Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I already have this in the anaconda forum, but I talk to all you so often I want to see if any of you have experience with anacondas. Especially if you own tics too! Sorry for the long post.

Hey all, I have a couple more questions. I was at the herp world expo today and had a great time. Dont worry, I didnt buy a green.. LOL. While I was there my main points of interest was in retics and learning more about greens. I spoke with 4 different vendors about both wild caught and captive bred greens. I spoke with one vendor in specific, he had three different captive breed greens. Two females and a male. He said he has raised his male green from a baby, he is now about 9 or 10 feet, and never once been biten. I held the captive bred male for about an hour while I talked to him and had no problem what so ever. I realize this could have been for many reasons, but I was able to hold him without him being my center of my focus.

My question is are the temperment in greens on a case by case scenario? Is it possible I might be able to seek out a male with an excelent temperment? I am hoping to be able to handle this snake with a similar amount of confidence as my retics. I am new to the large boids but have done my research on tics, hadled the big boys (both angery and tame) etc. So yes I am new but not ill informed or worse yet, not informed.. LOL! The guy I spoke with said that he personally trusted greens more than retics, and owns both.

One thing I want to make clear is that I am not worried about putting in the amount of work. I hold my snakes daily, work with them, and get to know each of them. I can tell if they are having a bad generally and so on. What I am concerned with is more about predictability. I dont want a snake that I hold regularly, put the work into and still get bit regularly. I want to be able to build the confidence that in time, whe he is a big boy, im not still getting drilled regularly.

Lets hear is all!

Thanks everyone!

First, let me point out that I have much less experience with greens than retics, but I have worked with both. GENERALLY speaking, greens are more on the cautious side, their feeding response is nowhere near what you find with retics. This may keep your arm safer when reaching in the cage, but may mean you will jump through more hoops getting them to feed regularly. With greens by all means go with CB. obviously from the other forum you can get great info. Kelly has posts that will answer most of your questions. As far as comparisons, I would say that when dealing with CB animals the greens have a slower, more cautious, approach to life. I keep both, but retics to me are so much more interesting because of the way they take interest in what is going on around them. Plus retics are flat out gorgeous snakes.
My2cents,
josh

Captive bred green anaocndas that are have been handled respectfully should calm docile animals. The reputation of anacondas come from wild caught, defensive, stressed out animals.
Mike

Thanks for the quick response! That was my general feeling on them however I have heard from some people on the anaconda forum that they can be unpredictable. Like I may be holding him and out of nowhere he'll tag me.. Thats what I am trying to avoid.. LOL.

I want one of these little buggers... LOL. I see it as a cooler, little more risky burm... LOL! BUT I DO NOT want one if its not right.

Thanks everyone!

Before my severe knee injury I had a pair of Kelly Haller/Jud McClanahan's docile green anacondas. They were the calmest, tamest snakes I have ever raised or seen. The green anaconda is the very definition of strength though. For a positive green anaconda experience I strongly recommend getting one from Kelly. Bill
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

greenies are great both wc and cb. i have had both, and both equally as easy going and docile as the other. just remember, every snake (mostly large boid/hots) should be treated as being unpredictable. persistent handling and interraction is key, even when they strike/bite.
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retic is king of kings

1.0 Tiger Retic
1.0 Albino Tiger Retic
0.1 Striped Tiger Retic (het albino)
0.1 Salmon Boa
1.0 Albino Boa
0.1 False Water Cobra

Thanks retic guy! I completely understand that, with all my boids. Bites dont bother me much. I think I will jump everytime.. LOL, but its just a little blood... LOL. unless we get an artery.. LOL

I believe the perception many people have about the unpredictability of green anaconda behavior is based mainly on the misunderstanding of the general demeanor of this animal. These snakes have evolved in most likely the most formidable environment of any boid species alive today. They have therefore developed an inherent caution with regards to their surroundings that is not seen with the other large boa and python species. Greens are an inherently shy and nervous species due to this evolutionary background, and this behavior needs to be taken into account when working with them in captivity. While many greens, especially captive born animals, can become very calm captives, there are many wild caught young greens that simply will not adapt to being handled. Selective breeding over the last 10 to 15 years or so has definitely lead to more manageable greens being produced in captivity.

I currently have 4 large adults and a number of younger greens that can all be handled with no problem, but there are certain things that still need to be considered with handling them. They all, mine at least, have exceptional feeding responses, and hit and constrict f/t prey with much more force and power than any python species. Once they realize food is not being offered, they can be removed from the unit without any problems. The main issue however is the shyness and nervousness that you can still see beneath the surface within even the calmest greens, and this needs to be addressed when working with them. They are easily surprised and startled, especially at night, so you just need to make sure they realize you are there and that you are about to interact with them. Also, being careful not to put them in a situation where they can be startled while handling them as well. Once that is done, I have never had biting or other behavioral issues with any of my greens, and they have been easy to interact with. Their behavior and physiology is much different than any other boid, and just this simple understanding of certain aspects of their behavior can go a long way in making them extremely interesting snakes to work with.

Kelly

I would like to add that Anacondas in the water react DIFFERENTLY than when on land when being removed or interacted with by the keeper....
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

vast majority of cases, especially with individuals that are not well acclimated to human interaction, and are also not inherently calmer specimens. With the captive born young we have produced here over the years, the few times that I have allowed these greens to soak, I haven't seen this as an issue. However, the younger greens I have worked with years ago, most likely imports or from WC females, you could definitely see the behavioral differences you are referring too.

Kelly

Don't get bitten in the neck.. it hurts REALLY bad >_< and lots of arteries there.. that was a bad day.

I hope your kidding if it was a lg one....
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Not kidding, Unfortunately. Wasn't a green, it was a large female yellow though. Left my guard a little too low, and not sure what i did, though Im sure it was my fault. Im guessing I made a move slightly too suddenly. it can be hard to tell sometimes with condas, they can be very defensive snakes at times.

Yikes! That would be pretty scary. Hope everyone was OK!