Yellow Anaconda Advice?

[Ammeratsu]

Hi. I'm new to this forum and to anacondas, but not new to reptiles. I breed rosy boas and leopard geckos, and have taken in many rescues of various kinds.

I've been looking into anacondas because I've really wanted one and finally have the resources. I've decided to get a yellow anaconda because I don't want to jump into the much larger greens.

I'm getting a young one, about three feet long, female. I think I'm pretty much prepared and ready to order her, but I thought I'd get some extra advice.

I have my enclosure all set up. I have a rather large tub filled with water, definitely large enough for her to completely submerge herself. I've put various fake plants and stuff on the surface so she won't feel exposed in her water. The rest of the enclosure is this sort of dirt/soil I like and moss. I've put a couple of hides in it based on what I've heard about them being secretive.

Seeing as I live in a desert, keeping the humidity up is a little hard, but I think I'm managing decently.

Now, I have a few questions:
Should I heat the water at all? The room I keep my reptiles in is usually about 70 degrees.

I haven't found a clear answer about whether a heat lamp or heat pad would be better for an anaconda. I've heard both.

I've also heard a lot of variance about general temperament. I've heard that they're unpredictable and untrustworthy, and I've heard that with careful handling they can be kitten tame. Which seems to be more common?

[Ammeratsu]

Hello. I'm new to this forum and to anacondas, but not to reptiles. I started with frogs and other amphibians when I was 8 and moved up. I now breed rosy boas and leopard geckos and have had many rescues of various sorts of animals.

I've been looking into getting a yellow anaconda, and just have a few questions I want to clear up.

Okay, I'm getting a young one, about 3 feet, female. There are a few things I haven't found straight forward answers with.

Heat pad or heat light? I was thinking heat pad to help keep the humidity(I live in a desert), but I've also heard good things about heat lights.

I've also heard varying things about their general temperament. I've heard that they're unpredictable and untrustworthy, and I've heard that with careful handling they can be kitten tame. So which one is most often true?

Any other good advice is welcome. I want to be as prepared as possible.

And any pictures of your yellows are welcome as well!

Here's the one I'm getting:
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll108/Ammeratsu/1126224.jpg

[infernalis]

I moved your double posts together for you..

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

[Freebody]

welcome to the forum :)

[Ammeratsu]

Oh, shoot. Sorry about the double post. =/

[marvelfreak]

Hello and welcome! To answer your question. I use a heat pad it doesn't dry out the humidity. I also use reptile bark it works great for holding humidity. With anacondas you want to change the water at least once a day. With work and handling they can be tame down. I lucked out the one i have now and the one i had years ago are two of the mellowest snakes i ever had.

I have a question for you. Is yours yellow het possible Hypo? It looks a bit like the sire of my yellow he was a hypo. If you don't mind me asking who are you getting it from? Are you getting a male or female?
Here's a thread on mine with tons of pics.
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-boa-forum/84065-my-yellow-anaconda.html

[Ammeratsu]

Nope. I believe she's just a normal. I'm getting a young female.

I've really not trying to be rude, but I'll tell you where I got her after I order her because I'm really excited to get her, and I don't want someone to see her and buy her first. xP

You have a beautiful snake! And thanks for the advice.

[Freebody]

lol that would suck so bad, you post it, somone comes here looking at the forum and buys it first, sounds like my luck you might have lol, beautifull snakes, i just love the one marvelfreak has, i wish i could get one here or i would already have one :P

[marvelfreak]

Nope. I believe she's just a normal. I'm getting a young female.

I've really not trying to be rude, but I'll tell you where I got her after I order her because I'm really excited to get her, and I don't want someone to see her and buy her first. xP

You have a beautiful snake! And thanks for the advice.
I don't blame you there. I understand totally. The guy i got mine from was out of Texas can thing of his name off the top of my head. i got it written down. I have a note book i save all info on my snakes in. Mine a male. Took me a month to talk the wife into a male. She said female get to big and there was no way i was getting anything that can get up to 14 to 16 feet.
I had ask because it looks like it might have be hypo. It's got some really nice color to it. The guy i got mine from his all had amazing color compared to all the other breeder i found. Yours looks like it might have came from the same batch.

[Ammeratsu]

Actually, that might be possible. Mine's coming from Texas, too. Later today, after I've ordered her, I'll tell you exactly where she came from and we'll see if they're from the same batch.

And I know what you mean about your wife. I'm only 16, so I still live with my mom, and it took her a long time to let me get an anaconda. She said her stepfather used to tell her horror stories about them and she would have nightmares. But with enough pestering, she said I could have one if I got a job and paid her back and supported it myself. And also because I promised to get a yellow since the greens get bigger. Which is fine, because I love how the yellows look anyways.

[infernalis]

Make sure you set aside a few hundred dollars (Please, no joke. Get safe deposit box or have a parent hold it for you) for any future veterinarian needs.

Vets aren't cheap and once your snake reaches adulthood, any vet visits are going to be pricey.

Now it is possible to raise a perfectly healthy snake and never need a vet, but one slip in husbandry practices, or even a simple feeding accident can run up a big bill fast.

One thing I have seen over the years and in many posts "My mom won't take me to the vet and the community bus will not allow me to ride it with my snake"

another thing to consider, College. if you plan on attending university, who will care for your snake?

Believe it or not, most places shudder at the word Anaconda, so rehoming is going to be a tough thing to do.

With proper care and husbandry, your snake will be around to see your kids graduate, are you ready for a commitment that long? can you really be certain that in 10 years you will feel the same as you do now?

Just asking you to think about it really well.

[Ammeratsu]

As I've said before, I'm not new to reptiles. I have many animals that could well last 30+ years, including horses, snakes, leopard geckos, etc.

I'm currently working on getting a job, so I'll have the money for a vet if needed.

And I have a car and can drive, so I can take my snake to the vet myself. I live 40 miles from the closest city, so my mom wanted me to be able to drive myself to school everyday. I started drivers ed when I was 15 and have my provisional license now.

I'm pretty sure I can handle it.

Reptiles and animals in general have always been a passion for me. It's not just a phase. Animals have always been my one great love. I know I'll feel the same in 10 years. I'll always feel this way. I'll have snakes and horses until the day I die.

My mom may not be particularly fond of anacondas, but my mom's boyfriend won't have a problem taking care of her until I'm ready to take to again. That goes for all my other reptiles, too.

[Freebody]

make sure to post pics when you get it home, i cant own one myself, so ill have to live with pics of other peoples yellow anacondas lol

[Ammeratsu]

I will.

Marvelfreak actually found the ad for the snake and had me look at some reviews for the place I was buying her from. And I am so glad because it ended up not being a very trustworthy and responsible place.

So I found a different one. I'm getting a female neonate with beautiful yellow coloring from a responsible breeder who I'm confident has healthy, correctly shipped snakes.

So I'll be sure to post pictures of her when I get her!

[marvelfreak]

I will.

Marvelfreak actually found the ad for the snake and had me look at some reviews for the place I was buying her from. And I am so glad because it ended up not being a very trustworthy and responsible place.

So I found a different one. I'm getting a female neonate with beautiful yellow coloring from a responsible breeder who I'm confident has healthy, correctly shipped snakes.

So I'll be sure to post pictures of her when I get her!
Sound good can't wait to see pics when you get her.:)

[shaunyboy]

hello and welcome

thats a nice snake you got there

cheers shaun