Spinal kinks
This is perhaps the most talked about problem that seems to be more prevalent in GTPs than in any other snake species, hence it’s wise to examine the major difference between GTPs and the rest, which is arboreal way of life. That however, does not explain why GTPs are prone to spinal kinks nor it gives us any clues as to how to prevent this condition from occurring. Spinal kinks usually appear between the time of ontogenic colour change and the second year of the snake’s life (although there are exceptions) and most commonly affected is the terminal part of the snake. It may be that GTP’s are structurally prone to this problem. There have been reports of spinal kinks in wild GTPs but it is extremely rare, so then question must be asked what it is that we are doing in captivity differently to cause this condition to develop.