Nicki Minaj -- My VMA Performance Would Have Been Better With My Anaconda

Nicki Minaj delivered a killer performance Sunday night at the VMAs, but she says it would have been better if she'd had a live snake on stage with her as planned ... ya know, before it bit someone.

TMZ broke the story ... a 6-foot long Anaconda bit a dancer during Nicki's run-through of "Anaconda." She had the snake with her at the Forum Sunday, but MTV opted against using it.

When our photog spotted Nicki leaving Republic Records' VMA party at Project nightclub after the show ... she said the bit dancer was actually up on stage with her. She seems upset her snake wasn't there too.

Bet that dancer isn't.