Housing Ball Pythons Together

Erica118 · 01-17-11, 03:10 PM

I recently bought my third ball python and the guy at the store told me not to house them together. I have had my other two together for the past year now and haven't had any problems. I was just wondering your guys opinions on wether I should keep them together or separate them.
Thanks,
Erica

infernalis · 01-17-11, 03:55 PM

For a solitary species like royal pythons, it's stressful to the snakes.

Garter snakes and Storeria are the only species I'm aware of that even display any sort of social behaviour in nature.

Pythons are loners, they hook up to mate and go on their way to return to solitude.

**Aaron_S** · 01-17-11, 03:56 PM

I'm going to say the short answer is no.

Erica118 · 01-17-11, 04:07 PM

Its weird thou because I kept the new one separate for the first few days and she seemed very stressed when she was alone (very heavy breathing) and once I put her in with my other ones she seemed to clam down immediately and I haven't noticed her breathing heavily since

marvelfreak · 01-17-11, 04:46 PM

All new snake should be quarantine for at least a couple month before even putting them in the same room as your other snakes. I would remove it right away. If it breathing funny it could be sick and make your other two sick. All it takes is one sick snake to wipe them all out.

Erica118 · 01-17-11, 05:03 PM

Alright, thanks!

marvelfreak · 01-17-11, 05:41 PM

Years ago i got a Red Tail Boa that seem health put it in a giant cage (8x6x4) with 5 other snakes the same size. Next thing i know two of the other snake got sick and died. When it was all said and done all my snake in that room die. Even killed the snakes in a cage across the room. Last thing you want is to endanger your snakes you all ready have. The funny part was the boa that was sick was the last one to die. Took it to the vet found out it had IBD. That also the reason i started keep all my snake separated.

Will0W783 · 01-17-11, 07:40 PM

Dont' house snakes together unless it's a breeding pair during the breeding season. It's just stressful and dangerous. Besides, as Chuck brought up, if one gets sick the other will too.

Damion930 · 01-18-11, 01:49 AM

Anyone know wher to get that autopsy pix of the ball that ate the other seems to get the point acrossits just never a good idea

Damion930 · 01-18-11, 02:31 AM

Found them strangely enough the smaller ate the larger

TeaNinja · 01-18-11, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damion930

Found them strangely enough the smaller ate the larger

wow......that's terrible.

infernalis · 01-18-11, 08:41 AM

Ever see the one where the rat (from feeding live prey) skinned the python?

That picture is horrible.

Will0W783 · 01-18-11, 08:43 AM

Yes, infernalis- that is a terribly sad picture. I don't feed my guys live. I get them all onto f/t as soon as possible and preferably buy from breeders who've already got their hatchlings on f/t from the start.

mykee · 01-25-11, 08:08 AM

Quote:

"All new snake should be quarantine for at least a couple month before even putting them in the same room as your other snakes. I would remove it right away. If it breathing funny it could be sick and make your other two sick. All it takes is one sick snake to wipe them all out. "

Too late.
All it takes is contact for one snake to infect the others.

Will0W783 · 01-25-11, 09:25 AM

I know it's too late in this case, but for future reference. Too many people don't understand proper quarantine procedures and so many unnecessary deaths and illnesses could be avoided if only new animals and sick animals were isolated.