Co habitting Dilemma

sch1sm · 06-13-11, 06:37 PM

I know before I begin that many people on here will question my animal husbandry because of this post. Please let me insist that i only have the best intentions and i am seeking advice from people who may have had to deal with similar issues.
I have recently become the owner of 2 BP's its not the first time i have owned BP's so i know the setup basics. I have 2 simple BP enclosures one of these may be a little small for the snakes i have but i am rectifying this.
My real issue is that these 2 snakes are around 4 years old and have been co-habitting since there previous owner got them. They show no outward signs of stress and while i am no expert they appear to be in excelent health. I do not wish to keep them together but when separated there behaviour changes dramatically Nose rubbing on glass and various signs of aggitation. I have had them for around 4 weeks One has fed succesfully and the other has shed successfully.
I dont want stressed animals and i know that they would, in the long run, be better separated but they seem far more stressed while appart.
Any advice would be welcome. I know what i am doing wrong I need help putting it right.
Thanx in advance and sorry for the huge post

Jay · 06-13-11, 06:44 PM

Interesting. I have no advice though, sorry I couldn't help. What is the sex of the BPs ?

sch1sm · 06-13-11, 06:48 PM

I was told that there is 1 male and 1 female. That fits with the general shape of there tails but I havent had them probed.

SnakeManKyle · 06-13-11, 06:52 PM

Eh...Not sure there's much you CAN do. Just let the sweat it out. They'll get used to it.

ilovemypets1988 · 06-13-11, 07:52 PM

what you could do is use a fine mesh to separate them on a temporary measure until they are "conditioned" for single life, this is how i would go about doing this;

firstly, go to ur local aquatics shop and ask for a tank breeding mesh separator, these are stiff and have small enough holes for them to see and feel each other but without being able to touch each other.

secondly, separate there current tank into 2 sections, puting the mesh and heating equipement into the centre of the tank.

thirdly, give them the usual things that they would have if they were separate: e.g. there own water bowl, e.t.c.

then all you have to do is keep them like this until they become accustomed to being alone, i can honestly say whether it will work or not and it should be noted as only a suggestion, however, doing the separation like this should be less stress full to the animals and to the keeper/owner as they should still eat and so on.

mykee · 06-13-11, 09:12 PM

Looking for advice?
Four weeks without having set up a second enclosure for ball python #2 is unacceptable.
Seperate them.
That's my advice.

LLinz · 06-13-11, 09:24 PM

I'm pretty sure that he has the right intentions. He wants to separate them the least stressful way possible.
Good luck, I hope you get it sorted out! It always takes a while for an animal to get used to a new living situation.
I actually think that when I have to change any of my animals' living conditions, I get more stressed out about them being stressed out, which makes me think that they're more stressed out then they really are.

sch1sm · 06-14-11, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

Looking for advice?
Four weeks without having set up a second enclosure for ball python #2 is unacceptable.
Seperate them.
That's my advice.

Sorry I thought my origional post was clear and explaned that i have a second BP eclosure set up and waiting and also that it is my desire and intention to separate them. I also thought it would have been clarified that i have a second encosure set up and ready to go by the fact that i have witnessed there behaviour when i have previously attempted to separate them.
I expected this kind of response and the reason i was asking for advice is because i know it is unacceptable but i want to perform the transitin in as stress free way as possible.
I woud like however to thank people who have offered constructive comments.
I will resolve this situation but maybe next time Ill try formatting my origional post in EXTRA BOLD so that people dont waste there time with abrupt and spurious replies

Lankyrob · 06-14-11, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovemypets1988

what you could do is use a fine mesh to separate them on a temporary measure until they are "conditioned" for single life, this is how i would go about doing this;

firstly, go to ur local aquatics shop and ask for a tank breeding mesh separator, these are stiff and have small enough holes for them to see and feel each other but without being able to touch each other.

secondly, separate there current tank into 2 sections, puting the mesh and heating equipement into the centre of the tank.

thirdly, give them the usual things that they would have if they were separate: e.g. there own water bowl, e.t.c.

then all you have to do is keep them like this until they become accustomed to being alone, i can honestly say whether it will work or not and it should be noted as only a suggestion, however, doing the separation like this should be less stress full to the animals and to the keeper/owner as they should still eat and so on.

My problem with this is i cant see how you would get a proper heat gradient for both animals?

My opinion would be that you leave them separate and let them settle over time - maybe put them in separate rooms so that they cant smell each other until they are both settled?

infernalis · 06-14-11, 05:43 AM

From my own experience, animals that have lived together for any length if time do take a while to adjust once they are separated.

sch1sm · 06-14-11, 05:54 AM

If the general oppinion is that the long tearm benifits of sepperating them far outweigh the stress that the animals display when sepparated then its clear that they should be separated. I feed them separately anyway and today is feeding day so I will just not put them back into the same enclosure. I am sure that they will adapt to the new situation and thrive it was the best method that i was unsure of Occams Razor strikes again lol. Thank you for the advice once again.

mykee · 06-14-11, 08:02 AM

It's clear that they should be seperated.
Regardless of the stress of the new living conditions for a week or not, they need to be seperated.
You know what to do, do it.

citysnakes · 06-14-11, 08:23 AM

there is no need to condition them for single life... you have the second enclosure set up so just seperate them.

Ch^4 · 06-14-11, 08:31 AM

I fully agree with Mykee and Julian.

sch1sm · 06-14-11, 11:46 AM

WOW Orders?????
Guess i was right to just separate them after feeding then phew.

Im trying separate rooms too for a few weeks too because of the scenting each other thing. thanx Rob.

thanx to those folks who gave advice. I appreciate that I may be the one suffering the most stress not wanting to intentionally distress my animals.
I knew it was the best thing to do before I asked just needed reinforcing that streight seperation was the only real way.