Mixing two different species

[tHeGiNo]

Well at the local super pet, they are housing an aussie water dragon and a legless lizard together, is this ok?

[Ed_r]

No no no no no no. In case you missed it NO.lol Pet store are notorious for that. I walked into a store once and saw a skink being eaten by a kingsnake. The idiot in the petstore didnt realize that kingsnakes eat lizards.

They come from 2 different localities, although could be an Ausie legless lizard too i guess. But if im not mistaken legless lizards live in a drier climate than a water dragon. Its just not a good thing. bad enough that they keep multple numbers of the same species, yet alone different ones. Different bacteria tollerances too.

[tHeGiNo]

Didn't think so, just wanted others opinions, thanks.

[gfisher2002]

Agree 100% with Ed.

[Linds]

Yup. I agree with what Ed said, and would also like to add a few things. Those animals are not natural to eachother, hence they may stress the other out, or worse yet, fight and injure/kill eachother. It is not normal for these animals to see eachother, any number of things can come as a result. Even mixing species from the same geographic location can be disasterous, since it can be very difficult to provide a large enough enclosure to simulate their natural environment. Many species of lizard and all species of snake are solitary animals, and only come together naturally for breeding. For the most part, it is best to disregard pet store examples, or listen to pet store advice, most of the time they don't have the slightest idea what they are doing/talking about :(

[tHeGiNo]

Yea definitely. I am not stupid enough that I didnt know you shouldnt house them together, I just wanted you to respond so I can show the petstore. I didnt want to go solely on my word so I got yours, and now they said they are going to separate them, I will check back tomorrow.

[eyespy]

I like to tell pet store managers two different little statements:

If Mother Nature keeps them separate, so should you!

If they do live together in nature, you MUST simulate every natural condition, including wind and rain and vast open spaces. Otherwise their natural mouth and gut bacteria will sicken each other. This is called abuse by negligence and has caused pet stores to have their animals confiscated if animal control officers are on their game and local laws are sensibly written.

[Xetox]

Its not even good to keep the same speices together other than for breeding, keeping two different spieces is just way out of order.

Shot him ;)

[Bryce Masuk]

thats why you will rarely see petsores with kingsanke hatchings because they eat each other but you will se like 10 corn snake in a 10 gallon at the petstore because they wont eat each other even then if it is the same species outing them together causes undue stress and if one is sick they all will be not to mention they fight often to the death usually male vs male but some times its not

[J_Riley]

Originally posted by Bryce Masuk
but you will se like 10 corn snake in a 10 gallon at the petstore because they wont eat each other

I've had people tell me of cannibilistic incidents involving E. G. Guttata for what it's worth...