docile, better eaters etc. While I've kept Emerald Tree Boas longer, I have  Green Tree Pythons as well.

Green Tree Python - Jayapura locale.

Green Tree Pythons are oviparous (egg layers), the hatchlings are more fragile and smaller. Vs. Emerald Tree Boas are ovoviviparous (live birth), their neonates are larger and a bit more hardy.

Green Tree Pythons are known to be a little harder to care for as neonates, but easier to care for once they get a few months old.

As far as handling, Green Tree Python neonates are more fragile, handling isn't really recommended until they get a bit larger (probably a year or more). Vs. Emerald Tree Boas who are larger and stronger at a smaller age, but they still aren't really built for handling at a small age. However; both can be handled as long as you leave them on their perch (yay! for removable perches) and allow them to willingly come off.

Green Tree Pythons have much easier dietary requirements. Every seven to ten days (some feed neonates every five and adults every fourteen). Vs. Emerald Tree Boas who might regurgitate if the prey size is too large, too often, humidity is off or temperatures are off.

Green Tree Pythons require higher temperatures than Emerald Tree Boas. Both require high humidity.

Green Tree Pythons and Emerald Tree Boas both go through an awesome ontogenetic. Locale plays a big role with both ETBs and GTPs. In general, Emerald Tree Boas don't get extra white so, the white blazes/lighting bolts they have as neonates, they have as adults. Whereas Green Tree Pythons are quite unpredictable with color and pattern, even if you go after a certain locale.

Amazon Tree Boa's Impressive Teeth.

 Temperament wise, it's a toss up. Each animal is an individual, cross your fingers for a docile personality. I was half lucky and ended up with a docile Emerald Tree Boa, but some of my Green Tree Pythons are little jerks. Know that all arboreal boids have large teeth though.

They are both arboreal boids though. Requiring places to perch so they can coil around them. This aids in thermoregulation, digestion, etc.




There are structural differences as well. Green Tree Pythons have a short, stocky head, large bumps above their nostrils and a more pronounced spine, along with other things (such as color). The Supralabial pits and head shape of the emerald really give it away and make them the most difference for someone not sure of what they are comparing. The scales on a chondro are much smaller than a emerald too.

Price, they are quite similar in. Locality of the animal plays a large part in price. A neonate of a Northern Emerald Tree Boa will cost around $350-$400. The same with a more common locale of a Green Tree Python.