Peruvian / Columbian compatibility

gunslinger · 02-06-03, 04:57 PM

I currently own a columbian boa, approx 3.5 - 4 ft in length. I want to purchase a peruvian baby (gorgeous), but i'm afraid that I will need to get him a separate cage. Can anyone tell me if I shouldn't keep these snakes in the same terrarium?

sSNAKESs.com · 02-06-03, 08:26 PM

Husbandry wise, i think they should be fine... But i always keep my stuff seperate, and its in your best interest to do the same!

BWSmith · 02-08-03, 12:40 AM

It is always best to house snake separate. Reduces the stress on them and the feeding stress on you (I dont know if you have ever had to unravel two 6 foot RTBs in a feeding frenzy!). Also, the size difference is a concern. IF snakes are to be kept together, they generally need to be about the same size.

rethius · 02-09-03, 09:15 PM

Well, Maybe if they are babies they'll be fine together! but if they are male and female as adults you may want to keep them seperate! I don't think having Peruvian x Colombian hybrid babies would be a good Idea!
-Jeff W

gunslinger · 02-10-03, 10:33 AM

why would having peru x colum babies not be a good idea? just curious

rethius · 02-10-03, 12:17 PM

Well put it this way! Peruvians are I'd say (others too) the top notch Bcc. they are like the Sony of the snake world, now crossing a pure bred peruvian with a Bci will result in a whole bunch of peruvianX's floating around! some people may say that they are pure others will say it's not! pretty much you'll just piss off EVERYONE who breeds Bcc! hybrids are generally frowned upon by the herping community! but I only offer advise do what you want! (it wont hurt us in Canada!)!
-Jeff W

Aztec Fred · 02-15-03, 12:29 AM

You want to keep them separate for a number of reasons:

a) If one of them has parasites or ANY type of disease they will spread it to the other one, then you will have two sick snakes.

b) Often comunally houseing them causes them stress, as the weaker less agressive one is dominated by the stronger one, often going off food.

c) Peruvians need different temp and heat requirement than Colombian boas , so either snakes suffer when housed together.

d)And last but not least.....when they become adults they can BREED together!

Why is this a bad thing?

Peruvians arent that easy to breed are expensive and their habitat is being destroyed at an alarming rate in the wild. Each one that is brought into captivity should be used to breed with another peruvian, not a more common colombian boa.

The end result would be snakes that arent one thing or the other, but a cross or hybrid betwen the two boa constrictors types. And the offspring wouldnt be worth as much as pure peruvians.

Take care,

Fred Albury
AZTEC REPTILES
U.S.A.

snake_lover · 02-15-03, 11:58 AM

Hey ..,
if the peruvian is smaller and i mean way smaller then the bigger one ,the bigger onewould lay on the smaller one then the bigger one could squash the other one ,I keep my suri together with mitch my venezuelan bci
they are the same size i'll say if the 2 boas are the same size as each other it's ok ,,

Regards,
Thomas

snakemann87 · 02-15-03, 05:03 PM

I'd definately say no, first off, because BCC's are more picky than BCI's, and also the size difference, even though they are the same, theres always a chance the one could hurt the other.

snake_lover · 02-15-03, 06:13 PM

And what do you mean by that man that one could hurt the other??

rethius · 02-16-03, 01:52 PM

and what does being picky have to do with anything?

gunslinger · 03-10-03, 05:17 PM

hey, just thought i'd let you all know, i have successfully housed the two snakes, and they seem to be doing fine. I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and advice, but i just don't have the extra cash or space right now to get another terrarium setup...

oh well

BurmBaroness · 03-10-03, 06:28 PM

Then you shouldn't have bought another snake. The 2 types of boas need different husbandry requirements, and if on eis smaller than the other, the other could lay on it, crushing it to death, this HAS happened before. You should have waited till you could house them separately. It seems that you cared more for what you wanted than you did about these animals.

gunslinger · 03-10-03, 06:35 PM

wow, that was kind of hostile. well, i'm sure that you know everything and all, but my snakes are completely fine, have been from the second that i housed them together. no one else that i have spoken with on the subject has said that i have anything to worry about.
just for the record, i don't appreciate being attacked. you don't know anything about me or my snakes or about what i care about, so don't go acting all high and mighty, miss know-it-all.

by the way, mom, i don't recall ever asking for your opinion on my snake housing ethics, so, in the future, how bout you just keep that B.S. to yourself, okay, baronass?

sSNAKESs.com · 03-10-03, 06:53 PM

Gun wow, relax man... Her points are valid and she wasnt attacking you, she was just stating the obvious. If you can house them seperate, i would also advise you to do so ASAP, the snakes may look to be thriving but in reality 1 is probably alot more stressed out then they let on.