Peek-a-boo!

[sophiedufort]

I couldn't help it, I had to post this.
(Aaron, just this once, please don't grill me on risks of snake co-habitation. This picture is here just for fun :) )

[Minkness]

That almost looks like the BP is trying to actively constrict the boa....

Maybe that's just me though.

[Sylphie]

That almost looks like the BP is trying to actively constrict the boa....

Maybe that's just me though.

That was my first thought too, so yea, it's not just you, haha! :D

[sophiedufort]

That almost looks like the BP is trying to actively constrict the boa....

Maybe that's just me though.

Nope, that's not it :D Mojo, the BP, fell asleep on top of Dante (the boa), and Dante found a pipping hole.

[that1guy]

At first it kinda looked like the Boa's head is coming out of the Ball Python's body, of course I knew it wasn't, but is still pretty neat. I also don't believe in co-habitation of snakes though, just saying.

[AlexCrazy]

LOL.. as a saw the photo.. i thought it was just one snake and im like.."what is that?!" Untill a read the discription.. haha funny pick..
im no expert but i dont think those 2 should live together..

[Mikoh4792]

Just wondering, but why do you co-hab your snakes?

[sophiedufort]

Just wondering, but why do you co-hab your snakes?

Regardless of what so many people think (and I strongly believe that most just follow rules without questioning them), snakes can be, at times, better off if they stay together. I heard it many times, I know... 'snakes are not social animals, they live alone in the wild'. And so on. But I do not have wild snakes. They were born and raised in captivity, for at least a few generations. Their behavior, just like that of every animal on the planet, adapts to their environment, be that out there, in the wild, or in a man-made enclosure. If one could say that snakes can be happy, I would certainly say that ours are. It is the whole package (being loved by hubby and I, cared for dearly, fed, protected, handled with gentleness and respect) that makes them feel secure and content, to want to come out and bask on our warmth and loving attention. They grew up together in the same enclosure, they have their habits, their favorite neighbor, and they become anxious when one of them is missing for a while. You can see them crawl around and poke their nose in each hide, looking for the absentee. My snakes have several hides in their enclosure, and their housing behavior is fascinating. At times, they all get packed in the same hide (which may seem territorial at a first glance), then they spread amongst the hides, always in pairs or more than two in the same hide. They have strong preferences for a certain hide or companion for a while, then they make a change. The exception: our Brazilian rainbow boas, which are inseparable. They will always sleep, crawl, cuddle together. The youngest even watches over the oldest when she takes a bath in their water container, hovering over the bather and touching her with her nose, just to make sure there's no distance between them. She will never go in as well. Just waiting patiently for her 'sister' to come out.
My husband and I spend a great deal of time with our snakes, and that helps us observe them, notice things that people don't generally care to notice or dwell on. Our snakes are happy to be together, it's visible. They are glowing of health and happiness, they express it in amazing ways. A snake cannot bounce around when the owner comes to play with it, but a snake can show its content just as much, only in very different ways. Just because snakes are not displaying their content in the way that we know and are comfortable with (that of dogs and cats for example), doesn't mean that they are stripped of their ability to have feelings and emotions. We just cannot understand them (most of us, anyway), because we, humans, have this shortcoming: we tend to disregard or under-appreciate something that we cannot understand, or that does not behave by the standards we know. But when I take my snakes out of their enclosure, put them on the bed and see them hurry to crawl to us, climb on us, give us little licks, wrap around our hands and do happy 'squeezy hugs' for minutes on end then cuddle by our side and fall asleep, I know that they are truly happy. They never try to get away from us, to the contrary they seek us, regardless of how many enticing hides we place on the bed. They do not display signs of stress or discontent. Just like I said before, they are glowing with health and happiness. In the circumstances, can anyone argue that I'm doing something wrong?
PS. Bozo, the banana ball python, is different in his habitat preferences. He wants to be alone, it's clear. So he has his own enclosure. So does Lilou, the woma. And our newcomer, Skye, the desert ball (she'll be here within the hour, by the way) will have her own house for at least a few months.

[Minkness]

Oh god, not this again.... x.x

[sophiedufort]

Oh god, not this again.... x.x

Lol :D You asked for it!

[Minkness]

No...I didn't...

[sophiedufort]

No...I didn't...

Uhmmm... "Just wondering, but why do you co-hab your snakes?" (Your question). Deal with the consequences :D or remember NOT to ask questions to a woman, because you'll hear the most comprehensive life story in return.

[Mikoh4792]

Uhmmm... "Just wondering, but why do you co-hab your snakes?" (Your question). Deal with the consequences :D or remember NOT to ask questions to a woman, because you'll hear the most comprehensive life story in return.

To be fair it was me who asked. I appreciate your lengthy reply, even though I disagree. However, I don't want to de-rail this thread so I'll refrain from giving my input. Maybe a discussion for a later time.

[Aaron_S]

I couldn't help it, I had to post this.
(Aaron, just this once, please don't grill me on risks of snake co-habitation. This picture is here just for fun :) )

What's that mark on your boa at the top right along it's body?

[Minkness]

To be fair it was me who asked. I appreciate your lengthy reply, even though I disagree. However, I don't want to de-rail this thread so I'll refrain from giving my input. Maybe a discussion for a later time.

Thank you. I feel much the same way.

[SnoopySnake]

Is that a rainbow boa in the far left of the pic...?

[sophiedufort]

What's that mark on your boa at the top right along it's body?

I don't know if you remember one of my previous threads that addressed that issue. The mark appeared there after he shed. I was worried, so I asked the same question. Some forum members reckoned it was a bad shed. The mark looks much better now, and I can only hope that it will get smaller with time. If I look at it closely, it looks like some scales are missing, as if they were shaved off.

[Minkness]

That's the RTBs tail.

[sophiedufort]

Is that a rainbow boa in the far left of the pic...?

Yes, that's one of our Brazilian rainbow girls.

[Mikoh4792]

Yes, that's one of our Brazilian rainbow girls.

Don't take this as an attack, but I'm just curious/concerned. Don't brazilian rainbow boas require high humidity compared to ball pythons and boas? How do you fulfill requirements for different types of snakes in the same enclosure?

[smoothie4l]

Please, I'm not here to start any fights.
But I'm begging you to at least if you absolutely insist that your snakes must never be alone to at least keep the woma separate.
Woma pythons EAT other snakes and can get very territorial.
I never take out my woma without a hook and I would never in a million years put another snake in there unless I wanted one or both snakes dead.
I'm just worried about your snakes health I don't want to bicker with you.

[SnoopySnake]

Don't take this as an attack, but I'm just curious/concerned. Don't brazilian rainbow boas require high humidity compared to ball pythons and boas? How do you fulfill requirements for different types of snakes in the same enclosure?

Yes. Rainbow boas need much higher humidity and decently lower temps.........

[Aaron_S]

Don't take this as an attack, but I'm just curious/concerned. Don't brazilian rainbow boas require high humidity compared to ball pythons and boas? How do you fulfill requirements for different types of snakes in the same enclosure?

To be fair, I think this is her "play time" for snakes and not necessarily their enclosure.

[sophiedufort]

Please, I'm not here to start any fights.
But I'm begging you to at least if you absolutely insist that your snakes must never be alone to at least keep the woma separate.
Woma pythons EAT other snakes and can get very territorial.
I never take out my woma without a hook and I would never in a million years put another snake in there unless I wanted one or both snakes dead.
I'm just worried about your snakes health I don't want to bicker with you.

I do keep the woma separately, as I said previously. She doesn't have contact with other snakes.

[Mikoh4792]

To be fair, I think this is her "play time" for snakes and not necessarily their enclosure.

I would hope so.

[Albert Clark]

Yes, that's one of our Brazilian rainbow girls.

Totally interesting interpretations of reptile behavior Sophie! :)

[sophiedufort]

Totally interesting interpretations of reptile behavior Sophie! :)

:) I love, love, love my babies.