Keeping animals together (For all to read)

[Z Trip]

I know this topic is discussed a lot on this and other forums, mostly by new people who are trying to save on space or just think there animal needs a friend. Having many years experience with all sorts of animals, mostly reptiles and fish, us veterans know that keeping two or more animals together can be extremely dangerous and we advise against it. Now why I am bringing this up now is because of what happened to two of my snakes last night.

So here is the scenario. My cage is 10'x2'x2' plus a heated bath tub as a water bowl. It is well heated and vented and held both my boa constrictor(8ft) and yellow anaconda(7ft, considerably thinner). I have never had any issues with these two snakes together, the reason why I kept them together is because i wanted both of them to have a large cage. So after I got home from work in the early hours of the morning, I decided to feed my boa. She has not eaten in a couple months so I figured this should work. Before I left for my shift I started thawing. So anyways, I also thawed out a large rat for my anaconda because I know even though I fed him last week he goes crazy for food. So I fed one on the one side of the cage, and the other on the other. Everything was going fine. So after returning after about 10 minutes I see my boa half way done her meal and the anaconda just finishing up, so I go to bed. I was unable to sleep and got up to check my snakes, luckily we live in the same room and I heard this weird noise. I checked the snakes and couldn't believe what I saw. Boa had the rabbit only the tips of the rabbits feet sticking out and the anaconda coiled itself around the boas head and neck. I quickly removed the snakes from each other and put my anaconda in a bin. My boa regurgitated her meal and sat in the corner of her cage. I did not sleep at all that night. I was very concerned about my boa and got her x-rayed. Luckily everything is ok, from what we can tell. Both snakes are now separated and my anaconda lives in a cage 6'x30"x18", not as big but most definatly big enough.



What you need to learn from this guys is that know matter how good they may look together or how easy going a snake is around you, when you are not around, you don't know what happens. Please keep one animal per cage, it will save you a lot of headache, sleep and least importantly, a expensive vet bill.

 

[Edwardo]

I dont think the benefit of keeping two snakes together, outweighs the risk, as you found out, especially with large constrictors.
Something will eventually go wrong, a food scent, a keeper error, and bang, it just takes a second.
lucky for you, you didnt go out or something and were there to save your boa.

 

[crayfishguy]

Keeping animals together is an unnecessary risk. There are many things that can go wrong, and not many reasons to do it. It can be done, but why? A lot of people do it, and they don't even think about it, some will put animals that are normally half way across the world from eachother. Its pointless stupidity.

 

[A. gigas]

It can be done, but you have to be smart about it, and the bottom line is that almost nobody is smart about it, and even fewer have the money to set up a cage that could house multiple animals. Monitors generally get along well together if provided with a spacious cage and raised together from babies, as long as you are careful while feeding. Large constrictors generally do not...
Ultimately it is up to the keeper and while it can be done and there are some benefits, in most scenarios it should not be done. Certainly not with different species of even remotely similar size.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I've had good luck mixing native turtle species without any real issues but this was in large scale outdoor enclosures.

 

[OrionGirl]

Glad she's ok.

And, that pic is awesome.

 

[crayfishguy]

I've had good luck mixing native turtle species without any real issues but this was in large scale outdoor enclosures.

Seth, we need to get a sticky made explaining the risks, and the way to set up a communal enclosure.

 

[younggalaxy]

Keeping different species can definitely be done; barring compatibility. For example, go look at reptilia in Vaughn for their Green Mambas (arboreal) and Gaboon (terrestrial) - my favourite display there, mind you they're sharing a huge enclosure. In most cases in captivity, it's probably an unnecessary risk. Sorry to hear you had trouble.