cannibal python

[Scales Zoo]

Has anyone had this happen? A good friend and fellow herper has found a female jungle that killed and consumed her mate.

Another incident we are aware of was an olive python consuming 2 rainbow boas. I have no idea why these snakes were together in the first place, but evidently it was a poor choice of husbandry.

Any other stories of this type would be of interest to us.

Sheila and Ryan

[Hamster of Borg]

I've never had it happen to me, but then, I don't keep snakes together. Theres a yearling burmese python at a pet store near me that was dumped on the store after it ate the adult ball python it was housed with.
Incidents like these are far from uncommon, which is just one of the reasons why it is always recommended you keep animals seperated except for breeding purposes. :P

Ham

[reverendsterlin]

many species will eat their own, most occur with neonates but one of the big reasons for feeding seperately is both snakes trying for the same prey and the one with the first advantage(i.e. my mouth covered yours first) swallowing the other. A few species are know snake eaters, kingsnakes, king cobras, hogs, other cobras, and coralsnakes to name a few.

[Tim and Julie B]

The only time I have heard of this happening was with carpets but it is probably the story you are refering to. I was very shocked to hear it. So is it not a good idea to house them together? I have seen them housed together more times then I 've seen them housed seperatly. Is this wrong?

[Scales Zoo]

We are aware of the cannabalism of kings, milks and some ratsnakes, but the python incident was something I had trouble understanding, as we keep, but do not feed, ball pythons and rat snakes together. We do not mix species, but we do house some in groups. The cannibal thing was disturbing, and I look at our big female jungle often to see that she still has a cage mate when she is with the male.

[Tim and Julie B]

I have never had any problems with my rat snakes as long as you seperate for feeding! Balls also. So you guys just put your carpets together for breeding only? That requires a lot more room.

[gonesnakee]

I know the story you are talking about Ryan I talked to Steve about it also. Not a very happy camper. I have heard of even baby Corns eating one another, not at feeding time either, but just being housed together. I keep everything seperate except for breeding. I will usually keep the baby Corns together until first sheds, but like I said above, even that can be risky. I have also heard of a baby spotted Python eating another neonate before. So whenever snakes are together there "are" risks that lots of people otherwise fail to acknowledge. Mark I.

[gonesnakee]

Heres an off topic one for you too Ryan. My Delhezi Bicher tried to eat my African Rope/Reed Fish. He had it completely "doubled over" inside him. It was too big to swallow but I have some really crappy pics of the Delhezi killing it in it's process of trying to swallow the poor thing, DOH! Mark I.

[Tim and Julie B]

Holy cr*p! I had no idea. See you learn something new everyday on this site. I have never heard of any of those snakes eating each other!

[Jezabel]

I've heard it mostly with ringed and papuan.

Those ringed where introduce only for breedeing and they imediatly strike and constrict themself.

http://www2.eboard.com/eboard/boards/8/79/4/BobGarby/att-499677/DSCN1350r.jpg

Here the papuan that has eaten his mate...

http://www.pythons.net/papuanewguinea/papuan/cannabal.jpg

[snakemann87]

oh wow! ive never heard of the two doing that.......learn something everyday. I have never seeen a papuan python for sale, and i simply LOOOOVE them. I mean, look at the face:) How much would they go for average. In USD if you know.

[Christina]

In an issue of Reptiles magazine from mid 90's not sure of the month since i no longer have that issue. there is an artical on breeding ball pythons. In the artical is a pic of one the neonates which had eaten one of the others in the clutch. I also remember that the snake that was eaten was larger then the one who ate him/her and I also believe that both snakes die as a resault.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Womas and Blackheads LOVE to eat other snakes.

[Lisa]

We thought one of our boa's ate her cage mate, she looked fat and he was missing, thankfully we were wrong.

I can totally see different species compeating for food eating each other though.