Green tree python
Morelia viridis Schlegel, 1872

An arboreal snake from the Pythonidae family, which can reach a length of as much as 250 cm! As the name suggests, it’s a light green boid. It is native to the rainforests of New Guinea and northern Australia. In captivity, such conditions should be created that resemble equatorial and subequatorial climate as closely as possible (high temperature and humidity). Python’s head is clearly defined from the rest of its body. It has vertical pupils and its teeth are curved towards the back of the jaw. One of its characteristics are the pits on the head, which are lined with thermoreceptors, used when hunting and localising its prey. To make meal-finding easier, the python tends to move its tail in order to attract little mammals. Thenit shoots towards the prey from an S-pose and wraps itself around it. The green tree python is active at night. It spends most of the day on a tree branch with its head between the coiled body. The greatest threat for this species is poaching as snakes often die in the process of being smuggled. The green tree python is included in Appendix II of the list of species protected by CITES, which means that it must be registered by anyone who owns it.

Body length:
male: 150–180 cm
female: up to 200 cm

Body weight:
male: 1100–1400 g
female: up to 1600 g

Panther chameleon
Furcifer pardalis Cuvier, 1829

A lizard from the chameleon family, which can grow to as much as 56 cm in length (male, including tail). Females are shorter, reaching usually 35 cm. They can only be found on Madagascar and the neighbouring islands; nevertheless, there are different colour variants, depending on the geographical location. They can usually be seen on bushtops; that’s why in captivity their terrarium should be at least 100 cm high so that the chameleon can climb freely. Its lifespan is greatly affected by the diet and environment, as well as sex and illness history. The record lifespan of a chameleon is 10 years, but it usually doesn’t exceed 7 years (in captivity). Chamaeleonidae can move their eyes independently of each other, which means that they can look in two different directions at the same time! During the mating season, chameleons will stay close to each other. However, males don’t deal well with competition and get into numerous fights. Thus after the mating season they are often weaker and stressed because of such conflicts. Some of the most important environmental parameters for these lizards include high humidity, airiness of the habitat and plenty of sun exposure. When these are met, chameleons have rich colouring and an endless appetite for insects.

Body length:
male: 40–56 cm
female: 25–35 cm
Body weight: 60–150 g

Madagascar giant day gecko
Phelsuma grandis Gray, 1870

A lizard that belongs to the Gekkonidae family. The designation “day gecko” isn’t accidental – Phelsumas lead diurnal lives. It’s native to Madagascar, where it can be encountered in tropical and subtropical forests in the northern part of the island.
Its body is green (sometimes blue-green) with red spots on the back as well as stripes spanning between nostrils and eyes. Whereas the spots may not be there in some specimens, the stripes on the head are always present. The bottom part of its body is cream white; lighter than the rest. This lizard’s skin may darken a little as a result of stress. Day geckos are territorial and can be aggressive towards other specimens of the same sex in the area. If a male accepts another gecko in his vicinity, it’s sure to be a female, never another male. In their natural environment, Phelsumas feed on insects and other invertebrates. They also lick pollen off flowers and even eat soft fruit. They reach sexual maturity after about a year; this is when males, as a form of courtship display, nod their heads intensively and make specific sounds. This species is listed in Appendix II of the list of species protected by CITES, which means that anyone owning it must register their pets.

Body length: 30 cm