Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is there an species of Anacondas that don't get HUGE, like around 8-10 feet max? Also, I have ball pythons and milk snakes at the moment, but can Anacondas make safe pets? or do they just get out of control when they get older?

Thanks in advance

Male yellow anacondas will not get "HUGE." I cannot guarantee it will not get more than 10 ft, but the records on males are not too much larger than that.

They can be great captives but they require some skill and attention from the keeper. There is no reason any snake should get "out of control." Secure caging, proper use of different tools, and close attention by the care provider will make for a very safe and enjoyable animal you choose to bring into your home and care for.

I have a few ball pythons, but anacondas look really fun, but i was worried about size factor.

I got a male green, because the size was around 8-10. He is4 years old and a little bigger than 6 ft. Great snake. I was the same as you. Females get to big and was not aware that males stay that much smaller than females. I got him from Kelly, and it rates up there with my top snakes. He is now starting to get some girth to him. Although this dude urates big and is it me or does anaconda pee just smell that much different.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger (Dash)
1.0 Amel Retic (Mahola)
0.1 Ball Python (Cyeanne)
0.1 Red Tail (Memphis)
1.0 Coral Sun Glow Boa (Rodman)
0.1 Blood Python (Danica)
1.0 Green Ananconda (Prefontain)
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa (Bing Bong)
1.0 Ivory Ball Python (Hansel)
0.1 Bumble Bee Ball Python (Sissy)
0.0.2 Yellow Ackies (Ludmilla and Ivan Drago)

Green or Yellow male?

for some reason these snakes have a really bad reputation. Will i be able to put them around me just like 9 foot red tail boas or do you really have to be careful?

I guess i am kinda scared the things gonna strangle me.
All my snakes chill with me on the sofa a few times a week, i try to rotate them so they each get some handling time and i have only been bite once in my life from any of my snakes.

I just don't want to bite off a piece i can't chew on this deal.

Right now it really doesn't sound like an anaconda is the snake for you. I would probably keep with the smaller slower moving snakes. It isn't that anacondas can't be what you are looking for, but there is a good chance it might not be. I have a green male that is one of my calmest snakes, but I still don't put it around my neck or let myself get too laxed while working with him.

Well its kinda the same situation with my huge Savannah monitor. I don't let him get too close to my face or neck, hes calm but calm like a bomb for the most part. I have been reading more and seems like yellows are more colorful, but you are right they do move way faster than my balls and red tails. The videos i watched, people were using gloves and snake hooks. Sucks, because i really do want to get one, and it does not seem like (with a male), you don't have much of a problem with huge size for about 3-4 years. On the other hand I want to be able to take it out and show people without it clasping someones hand or face.

They aren't always quite that on edge. You just need to make sure you are paying attention to what you are doing. Watching tv with them really doesn't paint this picture to me since your attention is not focussed on the animal.

And with that in mind...I got a pretty heavy feeding bite and coil from an amazingly calm ball python years ago while I was watching tv with the snake. Complacency is a mistake, and a big mistake you can't be taking with larger snakes (like a Boa constrictor).

If you are looking for a larger trustworthy snake just to play with, and the only real experience you have is with balls and boas, then I would say an anaconda of either type is not for you. Anacondas are really more for the experienced keeper and you definitely need to do a lot more research before purchasing one.

While they can be a most rewarding captive (certainly my personal favorite), they often are anything but "fun". Some specimens can be very docile and some of us are working to promote the better temperamented bloodlines, but they are NOT balls or common boas. They require different husbandry and handling techniques and often have to be given more respect.

Even the most docile specimens can be startled and these are snakes that will not hesitate to bite you repeatedly without warning. We're talking no traditional "S" coil before a strike. They'll just be crawling along your arm and suddenly turn and nail you. If you own an anaconda, you WILL get bit eventually. It's just a part of anaconda ownership.

I am not trying to scare you out of getting one and I'm not saying that you cannot or should not ever have an anaconda. I'm just being honest with you in saying it doesn't sound to me like you are ready for one now. Unfortunately, I have rescued way too many anacondas that were purchased because the buyer thought they looked "cool".

Keep learning about them and try to gain some hands-on experience with larger and less trustworthy snakes. Eventually the time will be right for you to get an anaconda.

I see what the post says above but like everyone I have my own thoughts. Heck, I have my male green and a female red tail. I have been bit by the red tail way to many times for do nothing. My green, very calm, got him as a baby. If you do go with a green do not get a wild caught one. They tend to be more high strung and harder to get to eat. In fact I got mine from Kelly who is on this forum. He made sure it was eating before he sent it. He does have a strong feeding response, almost like the tic but he tends to sniff before biting it. I have never been one to not get what I wanted when I wanted it. If I was determine on somthing, I go full in and do not trade or get rid of what i have. I had only a couple years snake experience before I got mine. But I did have a redtail, burm and a ball. It did take me a year after I said I was going to get one to actually get one.

I have to ask why the post above says the conditions have to be different. They do not need pools to swim in, in fact most people do not know how to keep the water clean or warm enough.

They are a great snake, but I do not let any of my snakes around both shoulders, or not pay attention to them while they are out. That is a sure way to get into trouble.

Good Luck on whatever you do.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger (Dash)
1.0 Amel Retic (Mahola)
0.1 Ball Python (Cyeanne)
0.1 Red Tail (Memphis)
1.0 Coral Sun Glow Boa (Rodman)
0.1 Blood Python (Danica)
1.0 Green Ananconda (Prefontain)
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa (Bing Bong)
1.0 Ivory Ball Python (Hansel)
0.1 Bumble Bee Ball Python (Sissy)
0.0.2 Yellow Ackies (Ludmilla and Ivan Drago)

I don't believe I said anything about pools in my post.

I guess I am just an advocate of someone being fully aware of what they are getting into before taking on a new animal because in the end it's usually the animal that suffers for it.

Yea i think i am going to wait, as far as not paying attention to my pets while there out, it prolly will bite me in the ass one day. I fall asleep on my couch a lot with my pets, they usually just chill, only had to search for my sav once, he usually just sits on my chest and sleeps along with me and my balls wrap around my arm and mostly stay there. Ive never been bit when they are outside the cage, only while my hand was inside cage and i have been a reptile keeper for 6 years so far. /cross fingers

I'm going to go ahead and say crossing fingures really is not your best insurance plan. Not paying attention is really not respecting them. I am certainly not trying to be mean, as we are probably all guilty of letting our guard down a little too much at some points, but falling asleep (especially with regularity) is about as extreme as you can get there.

Well, to each its own. I agree its crazy, but there are people out there that sleep with their monitor lizards and feed them from their mouths, i think thats way more extreme that sitting on the couch I guess it depends how the reptile views you.

I didn't say there was anything too risky about sitting on the couch with them. Watching TV takes your attention away a bit and it could end up getting you bit easily, especially with anacondas. But my comment was more on your comment that said " I fall asleep on my couch a lot with my pets." The only thing I can see as more risky than falling alseep regularly with reptiles on a couch would possibly be drinking or doing drugs while taking them outside.

Well i can't speak for anacondas because i have never owned one, at least with balls and my sav, i feel completely sure that they wont bite me outside the cage.. .. until they prove me wrong

I'm going to have to agree with Gavin again on this one. From what I've read in this entire thread, you are not the least bit ready, or responsible enough to properly care for and maintain one of these animals. Yes, everyone has variate husbandry techniques. But you Blatantly show disrespect for the current animals in your care, then come in here and ask for advice on how to keep what is potentially the largest and most powerful constrictor on Earth? It's only my opinion (and opinions are like ball pythons...everybody has one), but I think some more research on the species is required, as well as maybe working with one first hand for a few months to get an idea of their general behavior. There are also several good books on captive husbandry of large constrictors, and anacondas in specific. I apologize if i sound harsh, but some of us have put years in with these animals, and have earned the right to keep them in our homes.

Disrespect has really nothing to do with it. You can say the same about a lot of animals if that was the case.

Lets just make sure I am understanding your vocabulary correctly. You said you "fall asleep" with your animals. When you say this, to me this means you are not aware of anything they are doing because you are sleeping. When you say you fall asleep that means you are not awake right? That has to be the lowest level of attention you can give to an animal. Someone correct me if I am wrong here...aside from death or coma, being asleep is certainly the lowest level of attention...right?

If we are clear here, it doesn't matter if the animal is likely to bite. They can wedge themselves into places, escape, get rolled over on, and a list of just about anything physically possible since they have 0 level of supervision, control, or containment aside from the borders they cannot penetrate in and out of your home.

I thought I was suggesting this before and I am sorry if my post is sounding stupid, but your responses to my previous posts make it seem like I am not understanding the concept of sleep.

"Someone correct me if I am wrong here...aside from death or coma, being asleep is certainly the lowest level of attention...right?"

LMAO I love it!!! Thats a great line... but yeah sleeping with reptiles is a bad idea sooner or later someone is gunna get hurt.
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I'm CrazyCody KadunkKadunk!!!

Kadunk was here

CrazyCody

Dis-respect has everything to do with it. Having constrictors this large means you have to have respect for what they can DO. Take this from me because I have been hospitalized by my large snakes by making a stupid mistake before. a 10+ foot snake is far stronger than we are, and falling asleep with one is the lowest level of respect you can possibly show for an animal of that size. Large constrictors are quite capable of breaking bones should they chose to constrict that hard. Anacondas are snakes that can be very defensive. All it takes is one time for you to fall asleep, and roll over... The snake decides this is an aggressive action on your part, and responds defensively, suddenly you have a 10+ foot snake latching on to your neck and constricting.

This is totally different than what it sounds like you are used to keeping. this isn't a bite from a ball, where you can simply (relatively speaking) "uncoil" them. if a large conda decides to constrict you, I assure you you are not strong enough to force them off. Then, assuming you come to your senses soon enough, and can keep from panicking with a snake that could potentially kill you in this situation, do you know what to use to attempt to get it off?

I don't mean to offend you, but you really do not seem to have the knowledge, or experience to keep an animal like this. I am not saying they make bad pets, at all, however worse case scenarios are much more common when you are careless, and make incredibly stupid decisions, like falling asleep with a large snake laying with you.

Do more research, gain more experience, and A LOT more respect for your animals, then consider a large constrictor again in a few years assuming your attitude and viewpoint have changed.