Keeping Snakes Together?

[ANACONDASAURUS]

Does anyone here keep different breeds of snakes together?

[BoidKeeper]

Not me. Everyone even the hatchlings have their own cage. I might put two ATBs in one large natural cage but that's it. I would never mix species for a ton of reasons.
Trevor

[Linds]

Mixing species is a definite no-no. Keeping several of the same snake is even not a great idea.

=typically snakes are solitary animals and do not enjoy eachothers company
=they have their own host specific bacteria, which while it is fine for them, can be harmful to other species (in some cases even fatal)
=these animals may have different husbandry reuirements
=these snakes may have different habits
=possible risk of hybridization

Then there are the reasons not to house even same species...

=They are generally solitary animals and the stress from being forced to share its space may result in behavioural/feeding problems
=They could fight or have accidents
=If one is sick the other will contract it if it is contagious
=Its impossible to monitor them individually... if one defecates/regurgitates you won't be able to know who it was?
=Have to do seperate feedings
=Females can be seriously injured (potentially fatally) if bred too early

[Colonel SB]

Deffinatly not as you can see by Linds post it's not worth the risk!

[jay76]

Too much can go wrong. It's best to play it safe, for all the reasons Linds mentioned. Unlike us, snakes don't get lonely and don't need the company of others.

[burmer]

I'd never risk it. There are too many things that could go wrong.

[Tim and Julie B]

NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NEVER!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheRedDragon]

I would NEVER do it, for same the reasons that Linds posted. Just too many things could go wrong in a situation like that.

[ANACONDASAURUS]

My friend who I've known for many years has done it without any problems.

[Linds]

Originally posted by ANACONDASAURUS
My friend who I've known for many years has done it without any problems.

I don't know how many times I've heard that story. Quite a few people may have used heat rocks for years without problems, doesn't mean its not dangerous and can harm the animal. Just because they haven't experienced any problems to date, is not to say that they won't in the future, or that the situation isn't risky.

[Tim_Cranwill]

Originally posted by ANACONDASAURUS
My friend who I've known for many years has done it without any problems.

It seems a lot of people like to ask questions (especially this one)and then just go a head and do what they had planned in the first place. Why bother asking????

I think everyone would enjoy it if we could all just throw our snakes in one big screen topped glass aquarium and watch them socialize but unfortunately that is not what would happen. This question comes up a lot and most of us have answered it several times.

There comes a time when it becomes clear that snakes are snakes. They will never be anything more or less. If you want to keep them, you must learn to do what is best for them and not whatever "you" think will be cool. Like it was stated above by Linds, many keepers do many things that are frowned upon in the herping community and have little or no troubles arise... but what if something bad did happen? Is it worth it? Just provide the proper care and enjoy keeping the coolest animal in the world!

[sapphire_moon]

Never, For the reasons that everyone else said. Snakes should not be kept together unless for breeding purposes...

[Bartman]

i keep my uromastyx together all the time..is that risky? or is it just bad with snakes....