Reptile & Amphibian Forums

are yellow anacondas a good choice for a first "big" snake? I would love to own a nice yellow anaconda, if they would be a good choice for a first "big" snake. However if they do not make good choices for first big snakes could you recomend a snake that would be a better choice (BCI, BCC?)? I've owned a Ball python before (and am getting another shortly), and handled a few large BCI (one 8' female, she was a fatty). Also if they would make a good choice could you please direct me to the breeder/dealer?
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in my opinion yellow anacondas are great snakes but arent really good as first big snakes takes a lot of money to feed them as adults they need high humidity and very large cages which are also very expensive i know some of the guys from this room are going to kill me for saying this but go with the boa constrictor BCI and BCC both make better pets for beginners than anacondas do

Well... What is the largest snake you have had??? Anacondas are sometimes tough, they can be puppy dog tame or chain saw spastic (from NERD caresheet) I would say NO, dont get a yellow anaconda as a first big snake. Get yourself a nice redtail and raise him to adult hood first. A redtail is forgiving a anaconda is not.
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GOD,I LOVE ANACONDAS!!!!! Eric aka Mr.A

I think there are a lot of other 'big' snakes that would be better. I think there is no better joy than keeping anacondas and don't want to scare you away from them but get something else to start with and if you have success with one of them then you can always get an anaconda later. There is alot more maintenance with a large boid than with smaller snakes. Not necessarily alot more tasks but each task (cleaning cage, handling, etc.) is alot bigger. It's alot easier to clean up feces from a small snake that feeds on mice than a large one that feeds on rabbits.
Anacondas do have specific needs that must be met but so does any snake. Do exactly what you're doing and research the needs of any snake you get first.
Red tails are a great species to keep. They too have specific needs though. If you get one look into what those needs are first.
Arik

Yeah get a nice Redtail, or if you KNOW you have room and are comfortable, get a nice male Burm...I started off with a ball python, got a Redtail after that, now Tuesday im getting my first male African Rock Python, i think keepin this guy will prepare me enough to keep most/any large species of snake, i wouldnt jump into a green conda, if i did it would be a male, but if I do get into Conda's ill probably start with Yellow

sounds like a good plan.
Arik

or maybe a carpet python would be good i wouldnt know i went from various coulribreds and a ball and went to a female burm but the limetd size of carpets and dimands are like red tails

My opinion is way different than any other. It totally depends on you drive and love for the species. If you just want a big snake and are looking at random right now and thinking yellow anaconda...nope I would not even bother with anacondas at all if all you want it a big snake. If you Have a huge passion and dedication for anacondas and you like the yellows a lot. Absolutely, it will be a huge experience and you will learn a lot about all snakes actually and I will tell you why in a minute. A yellow anaconda is not that big anyway in comparison to the big 4 (5 or more if you include scrubs and separate the burmese and the other 2 indian pythons) and it will takes a while to get big so that is your learning time and preparation. Why you will learn more is because you have too...it can be a difficult snake and you will spend more time researching and talking to people and picking up things along the way while ball python owners pretty much have their species handed to them (to a paoint, i have had some ball python trouble i needed to consult really credible people for). I mean who here knew that the corn snake was moved from elaphe to pantherophis...wasn't researching corn snakes when I found out that and got a back up...a lot of other elaphe were also moved within the last year.

go with a redtail. anacondas r not good first big snake pets. condas r better left to people with experiance with large boids. u need to now how a snake will react to different setting, movement, ect. a conda is for well, experts on snakes. im going to use u as an example for everyone out there. see people like who have owned a ball python think they r an expert and think they can jump right in to anacondas and retics. buts its too big of a jump u need to work up with redtails then carpet pythons, then maybe get a male burmeses and some day u will have the knowlege to own a larger and more diffecult to care for snake.
CrazyCody

are there any good "starter" big snakes that could teach me more about large snakes? i know of BCI and BCC but is there any others? blood pythons?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

I'm not a owner of any herps, just a domicile attendant.

My image Gallery