Boa and Water Snake co-habitate?

[damiansmom]

If anyone could please advise me on the following question, I would appreciate it.

I have had a Northern Banded Water Snake for 2 years or so now. I found him as a hatchling crossing the road. I may have even fed him his very first meal. He is very docile, used to human contact and has never posed any behaviorial or agression problems. He is about 18 inches long and eats goldfish readily out of his bowl. Early this summer I purchased a Columbian Boa - he was just a tiny baby. The Boa is now about 4 1/2 feet and has a HUGE appetite. He will eat 1-2 mice a day for 2-3 days and then take a day or two off from feeding. The Boa got a great 120 gallon tank for Christmas. I wanted to consolidate tank space and put the Water snake in with the boa. Much to my surprise, they both appear very happy with each other. They have been together since Christmas and have been sleeping together for about a week now, under the same log - although they each have their own. The Water Snake is often found lying on top of the Boa. The boa's eating or behavior has not changed since he got his new roommate - the Water Snake has been eating much better since he was moved. They each have their own water bowl as well - I have not seen the water snake in the Boa's bowl and until today the Boa had not paid any attention to the Water snakes water. The Boa was sniffing in the water snakes bowl this morning. He did not enter it, however as it is significantly smaller than his. I am convinced that they are getting along very well and may even enjoy each other's company. My question is this.... Would there be any kind of Bacterial risk to the Boa as the water snake eats only fish? I have a litter of mouse pups due soon and I intend on trying to see if the water snake will eat pinkies. In the wild they are known to eat small mammals, although they do love their fish. For health reasons should they live apart? I have been a little late in thinking about potential health risks to the Boa and would like to know what anyone's opinion is on this. If there is a risk for the Boa - should he be seen by a vet and checked out for any possible bacterial contamination?
Thank you for any help you can give

Cathy

[BWSmith]

Separate cages
Feed the Boa one appropriately sized rodent a week (at 4.5' I should think a med or large rat)
There are definate health risks
There environments are too different to be cagemates

This is the Reader's Digest Version

[JuliusSqueezer]

OK...thanks to a couple of chainsmoked cowboykillers I can type without being a meanymushroom head now.

There is not a nastier (bacteriawise) snake native to the US than any given ssp of watersnake. Neither snake has any natural immunity to eachother's bacteria presence. Nor do these snakes share anything close to the same heating/humidity requirements.

Neither of these snakes are on anything close to a healthy diet. BW mentioned one large rat a week...actually at this size a 10 day feeding schedule would probably be better....and then by next year a 14 day schedule. And please prekill or preferably feed frozen/thawed/warmed rats....not mice. Feeding smal prey very often does not allow a snake to replentish gut flora...they have a very slow metabolism and can't handle this type of feeding for very long.

A diet of goldfish will kill your watersnake eventually...too much slimecoat. To save yourself a good deal of money and trips to a petstore...your watersnake will gladly feed on slices of fish from your freezer. Whiting or perch is fine and cheap too!

[telefrag]

While I will disagree that watersnakes CAN make great captives.

The comment about their diet is correct.

Along with live fish, you should also feed fish strips ( I used catfish, or tilapia) that are enriched with brewers yeast.
Some frogs or earthworms are not a bad idea to mix in from time to time as well.
I have had most watersnakes in my care become very docile, and even feed straight from my finger tips , and show no aggression towards me.
Feeding rodents to watersnakes is fine in SMALL amounts, by no means should the water snakes diet ever consist of 100% mammals, their bodies are not built to handle it.
I equate it somewhat with trying to feed king cobras rodents, sure they may do it, but its not really all that good for them.


I have kept diamond back watersnakes, blotched, broad banded, and northern, and all were very cooperative captives.

But as said by everyone else.
Keeping a north american nerodia with a boa is NOT a good idea for many many many reasons.

Being that your watersnake is wild caught, there is no telling what types of organisms have made a home with him, and those could easily spread to the boa now, while the watersnake may have lived fine with them, the boa may have no natural resistance to them.

Regardless, you will likely have to have your boa checked out to make sure everything is okay.

[damiansmom]

Thank you for all of your advice - it has helped me a great deal.
Am I correct in assuming that the Boa's enclosure should be disinfected, substrate replaced and new hiding log and goodies?
Also should the Boa be seen by a vet now or should a specific amount of time elapse before anything potential should show up?

Thank sagain for your help

Cathy

[JuliusSqueezer]

Unfortunatly...a trip to the vet may or may not tell you anything...it's pretty much a crap shoot unless you yourself know what tests to have run or you happen into a qualified legit herp vet. Many who really are clueless about reptiles say they are experts anyway just for the business. Risk of malpractice with reptiles is low. They can cover their tracks fairly easy in most cases if they happen to accidently kill your snake....Reptile medicine is very much in the dark ages but there are some really good ones out there. If you can find a really good reptile vet it would be a good idea to get some cultures done....and yes...clean the cage and change the substrrate. You can wash and then bake the hide logs awhile and kill most germs.