Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought an anaconda from a friend who got it at a local show(he is a green and I love him) He eats f/t anything and is very docile(3 foot) I remember reading that it is not a great idea to give him a bowl big enough to soak, because at 12 foot or so it would be very hard to do. Should I keep him just like I keep my burms, and just let him soak in the tub a few times a week. I keep him on dcl cage liners, at this point he has a litter box that he soaks in, just thought I should change that habit. Thanks for all the help.

It is actually just the choice of the owner as far as a soaking pool, but you are correct in that the maintenance of a large pool is quite intensive. Draining and cleaning of a large pool should be undertaken every few days, and immediately when defecated in. Jud and I decided many years ago to go with a standard large boid setup with only a small drinking bowl. We have found that the pool setup is not required for the maintenance of greens in captivity. Our greens feed, breed and give birth without any health issues under these standard conditions. We have also found that the common thought that greens need high cage humidity is not true as well. We keep our humidity in the 60 to 70% range. I have several adults from 9.5 to 15 feet currently being kept under this standard setup and all are doing very well. However, I feel that if you intend to use the water bowl setup, you should start this with a newborn green and raise it up without the pool. This is what we have done with all of our adults. An older green that has become acclimated to a pool, may become stressed if it no longer has access to a large water source. Your green is young enough that you may be able to go with the standard water bowl setup without a problem. I have nothing against the large pool setup if the owner is responsible enough and is willing to put the intensive work into keeping it clean, but the standard boid setup makes maintenance a lot easier and our greens appear to do just fine under these conditions.

Kelly

Thank you so much for the info. Do you ever let your greens soak from time to time. I put my burms in the tub when ever I have cage cleaning to do. Again thanks for the info. Jason

I don't see why there would be any problem with it if you wanted to. All the greens I have now are young adults to adults and too heavy to be moving around like that.

Kelly

I will periodically offer large water dishes and go times with only smaller water bowls. After a long acclimation period anyway with difficult feeding (not from water, from types of prey)...she is doing great. I have made extensive documents on how I offer food and how I keep cages set up and I have noticed from time to time she prefers to only take food from larger tubs...but many other times of the year she takes food better from land.

My yellows have been raised without large water dishes, but will at some points in their growth I have offered larger water (for no particular reason)...and while they will use it, it has made no difference in their feeding (or any other habits).