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How Big Do Green Tree Pythons Get?

Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis)
Photo: Nightflyer via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Green tree pythons usually reach 150 to 180 centimetres, roughly 5 to 6 feet, with large females reaching 200 centimetres. They stay slender, so the number sounds larger than the animal looks.

Published adult size figures

FigureValueNotes
Usual total length150-180 cm (4.9-5.9 ft)Published range
Large femalesUp to 200 cm (6.6 ft)Females are larger
BuildSlender and arborealLight for their length

Checked September 20, 2026 against the sources at the foot of this page. Where sources differ the range is shown rather than averaged.

Getting there

Colour changes before size settles

Neonates hatch yellow or red and turn green across roughly the first year, which is normal. Size continues developing well after the colour change completes.

Modest growth on a modest diet

Because they eat conservatively, growth is unhurried. A green tree python that is growing fast is usually being fed too much.

What that size means in practice

Length understates the enclosure

A six-foot arboreal snake needs height and perch placement rather than floor length. The enclosure question is vertical, which is unusual among pythons of this size.

Light enough to handle, disinclined to enjoy it

They are slender and not heavy, but they are a display species rather than a handling one. Size is not the constraint here, temperament is.

Common questions

How big do green tree pythons get?

Usually 150 to 180 centimetres, about 4.9 to 5.9 feet, with large females reaching around 200 centimetres or 6.6 feet. They remain slender rather than heavy-bodied.

Why is my baby green tree python not green?

Neonates hatch yellow, red or brick coloured and transition to green over roughly the first year. It is a normal ontogenetic colour change and not a sign of illness or a mislabelled animal.

Does a green tree python need a big enclosure for its length?

It needs a tall one rather than a long one. As an arboreal ambush species, height and sturdy perches at several levels matter far more than floor length.