Two snakes together?

[sssteph]

Last year my husband bought me 2 ball pythons from a classified ad. The seller said they were 2 years old (although definite size difference) and have always shared a tank. I have now had them for 18 months and they are healthy, eating well etc. I have read repeatedly that balls shouldn't be kept together but mine seem to get along well. I have never had them sexed. Should they be separated after being together for over 3 years with no problems?

[TempestK]

Absolutely! Snakes are not social animals. The only time they get together in the wild is for breeding and brumation (with some species). It can be difficult not to anthropomorphize, but it really is better in many respects to keep them separate.

[reptiledude987]

I have bp housed together as well with no issues. I recently picked up a Mojave at an expo and when I introduced him with his new roommates ( after a 2 mth isolation period) there were no behavioural issues but he wasnt taking meals. I now have him housed seperatly and hes eating over time I will try reintroducing him with the others and as long as he continues to eat there should be no issues.

[pdomensis]

there were no behavioural issues but he wasnt taking meals.

This is totally contradictory. That was the behavioral issue.

[reptiledude987]

By behavioral issues I was refering to conflicts or agression.

[millertime89]

Not taking a meal is a behavioral issue. The presence of another snake can be a stressful thing for these animals.

[FWK]

Absolutely! Snakes are not social animals. The only time they get together in the wild is for breeding and brumation (with some species). It can be difficult not to anthropomorphize, but it really is better in many respects to keep them separate.

Not taking a meal is a behavioral issue. The presence of another snake can be a stressful thing for these animals.

Agreed and agreed. Housing Balls together can only be stressful for them. Balls, and snakes in general, are not social animals. They do not "like" each other, they do not have that capacity. They may tolerate each other to a point but they certainly do not enjoy company. Another snake, if not a potential mate, can only be competition, food, or a threat. I would separate them ASAP.

[Cmwells90]

Sssteph, many people here are going to tell you that you need to seperate them and in my opinion, you do. I can see where you're coming from that they've been together as long as they have and that it hasn't caused any issues. When I first started keeping snakes I had 2 BPs in the same cage, for many many years. In fact they stayed together until one of them passed away a full 10 years later. They never seemed to have any issues living together or anything. So if the question is, does it cause problems or hurt them, well that depends on the snake. If you're looking to do what's best for the snakes, then seperate them. In the wild they will mind their own business and live alone, only interacting to breed really.

[millertime89]

Sure, keep them together and risk this happening.
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/10847879_10203683641234389_1496964517830184958_n.j pg?oh=e75edcdce87dc87504dbc761b4dc5780&oe=55182F64

Don't have a boa? Oh, well look here...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/q83/s720x720/10850145_10203678288500574_6563555965665156853_n.j pg?oh=f933b56e8a2cf32fa12d5150e437644c&oe=5516AD85&__gda__=1430599171_91769ca5fa365e21a3e7ea130a1833f a

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/1506964_10203677683605452_6224537866054194957_n.jp g?oh=a6a1e554670b6f2ab44c80e796dd23b2&oe=5500D3FE&__gda__=1426935233_ddeefd2c651c4bd9eba58f0dc9b741f 4

[pdomensis]

In the wild they will mind their own business and live alone, only interacting to breed really.

In the wild they also will likely have several acres between them and not be in direct competition. Honestly, I wish it were a good idea. It would be awesome to house multiple snakes together, but for me it's a bad choice. Accidentally eating each other, passing parasites or illness, higher stress levels-all make it not worth the risks. It's not that difficult to get a second tank set up.

[millertime89]

And yes, that's one ball bursting through the side of another that ate it...

[Minkness]

Omg... x_x

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little....

[Tsubaki]

There are so many examples of cannibalism amongst snakes, and snakes that stop eating when housed together. Yet people still think it is a good idea to house snakes together.. It's always a gamble, and yes the 'odds' are in the favor of the people housing them together .. Snakes living together without eating each other, is still more common than snakes eating each other. But that does not make it a good idea.

I like to see it like this, keeping snakes together is like crossing the street while the light is red. 95% of the time, nothing serious will happen. That 5% however, will get into an accident at some point. It could be a small fender-bender, or it could be very serious. (A snake can stop eating, and a snake can eat its 'companion') Do i risk my life for this? No, i wait for the light to turn green. Why risk it with your pets?

[shaunyboy]

imo it all depends on which species you are co habiting.....

i and plenty other Carpet keepers co habit,same sized females and same sized pairs without issues

re feeding
always separate at feeding time

re breeding season
always separate females that are too small or too young to breed,before and during breeding season (no one wants a young egg bound snake)

as said,it's only Carpets i'm suggesting co habiting has no issues


cheers shaun

p.s.co habiting imo is for experienced keepers who have the learned to read their Carpets

[Aaron_S]

By behavioral issues I was refering to conflicts or agression.

Did you increase the amount of hot spots available to all the animals? Increase the hides?

If not, and the most likely answer is no, then yes there was conflicts. In our enclosures it is built with a single animal in mind. So there's ONE better hot spot...ONE amazing secure hiding spot. So yes, there was conflict. You just aren't trained in what to look for.

[JinxtheBP]

Ugh, I wish I'd had a warning before those pictures. That was horrible.

[millertime89]

Ugh, I wish I'd had a warning before those pictures. That was horrible.

That's the point. Let it serve as a lesson so we can learn from others' mistakes.

[JinxtheBP]

That's the point. Let it serve as a lesson so we can learn from others' mistakes.

Wasn't planning on doing it to begin with, personally.

[millertime89]

Wasn't planning on doing it to begin with, personally.

Then it wasn't directed at you, just for those that might consider it.

[Aaron_S]

Then it wasn't directed at you, just for those that might consider it.

Thanks for posting the pictures. I didn't have to :D

[mrgrimm]

Nothing like living with the grief of having an animal die in your care, why risk putting yourself through that emotional trauma?

It's a shame that an animal has to suffer or die for people to learn our lessons, but with the internet to showcase horrible instances like this hopefully we can avoid A LOT of potential future mishaps - for our sake and the animal's sake!