Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, im pretty new to this site and i know this is the best place to ask these questions. I'm wondering how these beats are attitude wise, wut they need space wise and food wise. I'm real interested in gettin one of these suckers but not sure if its the best idea. I do have lots of room to keep them but not sure of exactly wut to do, any tips and pics would be great thanks guys ~Matt

First what anaconda do you want?? yellow or green? As far as attitude they are what you make them. They are not redtails, if you make a mistake they will let you know, and it will hurt. One thing to remember, these snakes are the strongest and quickest I have seen. A strike from a small anaconda 5-7' will shake the heck out of your cage. They will eat weekly but is not recomended, I feed every 3-4 weeks in larger amounts. Reason for this is the slower metabolisum than other snakes and they can get fat fast. This is a pic of my 1.5 year old yellow that is getting calmer by the week, as a baby she was a firecracker.

` What kind of experience do you already have in keeping giant tropical constrictors?

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Retics (normal) are far and away the most beautiful python out there and generally speaking, if you get a captive bred and born baby and handle him regularly, it will become quite docile.

If you're new to the world of large snakes, I would then recommend a burmese. Though if you're completely inexperienced, stay away for the giant snakes all together, untill you become more comfortable handling and taking care of snakes.

Keep in mind that Anaconda's are very aquatic snakes, therefore you would need to accomodate such a need.

And with all due respect to the other Anaconda enthusiasts, Anaconda's are just so ugly! I know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but my god, why are you guys so into these snakes?

Even though anacondas, (especially greens), have an appealing, ancient and primitive appearance to me; there's more to it than that. Sometimes the attraction to an animal is in it's specific life history strategy and behavior as well.

Kelly

Anacondas have a apperance of there own I'll give you that, but ugly? NO. Like Kelly said, its more than just looks. There is a certan mystery about these snakes that go back so far into history. To me the history of them alone is cool. And then there is the shear stregth of them that is unparallel to any other reptile in history. When you look at a anaconda in real life you see so much more than a green or yellow snake you see history,stories,legends and in some religons Gods. When some one asks me what kind of snakes that I keep I go down my list of Boa's and pythons but when I come to anacondas there is a look that comes over there face, a look of amazement, and then the questions start about giant man eaters and what do you feed it and so on. Never once has anyone asked about any other snake. When they find out that there is more than one kind of anaconda there are shocked, nobody knows that. I dont think that pet anacondas are for everybody, if you want a large colorful snake that has so many differant looks then yes, get a retic or a burm, there great snakes to some, but for me?? No I'll stick with my UGLY anacondas. And this is just my opinion that I am allowed to have, Thanx for reading this.

Thanks for the response(s). Ugly is a harsh word and I certainly shouldn't have used it. It amazes me when non-snake people think my reptiles are the most disgusting and repulsive things around. They just don't get it, as I don't get Anaconda's. But maybe one day I will develop a fondness for them. Who knows?

I think the yellows are quite lovely compared to many other snakes in appearance alone. They're also a good large snake that doesn't get gigantic. Andacondas are just so different from retics that you can't just substitute one for the other and your reasons for having them would be very different.
(for the record I own neither but drool over both.)
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Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convenient pocket size!

I am with kelly, mr anaconda..and the rest. By far mor people are impressed with my green anaconda that anything else. I think they are the collest looking of any snake including retics and gabbons that so many rave over. The simple pattern and color of an anaconda is beautiful. And check out the pattern on the side...looks just like the jaguars they eat..if that isnt cool..i dont know what else is. I love ATBs to death but as much as i try to show mine off with how pretty they are...people still want to see the green anaconda. i have college professors and other people just wanting to touch or hold him just to tell people they have touched an anaconda even if it is a 3 ft baby...it doesnt matter to them, anaconda means something in their head. So... remember watch your mouth before you anaconda bash...as you can see...not everyone agrees.

See my subsequent comments above, jerk.

lighten up...i was helping prove a point and the "watch your mouth" was a joke. maybe i should have made a little : ) after so you dont get all touchy : )...anyway if the word jerk was also ment to be taken lightly...please ad a : )...no need to get hostile and touchy in here since we are just snake loving folks and a minority already.