Eunectes notaeus

Some would call them little sweetie-pies. Others would call them ******* great sweetie-pies They are impressive, but do poo a lot - and they are SMELLY snakes
	This is Kathryn, a yellow anaconda I once had. Over the years she shared vivaria with rainbow boas and boa constrictors, finally being housed on her own.

Of all the species of boid which I have kept, I find yellow anacondas to be the most difficult snake on which to get reliable information. Reports of their adult length vary from less than 2 metres to over 4 metres. Reports of thier natures vary from "placid" to "vicious". So, in my experience.....

Contrary to many books, they can be fussy feeders. While young they eat everything and anything, but as they get older, they can become more difficult. While you should offer food each week, they may be fussy and only eat once every third or fourth week. They seem to have "phases" - they will only eat rats for some weeks, then they will only eat "small things"

They bite a lot when young, but as they get bigger they seem to stop biting quite so often. But they are unpredictable. I was once showing a yellow to a friend when she struck out from my arms, bit my friend on the nose quite badly, and then she turned and bit my hand. On another occasion without warning a yellow struck at my face and bit both hands.

They will spend most of their time submerged in water, so ensure their water is at the same temperature as the ambient temperature of the vivarium.
They will forfeit heat for water which can lead to the snake becoming too cool to maintain its body function and leave them open to infections. Yellow anacondas can be very nervous snakes and may mess themselves at the least worry.

They are strong snakes - quoting a fellow anaconda - keeper

one of the most suprising things about these snakes is their massive strength, handling a 12 foot retic seems like a corn snake after moving my male yellow for viv cleaning