How to Care for a Green Tree Snake

Build an enclosure, or a living area for your green tree snake. It should mirror its actual living environment---tropical rainforest---as best as possible. In order to make the enclosure, it is best to buy a large fish tank. Make sure the tank is large enough for your snake, but this will depend on the snake's size. Before you put anything in the tank, clean it out. Use an all-purpose cleaner and a cloth to clean the glass and the bottom of the tank.

Get some branches to give your snake something to perch on. You can find these branches in your backyard; they do not have to be from a specific tree. Also, make sure they are an appropriate size to fit your tank. Clean off any shrubbery or dirt from the branches, and place them in the tank. Arrange them so that they horizontally occupy the tank. This way, the snake has plenty of branches to coil up on and explore. Different sized branches (but not too big or too small) can also add variety to the snake's new environment.

Lean the branches against each other or against the glass to make sure they stand. Add small plants and grass to the tank to create more variety. This will also provide cover for your snake, as they like to hide, as well as a humid microclimate, which is an important factor in a snake's habitat.

Put a light into the tank; this will help the snake metabolize calcium while it is in the tank. You don't need an expensive lighting system, but a small, quality, full-spectrum lamp that you can hook onto the edge of the tank and turn on and off as needed. Make sure you don't leave the lid off of the tank when you hook the light as the snake will crawl out. Adjust the light so that no cables are directly in the tank.

Place the tank closer to a window or in a bright area so the snake will be in a good temperature and have enough humidity and light to live comfortably in the tank. Put down some mulch or coconut-husk on the bottom of the tank to serve as a substrate. Mulch or coconut-husk looks more natural than newspapers, and they accomplish the same task---to help keep the tank clean. This also retains moisture. Clean and change the substrates as needed.

Obtain small insects or rodents to feed your snake. These can include grasshoppers, mice or small rats. This is the primary diet of a green tree snake. If your snake is young, feed it a small mouse every 5-7 days. If the snake is older, feed it an insect or a small mouse every 7-10 days. Never overfeed your snake as this will cause health problems.

Fill an empty spray bottle with room temperature water. Spray down your snake every day, as well as the entire tank. Don't overspray, but give a quick "rain shower." This will give the snake more moisture and it will make it more active. Make sure you wipe down the glass of the tank once your spray the water in order to help keep bacteria from forming in the tank.

Place a small bowl of room temperature water in the tank. Even though snakes don't drink too much water daily, it is still recommended that you make it available.

Take your snake out of the tank very carefully! Never yank it from a branch that it is coiled on. Rather, pick it up gently until it perches its head and crawls into your hand. Following this procedure will ensure your snake is less agitated.