All my snakes

[sophiedufort]

Here are pictures of all our snakes.
1. The wonder twins, we call them. Brazilian rainbow boas. Casey (aka Princess) is the biggest, Ally (aka Mini Me) is the youngest. They are inseparable, day and night.
2. Zoey, the ball python (aka Fatty or Farty Pants - latter nickname was given to her after she did some very loud farts that woke us up in the middle of the night)
3. Mojo, the albino ball python (aka the base jumper, as he is so eager to go explore the room, he carelessly lets himself drop off the bed every time when he can sneak to the edge)
4. Missy, the Dumeril's boa (aka The Monster). She's big and scary looking, but she is the most affectionate of them all (guys, please don't start the debate again claiming that snakes are not affectionate).
5. Dante, the het ghost boa, our latest arrival. He is clingy, and absolutely loves my husband. He seeks my husband out constantly, and climbs on him to wrap around his neck. He also loves to sleep wedged between a log and the glass of the enclosure. We are still thinking about a fitting nickname.

[lady_bug87]

"Inseperable day and night" doesn't mean cohabitated right?

[sophiedufort]

Originally Posted by lady_bug87

"Inseperable day and night" doesn't mean cohabitated right?

Yes, they are housed together. They are both girls. They sleep in the same hide (although they have two hides available on both the warm and cool side of the enclosure), come out of it at the same time, explore the enclosure and outside the enclosure together.

[lady_bug87]

... ok.
you and I have very different definitions of what it means to provide proper care for these animals.

I Know I won't be able to change your mind on how you choose to keep your pets and I'm not going to try. I will say this for any one else reading that cohabitation between even 2 females can cause unnecessary stress on one or both animals and should be avoided.

[MDT]

sophie.....what lady_bug87 said....don't house together....don't anthropomorphize. separate your snakes.

[Shann]

Sleeping together in the same hide is not cuddling. It's competition for prime real estate. I see no benefit to the snakes to keep them together, and I would recommend separating them.

[bigsnakegirl785]

I too would recommend separating them. They don't have the ability to bond with each other, and them "sleeping together" is just a sign of aggression and domination. If you don't feed them separately, you also run the risk of them either injuring each other while in feed mode or even cannibalizing. Feed mode can last days sometimes, not just hours, so keeping them separate for a few hours still may not dissipate their feeding response.

[Aaron_S]

Alright. We aren't going to go around and do this again. All the pertinent points of co-housing snakes has been said. We can stop beating the dead horse.

[lady_bug87]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Alright. We aren't going to go around and do this again. All the pertinent points of co-housing snakes has been said. We can stop beating the dead horse.

obviously not since its still happening

[mistersprinkles]

Originally Posted by lady_bug87

obviously not since its still happening

Exactly. That is not how web forums work. The same answer has to be provided to the same question 1000 times, and after that, 1000 more. You can't count on the general public to browse previous threads when they join a new forum, or even when they are a long time member.

If a forum member sees an issue with another member's husbandry, it needs to be mentioned. The well being of living creatures who have no way of defining their own reality (ie, captive snakes) is paramount, and comes before bruised feelings or "forum etiquette".

Reptiles, invertebrates, and fish, suffer physically because of stress. They can not rationalize it like humans can. Stress can cause illness. It is dangerous.

Know what I mean?
If people HADN'T told the OP that cohabitation is a bad idea, I wouldn't want to be part of this community any more.

[Pogie]

Oh all very pretty but I must say I like that yellow one

[jjhill001]

I think cohabitation with certain species is OK if one is willing to accept the risks and additional space requirements that will come along with it.

[mistersprinkles]

Originally Posted by jjhill001

I think cohabitation with certain species is OK if one is willing to accept the risks and additional space requirements that will come along with it.

Its usually not ok though because the animals will compete with eachother causing stress. In some cases it's ok but it's definitely not ok across the board IMO.

[jjhill001]

Originally Posted by mistersprinkles

Its usually not ok though because the animals will compete with eachother causing stress. In some cases it's ok but it's definitely not ok across the board IMO.

No certainly not across the board.

[lady_bug87]

Regardless if its ok in some cases this isn't one of them. BRBs shouldn't be housed together especially since if you notice they aren't even the same size.