Co-Habiting Corns?

DeadlyDesires · 05-02-13, 01:52 PM

So i am curious to know what kind of complications i could run into with cohabiting 2 corn snakes coming from same litter and will be introduced as hatchlings? it was suggested that i *could* cohabit them but seeing as i have never cohabited before i want to know the risks? I also would like some people's opinions on the subject. I'm asking because we haven't decided weather to cohabit them or just make a custom cage with a divider in the middle to house them in. also does sex matter when it comes to cohabitation?

Thanks

Starbuck · 05-02-13, 02:00 PM

i think them being from the same litter has virtually nothing to do with how well they can co-hab; other than the fact that they will be roughly the same size to start out with. Tons of things can contribute to them growing at different rates, so i wouldn't count on them staying similarly size for very long. If you do decide to cohab, make sure you have tons (TONS) of hides, and i would have multiple water bowls etc... though if you have the means why not just separate them?
They certainly won't benefit from being cohabbed, AND you will have to remove them in order to feed.
I think males cohabbed together past puberty is a no-no, but i'm no expert, so maybe someone else can chime in?

All that being said, if you're going to cohab a colubrid, i think corns are one of the better species for it (though again, i know of no benefit to the snake for cohabbing).

poison123 · 05-02-13, 02:04 PM

Only way I would cohab them is in a large bio-active setup with LOTS of soil so they can make their own hiding spots.

DeadlyDesires · 05-02-13, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbuck

i think them being from the same litter has virtually nothing to do with how well they can co-hab; other than the fact that they will be roughly the same size to start out with. Tons of things can contribute to them growing at different rates, so i wouldn't count on them staying similarly size for very long. If you do decide to cohab, make sure you have tons (TONS) of hides, and i would have multiple water bowls etc... though if you have the means why not just separate them?
They certainly won't benefit from being cohabbed, AND you will have to remove them in order to feed.
I think males cohabbed together past puberty is a no-no, but i'm no expert, so maybe someone else can chime in?

All that being said, if you're going to cohab a colubrid, i think corns are one of the better species for it (though again, i know of no benefit to the snake for cohabbing).

ok cool thanks

we will have the means to separate them if necessary i just want to know if i can without endangering each other (you know one less enclosure lol) but we can always make one big enclosure and divide it thats not an issue. just looking at my options. Also, dont have the snakes yet.. still talking about getting them from a friend, they are still in the incubation period.

DeadlyDesires · 05-02-13, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

Only way I would cohab them is in a arge bio-active setup with LOTS of soil so they can make their own hiding spots.

yup, considered that, thats why i said i would probably make the enclosures bio-active give em lots of stuff to get away from each other if necessary.

Donnie · 05-02-13, 02:15 PM

There is a small risk of cannibalism which for me helped rule out co-habiting. The risk is small but avoidable so I didn't see the point in taking the risk. Also if one was to get ill then it is likely that the other will also become ill (depending on the illness of course). Early pregnancy if you have a male and female together. I could not see any benefit for the snakes only for the keeper so if you can keep in separate vivs then I personally would.

Lankyrob · 05-02-13, 02:17 PM

We got two corns that hatched same time but different clutches. Co-habbed them in a four x two x two foot viv. Loads of hiding places and cover for them both. Seemed fine for about six weeks and then one started harassing and chasing the other all over the viv.

Luckily i was there and able to separate them, i dont kow what would have happened if they had caught each other but i will never cohab snakes again.

SSSSnakes · 05-02-13, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie

There is a small risk of cannibalism which for me helped rule out co-habiting. The risk is small but avoidable so I didn't see the point in taking the risk. Also if one was to get ill then it is likely that the other will also become ill (depending on the illness of course). Early pregnancy if you have a male and female together. I could not see any benefit for the snakes only for the keeper so if you can keep in separate vivs then I personally would.

I agree 100%. I work at a store that keeps baby Corn Snakes together, and have a few times witnessed cannibalism. Why stress them out? Baby Corns are hard enough to get to start eating, without the extra stress.

DeadlyDesires · 05-02-13, 02:21 PM

yea the fighting and the chances of getting both sick and stuff was what i was worried about when it came to cohabiting. i've never considered it before that is why i decided to ask what others opinions were on the subject, in my mind it was get 1 possibly 2 one for me and one for my man and get them in separate enclosures... we will have our 2 snakes enclosures finished by this time so we will have 2 free 40 gallons we could use.

KORBIN5895 · 05-02-13, 04:32 PM

I had my baby corns cohabbed when I got them. Two sets tried to eat each other.

StudentoReptile · 05-02-13, 05:25 PM

I have personally witnessed same-size sibling corns eat each other...on more than one occasion.

Don't mix snakes...period.

DeadlyDesires · 05-02-13, 05:37 PM

yup, thats all i needed just wanted everyone elses opinions as well, i wont be cohabiting them too make complications that can arise thats why i asked before i tried, thanks guys