Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, my yellow anaconda used to have very noticable spurs. So much so that I figured it was probably a male, but its grown quite a bit and its spurs have really gotten smaller.

I think it must be a female just based on the fact that it is growing so fast. The spurs are now really tiny, you can just barely see them. I thought it was strange. I've never noticed spurs on a boa getting less noticable as they grow. My other males both the Dumerils and the Hog had their spurs get noticably bigger. Anyone notice anything like this with yellow anacondas? I'm getting ready to buy 'her' a much bigger cage.

Thanks,
tc

` Is your Anaconda getting too chubby? When they get fat, that area tends to distend. The spurs, which are extensions of the vestigial femurs, are connected to the pelvic bone, and can't extend with fat growth. Yeah, they have a vestigial pelvic girdle, just like limbed vertebrates. When too fat, the spurs can disappear in the puffy flesh. the females do have much smaller, and less hooked, spurs. I just mention this because overweight is so detrimental to their health.
` Check this excellent and informative post, earlier in this forum, by Kelly Haller. It has some great information on spur dimorphism.

forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=97861,98108

-----

If you think education is expensive, consider the cost of ignorance.

I don't think she's 'plump'. I only feed her every 7-10 days and she's still a baby. Lately its been more towards 10 than 7. She's growing much quicker than any of my other boas. I'll check much closer tonight. She's getting ready to shed right now.

Thanks,
tc