Can I have More than 1 kind of boa in the same vivarium?

[erghiez]

Hey, I just wanted to know if it is possible to have more than one type of boa in a big vivarium?

[Aaron_S]

The short answer is no.

[erghiez]

alright thanks, but can I have lets say 2 male boas that are say both central american boas? or is there a turf thing with them?

[aferland66]

You'll get different answers from different people. I'll agree with Aaron_S that the quick and dirty answer is no, BUT lots of people, including me, keep more than 1 boa in the same enclosure. It is even common practice with some breeders to put more than 1 male at a time with a female to make sure that her eggs get fertilized.

This answer applies to Red Tail Boas and Ball Pythons, since they are not territorial and will not fight, so if kept in a large vivarium like a 4' wide x 4' deep x 7' high enclosure for Boas, there will be no problem as long as some rules are followed.

1- Give enough basking spots for all snakes.
2- Give enough hides for all snakes.
3- Make sure you have plenty of space on the cold and warm sides of the enclosure for all snakes.
4- ALWAYS keep the water clean, two snakes in the same water bowl usually means twice as much poop in it.
5- Keep different size snakes in separate enclosures. A large female may smother a small baby without knowing.
6- Use feeding bins. Take the snakes out of the enclosure and put them in separate bins for feeding, that way you know which snake ate what. It is also very possible for 2 snakes to go after the same prey item, and one snake can even swallow the other. It would regurgitate it, but it would be dead (not a good thing:no:).

So this is the long answer to the short one Aaron_S gave. It is usually more trouble to keep snakes together then in seperate enclosures, but if you want to make a nice large enclosure with plenty of branches, plants, climbing surfaces and even maybe a running waterfall, then the answer is yes, you can keep BCCs or BCIs together.

[gonesnakee]

The CORRECT answer is NO except for breeding purposes. Snakes WILL fight. Boas WILL eat each other. They WILL stress each other out. Unplanned breedings WILL take place. Etc. Etc. Etc. It is in the best interest of the animals to house them seperately. Nuff Said, Mark
P.S. & yes I have TONS of experience & all my friends keep & breed snakes as well. No responsible keeper "group houses" their animals. They are put together for breeding at the proper times to put the animals at the lowest risks. Otherwise individual housing all the way.

[gonesnakee]

To summarize it even more simply. If you could keep your animals seperatey with NO risks why would you house them together & take MANY unnessicary risks? Mark

[Aaron_S]

Mark as usual comes in to lengthen my answer. :D

[erghiez]

Alright I was just asking if I could because i already have Two types of snakes so that means 2 big vivariums and I love snakes to death and wish to have many more.

Main reason I live in a apartment and I really dont want millions of tanks around since there isnt much room but now that I read what you all said I understand the reasons about having snakes together.

Ill just keep the snake number low till I move into a bigger place :P thanks for the information and help!

Josh

[Aaron_S]

OR you could just not have massive enclosures? Or pick smaller snake species? Snakes don't need a huge enclosure to be comfortable.

[erghiez]

im not into smaller snakes as much as to big snakes. Im more into the 10 feet boa constrictor than a 2 feet corn snake. but ya i understand :P thanks

[gonesnakee]

im not into smaller snakes as much as to big snakes. Im more into the 10 feet boa constrictor than a 2 feet corn snake. but ya i understand :P thanks

Some guys just need to compensate I guess :p LOL (Joking) Cheers Mark

[erghiez]

LOL i was asking for someone to crack a joke on that one!! thnx lol

[johnrandle]

sounds like someone needs to build himself a rack for 6 boas.

[erghiez]

ya i was looking at the rack system and im not so sure about it. i just use heating pads and what do i do for lighting? i dont understand the rack system much.

[gonesnakee]

Lighting is not a requirement. As for a rack it would quickly need to be replaced with a stack of enclosures. Mark

[erghiez]

so i can have a rack with tubs of snakes with simply heating pads for the heat?

[gonesnakee]

Thats how its done yep, Mark

[johnrandle]

you can buy those nice plastic cages, they are easy to clean, and stack. look very nice too. they're cheap too($209). and hold the humidity very well. i am trying to get all my snakes into them.

[erghiez]

lets say i have an adult boa of 10 feet in length and the width the size of your head. is there a tub big enough to comfortably keep a snake with that size in? or is it mainly just for smaller snakes.

[gonesnakee]

Even the plastic enclosures mentioned are only 2 ft deep by 4 long, too small. There are larger ones such as Visons but they are pretty pricey. I have some that are 4.5 ft long by 3 ft deep that would work for something that big. Better/cheaper to make one though. I'd recommend 6-8ft long by 3-4 ft deep by at least 2-3 ft high myself, Mark

[erghiez]

Thanks a ton for all the help!