list all the reason for this......

ballpython101 · 02-18-04, 11:25 AM

i would like to know all the wrong reasons for putting 2 ball pythons in the same enclosure ?

my 2 b.p. are always on top of each other when i check on them, they never seem to be stressed or uncomfortable.....

i would like to know some reason why i shouldnt.... im alway handling my b.p. and they never seem stress...... i notice alot in the pet stores that they would have 2-3 b.p. in the same tank...... also at the shows they are in a clear box with 5-10 together......

write back.. inform me thankz

mykee · 02-18-04, 12:16 PM

Do a search in this forum and you'll find plenty of reasons.

Tim_Cranwill · 02-18-04, 12:22 PM

Ok.... First off, shows and pet stores are trying to MAXIMIZE space, not provide optimal care conditions. Oh, and don't ever follow what pet stores do as far as caring for animals. They have a completely separate agenda than a keeper should.

Now, I'll list a good reason not to house two snakes (most species) together but I'll leave some reasons for others.

- You ball pythons aren't stressed? How do yo know that, have you checked their blood pressure? Do they have a scowl on their faces? Being curled up together doesn't mean they aren't stressed, it means they both want to be at that temperature or in that hide. Period. They aren't "chillin' out" together or enjoying each other’s company. They don't need or want other animals in their territory.

Next....

themangler · 02-18-04, 12:48 PM

I say that their your snakes, do what you want. I honestly don't see anything wrong with it.People say they don't live together in the wild, but in the wild, they don't live in a box either.

Tim_Cranwill · 02-18-04, 01:13 PM

Good advice "themangler". They're your snake so do whatever you want with them?!?!? People with attitudes like that shouldn't be allowed to own pets. It is YOUR responsibility to provide the PROPER care. If you can't or don't want to do that, you don't deserve the animals. Sorry, but that's the hard truth of it.

Keep giving the good advice... NOT.

Later....

daver676 · 02-18-04, 01:31 PM

ballpython101 AND themangler,

These are MORE reasons why NOT to keep 2 snakes together:

Another snake in the enclosure is viewed as more competition for food, which in turn leads to stress.

If one snake gets sick, the other most likely will as well.

If you ever want to get a fecal exam done, how would you tell which poop came from which snake?

It costs soooo little to set up another enclosure. Why wouldn't you do that for the benefit of the pet? It is the pet's well being that should come first.

marisa · 02-18-04, 01:38 PM

I couldn't agree with Tim Cranwills post more. Attitudes like that are the reason pets die everyday...because someone said "their your pets care for them however you wish" What a scary statement you put on the internet for any person of any experience to read without even thinking of possible consequences. (sp)

Marisa

marisa · 02-18-04, 01:39 PM

As for why BallPython101...

If you house two snakes together you will automatically have TWO vet trips if one is sick. You'll never have any control over the situation. If one regurges, who is it? They are solitary, not SOCIAL!

Marisa

sapphire_moon · 02-18-04, 01:53 PM

As marisa said, solitary not social.
And although keeping them in conatinment is unnatural, so is FORCING them to be kept together.

ballpython101, Do you know how much it costs to take care of a sick snake? It could easily go into the hundreds, if not thousands, now times that by 2. Do you want to be paying 400$ for 2 sick snakes? Or more?

themangler-care for it how you wish. How do you think more herps die? because a person don't WANT to take a sick animal to the vet believeing it will clear up in time. Or because they don't realy want to spend the extra $$$$ on a new heating pad because the other one broke.
You WANTED to have this animal and you WILLINGLY took it into your care, it wansn't forced on you. So if you are going to take an animals LIFE into your hands, take care of it properly.

BoidKeeper · 02-18-04, 02:19 PM

We shouldn't have to list the reasons for you. When you learn about snakes you will be able to make your own list. No one ever made me a list. That is one of the things I figured out for myself.
Cheers,
Trevor

Tim_Cranwill · 02-18-04, 02:28 PM

Trevor, EXACTLY!!!!

Research is the first step you take even before you go shopping for your herp. That is not to say that you won't have questions but some of their most basic needs should be learned looooong before you bring your snake(s) home.

It's amazing that these same "newbie" questions keep coming up week after week after week....no, wait... it's not amazing. It's because the people who are asking these questions are the type of people who won't do a search on this forum to find the 300 posts on this very subject on their own. They don't do their REASEARCH!

Nothing personal, it just gets really tiresome answering the same questions over and over...

mykee · 02-18-04, 02:40 PM

Very well stated Tim, that should be this forums' mission statement.

mykee · 02-18-04, 02:51 PM

Also, I remember a post you made on Feb. 5 in this same forum:

Quote:

"...for ball pythons they like there space n their home for themselves...i have a 4-5 month old female ball she is 27-30 inches n about a month ago i put my new ball with her. he is 17-19inches at first she would run from him n hiss...and for the past two weeks, i put him back in there n she chases him out..."

Right outta your own mouth, is THAT not a good enough reason for not keeping your two balls together?

Big Mike · 02-18-04, 03:01 PM

Isn't the fact that they are always on top of one another enough to show you that they are not housed properly. It appears that there is only one comfortable spot for the two snakes.

If you said that the both lived in one enclosure and they rarely came into contact with each other...that would be much better than saying they are always together....but that's still not as good as housing them separately.

This site is about exchanging information. There are people here with a wealth of experience to share. It's good to think about the advice being given but don't refute it because it's inconvenient to you.

MouseKilla · 02-18-04, 03:39 PM

I actually agree that they are your snakes and you can do what you want with them. Hell eat them, make a pair of boots with them if that's what you bought them for, meat's meat, leather's leather. If that's your angle then stress isn't a big issue.

Personally that isn't why I bought the snakes I have, I want them to grow and thrive, maybe breed so for that reason I try to learn from some of the more experienced keepers out there. It's up to you, they are yours. If you want them to do well though it would be wise to listen to the advice of people who know more about the animals than you do.

On the stress thing, I disagree that it is impossible to know when the animal is stressed. You don't need to be the Pet Psychic to know when a BP is stressed, they'll just go off their food and stay off till you either correct your husbandry or they starve themselves to death.

Good luck.