Ben! (retics and anacondas?)

[razeraze]

Hey Ben,

I was wondering if you (or anyone else who has kept anacondas and retics for years) could elaborate on growth rates, overall size and comparisons. Too often there is a generic consensus that Green anacondas are heavier and retics are longer. I think both probably reach very similar weight and lengths just maybe at different times of their lives.

[Rex322]

i could see burms reaching the same weights, but not retics...

[Ben_Renick]

Sure!

To start off the basic size difference, Anacondas do put on weight faster than Retics (in most cases), but for the most part they can end up at simliar weights. Retics can put on fat like crazy, which can add up in weight quite fast as they age, don't get me wrong they are still rediculously muscular snakes, but I'm sure most have seen adults with the rolls hangin' out (not always the case, but sometimes). But it seems like anacondas put on the weight with more muscle as they age.

Comparing sizes, a 11-12' retic can weigh anywhere from 20+ lbs, a 11'-12' Green Anaconda can weigh anywhere from 50+ lbs (I have an 8'-9' male that weighs that much).

On to the length between the two, Anacondas aren't anything compared to retic as far as putting on length. A Retic can reach 9' in one year, it can take an Anaconda up to 3 years to reach that length. But from overall size, it seems like a 16' Anaconda is the actual girth of a 20' Retic.

And I'm sure there is more to come, I just don't have to time to type it all out right now.

[lloyd]

thanks for the reply ben

[chabraham]

Since we're on the topic of anconda/retic growth rates, i'll ask a question that i am yet to find an answer to. I got my first anaconda in the summer. It is a male yellow anaconda, and right at the 3 foot mark. Could Ben, or another experienced conda worker provide me with a general growth rate for the species. I can already see a fair size differnce comparing him to is photo taken in July. I feed him an appropiate sized rat (about 150% of his thickest point every 6-7 days.)
Generally, how long does it take for a male yellow to reach 36" after birth, so i can get an idea of his age. ( i was told he was about year old when i got him)
Also, generally how many feet do yellows put the first year and second year?
How long does it take for yellows to become "full grown"
And finally, in your experience, is it fair to say a male yellow anaconda will aquire length between 8 and 10 feet.

I would really appriciate some input to my questions. I am finding it difficult to get information on this topic, probably because anacondas aren't all that popular.

[BoaVixen]

Originally Posted by chabraham

Since we're on the topic of anconda/retic growth rates, i'll ask a question that i am yet to find an answer to. I got my first anaconda in the summer. It is a male yellow anaconda, and right at the 3 foot mark. Could Ben, or another experienced conda worker provide me with a general growth rate for the species. I can already see a fair size differnce comparing him to is photo taken in July. I feed him an appropiate sized rat (about 150% of his thickest point every 6-7 days.)
Generally, how long does it take for a male yellow to reach 36" after birth, so i can get an idea of his age. ( i was told he was about year old when i got him)
Also, generally how many feet do yellows put the first year and second year?
How long does it take for yellows to become "full grown"
And finally, in your experience, is it fair to say a male yellow anaconda will aquire length between 8 and 10 feet.
I would really appriciate some input to my questions. I am finding it difficult to get information on this topic, probably because anacondas aren't all that popular.

I was wondering that as well, while greens are my favorite yellows are still cool. I hadn't been able to find any information on them though. So I guess what I am really doing is encouraging someone with more experience to help us, as well.

[morti]

Originally Posted by chabraham

Since we're on the topic of anconda/retic growth rates, i'll ask a question that i am yet to find an answer to. I got my first anaconda in the summer. It is a male yellow anaconda, and right at the 3 foot mark. Could Ben, or another experienced conda worker provide me with a general growth rate for the species. I can already see a fair size differnce comparing him to is photo taken in July. I feed him an appropiate sized rat (about 150% of his thickest point every 6-7 days.)
Generally, how long does it take for a male yellow to reach 36" after birth, so i can get an idea of his age. ( i was told he was about year old when i got him)
Also, generally how many feet do yellows put the first year and second year?
How long does it take for yellows to become "full grown"
And finally, in your experience, is it fair to say a male yellow anaconda will aquire length between 8 and 10 feet.
I would really appriciate some input to my questions. I am finding it difficult to get information on this topic, probably because anacondas aren't all that popular.

I am not the right guy to answer all of your questions, as I have never grown a yellow up from a neonate. I do, however, have a 10' female and an 8' male that I got as adults. The difference between in size between the two is amazing. The female is big and bulky while the male is "Built like a retic"... long and skinny. He eats like a big pig, but they are just not built to be monster snakes. So yeah... 8' - 10' would be reasonable... probably on the low side of that though.

[Ben_Renick]

"Generally, how long does it take for a male yellow to reach 36" after birth, so i can get an idea of his age."

Honestly, there isn't a good way to tell age by size comparison with yellows, because it does vary so much with feeding and neonatal size. A neonate yellow has the potential to reach 36" within the first year to year and a half on a 5-6 day schedule, may take up to 2 years for a male. However, I have an 04' female yellow anaconda hitting up 4' and eating anything in site, as well as an 03' female yellow that is hitting up 8'-9' doing the same. It's hard to base age on size, because there are just too many variables, if you want to know the correct age, it's best to track down the breeder.

"Also, generally how many feet do yellows put the first year and second year?"

Same thing as above, it can really vary with prey size and how often it's fed, and even basic genetics. Within two years, I would say a yellow could be anywhere from 24"-4'+.

"How long does it take for yellows to become "full grown""

I'm not sure there is ever a really full grown part of this, mainly because they will tend to keep growing just at a very petite rate, females especially. I've seen females hit 10'+ within 4-5 years, and males, well, I have an 8 yr old that is hitting around 8'. And just like Morti said, all of the males I have are very slim and slender (no matter how they eat) and females a much more massive.

Onto Greens vs. Retics again, it is very hard to compare the two, because actual hardy, well feeding Green Anacondas haven't really been in captivity nearly as long as established Retics have. I mean I've honestly only seen one or two Greens hit 16' that actually looked 100% well established and healthy.

Factoring in parasites and refusal of food can make a huge difference in girth vs. length as well. I have seen some extremely long anacondas, with slender bodies and very little girth and weight, which I wouldn't imagine it outdoing a large Retic any day. But comparing a well established Anaconda, they do tend to outweigh Retics length vs. weight. I find it harder to manage a 10'+ conda than I do a 14'+ Retic honestly... But then again, a lot of my condas will bite.

[razeraze]

Thanks Ben. Do you think the retic caging may have to do with fat to muscle ratios? I know anacondas are famous for waiting in water and not doing too much movement, how ever retics are famous for tree climbing so with out that exercise it is fairly easy to see they would get fat in captivity. My little girl should play out nicely when she has a huge cage and lots of thick branches to play on.