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friedtofubrain · #1 (**permalink**) 12-23-2003, 05:14 PM

Is it a good idea for my 3 foot to cohabitate with a 4 foot female ball python?

i'm thinking about adopting another one and putting them in a 60 gallon tank.

BWSmith · #2 (**permalink**) 12-23-2003, 05:40 PM

Idealy , each snake should have its own enclosure. I don't see a real problem with a 3 foot and four foot bp to housed together other than feeding issues that may ensue. But I would definately not add an adopted one to them. The new one really needs to be housed separately and go through a proper quarentine procedure.

Bry · #3 (**permalink**) 12-23-2003, 05:41 PM

Well, snakes as a general rule do better by themselves as it's less stressful on the snakes, among other reasons. If you know for a fact that both snakes are 100% healthy, I suppose it can't hurt. Just be sure to provide enough hides and feed them separately. If there seems to be any signs of problems as a result of them cohabitating, i.e. stress, not feeding, etc. then separate them and invest in a new enclosure.

Edit to add: Oh yeah, and what BW said. Quarantine the adopted one. I generally try not to keep more than 2 to an enclosure. The more snakes you have together, the more likely you are to encounter problems.

Bry

Amiechan · #4 (**permalink**) 12-23-2003, 05:47 PM

I agree with what is said above. If you decide to keep them together, make sure to separate them when you feed, or you may end up having a 2-tailed snake.

Ed_r · #5 (**permalink**) 12-23-2003, 06:09 PM

As with was said earlier, Definately quarentine A new animal.Other than that Ball Pythons can live together, and actually seem to enjoy it most of the time, just be careful not to put 2 males in together not sure how they would react come breeding season.

The other thing that comes to mind too. If your getting these from adoptions (Major Kudos for adopting) more than likely they will be wild caught animals. This means they could be tough feeders. I know mine won't eat at all if you move them out of the cage, regardless how hungry they are. Seems the moving to a feed tub takes away their feeding response, and they lose interest.

So while they 'can' be housed together, it would probably be best not to.

LdyDrgn · #6 (**permalink**) 12-23-2003, 10:34 PM

I have a breeding pair here that I adopted from Beccah (some of you remember her). They were kept in an enclosure together even after the female laid the eggs and they were removed from her. When I got them I was told that the female would not eat as long as the male was living with her and she will not eat rats.

Well, it took a couple months after seperation before she would eat. I also discovered that she will not eat unless absolutely secure (in a tight fitting hide). I have to place the mouse at the entrance to her hide and leave her alone. She won't take it until she feels she is safe to. *sigh* I'll never be able to get breeding weight back on her at this rate since she won't take more than one mouse a week and I can't hold her much at all because if I do she refuses her next meal. Can't see her, can't hold her....

The male I have no such problem with. He seems to enjoy being handled, takes large rats and he's huge!

The point of all this is: it is best for the Royals to be seperated because many are quite high strung. In the long run it is much healthier for them and easier to clean up after them. You will also be able to tell if one has a problem if they aren't living together. "Great, I need a fecal sample but I don't know which snake left it!"

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