` I think shy Yellow ( or Green ) Anacondas are not a problem. I've worked with many of them, and had success ( in varying degrees ) with all of them.
` First though, some thoughts on thermoregulation. A cage, and captive husbandry, is completely artificial. If you're using basking lights only, for heat, trying to simulate sunshine, the snake is forced to thermoregulate. I've found, over many years of experimenting that cages with warm and cold areas inhibit shy individuals' behavior.
` Tropical snakes don't need to thermoregulate, unless it is necessary to balance their temperature. I heat the entire floor of my Yellow Anaconda cages from 73 to 88 degrees, with a soaking container over a warm spot to get 80 degree water. Crumpled and wadded newspaper allows them to make their own hide spots wherever they want. I've put shy, traumatized, rescued individuals into that environment and watched them become outgoing and comfortable. They learn to use the entire cage area. They will actually push the newspaper around, making "tents", and also pile it up to make a soft nest. I've experimented with raising the temperature, and watched them move their nests to cooler parts of the habitat.
` What I'm getting at is that the captive animal must be comfortable in its environment before it can grow and flourish.
` Since its sense of smell is more important than any other, put a shirt you've worn in the cage, every day. If the snake is comfortable in its habitat, it will get comfortable with your scent.
` It's OK to force interaction with her. Just use good timing, and use VERY careful handling behavior. Sit in a comfortable chair with her, when you have a chance to sit there for an hour, at least. A large overstuffed chair, in which you can lean back slightly is best. If she wants to tunnel under you, let her. If it's an upholstered chair, that she can get into, put a blanket over it first. That way, she can't get inside the chair. Let her crawl all over you and steer her where you want her to go, with calm, deliberate, and gentle hands. Pick her up as little as possible, during this process. Since Boids tire quickly, she may explore a bunch, tire, and go to sleep on you. That is very good. Don't wake her up. Have a book, or the TV on, and be patient.
` My best "pet grade snakes" want to get on the human heater and take a nap. They will do this on almost anyone who is calm, and not afraid of them. A few of them will even wrap around my neck and shoulders and nap while I move about. Once they are over 20 pounds, or so, this can be really hard on your back!
` Just remember this: the Boid may not be too smart, but it does know that it is completely outclassed by a human. The snake absolutely knows that it is at your mercy. Since it's not too smart, it is also easy to use your advantage as a human to "fool" it, and condition it, into believing it has nothing to fear from humans. When you get your pet Boid to that point, you must be very careful who you allow to handle it. It's like piling up building blocks, you can go a long way, but the pile is easy to upset.
` My Anacondas, even though very tame, have their moods, and preferences. When they see me coming, if they are in a mood to be handled, they come right out when the door is opened. If they aren't in that mood, they burrow under the newspaper, and are generally difficult about being removed from the cage. Usually, once out, they submit, and seem to enjoy being handled. Sometimes though, the entire time they're out, they constantly try to get back to their habitat. They'll tire themselves trying, take a nap on me, then wake up and start trying to get back, all over again. They can be single-minded like no higher animal can think of being. Sometimes, they get me so frustrated, I want to make a nice set of matching luggage out of them. lol
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