Housing different snakes together?

[smallball]

Hello,

I had a question and I was wondering if anyone could guide me with some good advice.

I have a JCP and a ball python, They are both very young in age (under 3 months), and are both very tame snakes, neither have ever bitten or ever striked at me.
The point to all of this is that I would like to house them together adn I was wondering if I should worry about them fighting?

Thank you,

BradLey

[BoidKeeper]

In my opinion, which I'm basing on things I've read and things that I know large breeders do, I feel that snakes should never be housed together. Here are some points that I keep in mind and reasons why I do not house snakes together.
1. The presence of another animal in their space represents competition, competition leads to stress.
2. Stress leads to loss of appetite and or disease.
3. If one sick gets sick they can both get sick.
4. How do you know who is defecating and who is not?
5. Snakes are not social animals so although captivity its self is not natural forcing two animals to live together is even more unnatural.
Now keeping two different species together can open up a whole new can of worms. Different species can be more susceptible to different diseases. Also they can differ in heat and humidity requirements.
Cheers,
Trevor

[smallball]

Thank you for your reply Boid Keeper.

Bradley

[BoidKeeper]

Also Bradley keep in mind that Jungles are from Australia and Balls are from africa. They need totally different cages and husbandry.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Simon]

Trev,

Good post~
Its been quite a while since I have seen a post that doesn't directly bash at someone's head before telling informative information to the thread poster~~!

I was going to ignore this thread since you basically nailed it right on....but I couldn't resist and had to come back and tell you to give yourself a pat on the back~!!

Good job~!

[BoidKeeper]

Thanks Simon. I think we need to step back and remind ourselves sometimes that we were there once too. There is too much head bashing lately.
As for my reply, this question had been coming up a lot last year. So much so that I took the time to right this reply in word and then save it. Now I just copy and past it in when ever needed.
I will admit though that his question is better then the phone call I got two weeks ago. Someone called me to ask if they could keep a turtle with a Jungle.
Cheers,
Trevor

[smallball]

I did notice the bashing lately as well and was hoping that I would get someone who has been with reptiles for a while and could give me the right answer the first time.

So thank you Trevor and your advise has been noted,
I am just looking for the best for my snakes and I was worried that they might be getting lonely.
Now I know that snakes are not social, the health risks and that they need to have different environments.

Bradley

[Simon]

Originally posted by BoidKeeper
I got two weeks ago. Someone called me to ask if they could keep a turtle with a Jungle.


...............
:confused: :confused:
is that really a hard question...
one is a land/water type and the other is a land type....

But I guess if you look at it in another perspective...at least the person asked instead of going ahead and doing it~~

Bradley,
Yup. I would definitely say that you got a reply from the right person. That is why he is one of our moderators~~
Also its a good thing that you asked instead of going ahead to doing it~ Good for you!

[jungleguy]

but regardless...you can keep snakes together they wont fight as long as you feed them seperate its just that breeders and alot of others dont like it because of the possible stress......

[smallball]

Yeah that is what I figured as well that they would not fight, but with all the other reasons stated, I think that I am going to safe then sorry.

Thank you all for you replies.

Bradley

[crazyboy]

trevor gave you the correct advice. Dont listen to jungle guy because just because some snakes might not fight together doesn't mean others wont..it depends on your snakes. Also with some snakes, mostly corns, kings, and milks, there is a caniibalistic problem.

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by jungleguy
you can keep snakes together
You can also use your index finger to poke yourself in the eye; however, just because you can do something does not necessarily make it a good idea ;)
R

[Jeff_Favelle]

You can also use your index finger to poke yourself in the eye; however, just because you can do something does not necessarily make it a good idea


LOL! ;)

[geckoguy157]

jungle guy i have a question for you how would you condsider it possble stress they need difrent care and improper care would stress them out plus they would be living with an animal they would never encounter in the wild. Plus carpets are very greedy feaders sometimes they see movement and strike.

[Kevin McRae]

You can also use your index finger to poke yourself in the eye; however, just because you can do something does not necessarily make it a good idea ;)
R

Nice One!

[Jeff Hathaway]

While I like (and agree with) the advice given, and especially Ryan's excellent example, I will say that it is possible to keep snakes together, and even different (though obviously with similar requirements) species in some cases. However, there are some disadvantages at the best of times, and the potential for disaster is high if you don't know what you're doing. I don't advocate it in most cases, though I do it myself.

Oh yeah- cannibalistic tendencies in kings and milks, certainly. With corns? Not very likely. Certainly not in my experience, keeping various corns together for the last 8-10 years.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[Kevin McRae]

oh..............in the Book "PYTHONS" written by the Barletts it states that some python species can be kept together, they say you can house burms with rock pythons and carpet pythons with diamond pythons.

But I don't like the idea of keeping snakes together.

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Originally posted by RMBolton
You can also use your index finger to poke yourself in the eye; however, just because you can do something does not necessarily make it a good idea ;)
R

Beautiful! LOL!:p Do ya mind if I steal that "saying" to put it to good use on occasion? I would ofcourse give you the credit for it!

I must agree, why risk keeping snakes together? Why would you want to keep snakes together? YOU, may want to keep them together, but does that mean the snakes do?

C.