tankmates update..
- Thread starter synapse989
- Start date
Well, I'll go ahead and say it...someone's going to...
It's NOT ok to house ball pythons together. Being in a confined space (yes, that tank is a confined space) causes them to compete for space and causes stress. Over the long term, this stress can be detrimental to their health. Stress causes problems with feeding, sickness, etc. Moreover, there have been cases where ball pythons actually cannibalized each other when housed together.
A lot of people that house balls together defend their setup by saying that they see them "cuddling." Unfortunately, what they don't know is that what looks like cuddling to us, is actually dominant/submissive behavior going on with the snakes. It's FAR from cuddling...it's basically their way of fighting!
Please don't be offended, this may be the first time you've ever heard this and it's not your fault - it's all about learning. I can provide you with published references to confirm this if you'd like, others here can as well.
It's not good to house snakes together. Period.
It's NOT ok to house ball pythons together. Being in a confined space (yes, that tank is a confined space) causes them to compete for space and causes stress. Over the long term, this stress can be detrimental to their health. Stress causes problems with feeding, sickness, etc. Moreover, there have been cases where ball pythons actually cannibalized each other when housed together.
A lot of people that house balls together defend their setup by saying that they see them "cuddling." Unfortunately, what they don't know is that what looks like cuddling to us, is actually dominant/submissive behavior going on with the snakes. It's FAR from cuddling...it's basically their way of fighting!
Please don't be offended, this may be the first time you've ever heard this and it's not your fault - it's all about learning. I can provide you with published references to confirm this if you'd like, others here can as well.
It's not good to house snakes together. Period.
On a side note, that tank looks really nice! If you do split them up, you can house something else in there. Is that a reptile tank or a fish tank?
dont know about snakes too much so ill stay off the husbandry topic and i like the tanks what size is that its nicely put together as far as decorating it goes...
it's a 90 gallon converted fishtank.. ...and I find it extremely hard to believe that these two are fighting.. It's a male and a female, and they "share" the cave.. ..it's got a few hides setup in there.. sometimes they lay around each other, and I was told that's just what snakes do.. they share warmth. I do appreciate the comments on how nicely I've put the tank together (so far). For the past 7 months I've kept a very steady 83-90 degrees in the day and anywhere from 75-80 at night.. and a constant 73-76% humidity..
I do find it amusing that people think that snakes can't co-habitat together.. ...wierd how exotic animals are always talked about like they're betta fish in a drinking glass.
...I appreciate the notions that it's a bad idea to house them together... however, I do watch them closely and I've noticed some behaviour changes in the female.. ..like.. she doesn't curl up in her cave all the time, she comes out in the day more often..
these two aren't competing for space anymore than I'm competing for parking in my driveway.. ...and if you want my references, call the Snake Farm in New Braunfels Texas..
I do find it amusing that people think that snakes can't co-habitat together.. ...wierd how exotic animals are always talked about like they're betta fish in a drinking glass.
...I appreciate the notions that it's a bad idea to house them together... however, I do watch them closely and I've noticed some behaviour changes in the female.. ..like.. she doesn't curl up in her cave all the time, she comes out in the day more often..
these two aren't competing for space anymore than I'm competing for parking in my driveway.. ...and if you want my references, call the Snake Farm in New Braunfels Texas..
synapse989;1189900; said:
My references:
Pythons of the World, Volume II: Ball Pythons
by Dave and Tracy Barker
The Complete Ball Python
by Kevin McCurley (NERD)
Ever see two cichlids fight? When they "kiss?" To the uneducated eye, I bet it looks cute like they are kissing. Same goes with the "cuddling" you see. Your snakes aren't "sharing" heat...they are competing for it! But hey, it sounds like you know what you're talking about.
Noticing your female roam the tank a lot is a sign that something is off. Chances are the male is dominating her and she's leaving the hide looking for a place to get away to. Ball pythons are sedentary animals and excessive roaming is a symptom of a problem. Or maybe not, again, I think you might know ball pythons better than me.
What I find amusing is when people get good advice from experienced people and reject it outright. Just trying to help, don't say you never heard otherwise. Housing them together causes stress over time. I hope you'll reflect on this when a major problem eventually shows up.
It got to do with the behavioural pattern of reptiles, not exotic as a whole. Reptiles usually only get to gether when they are horny, hungry or cramped together by humans.
If you want to co-habitat reptiles, look into tortoises or anoles...
If you want to co-habitat reptiles, look into tortoises or anoles...
He said they didn't 'cuddle'
And just because the female roams it doesn't neccasarily mean its stressed. I'm not saying it isn't I'm just saying it doesn't prove it is.
Royals go off food VERY easily, even if healthy. If somethings up, it'll go off it's feed, then he'll know. No I'm not suggesting waiting for that to happen, but hell, royals go off food for no reason for people who keep them immaculately, I think a male stressing her will make her go off it.
Seen them housed together, it's easily done if done right, plenty of hides of snug and big sizes, 2 warm ends, a big cool bit in the middle, it CAN be done. Like Loco said, Just has to be done right
And just because the female roams it doesn't neccasarily mean its stressed. I'm not saying it isn't I'm just saying it doesn't prove it is.
Royals go off food VERY easily, even if healthy. If somethings up, it'll go off it's feed, then he'll know. No I'm not suggesting waiting for that to happen, but hell, royals go off food for no reason for people who keep them immaculately, I think a male stressing her will make her go off it.
Seen them housed together, it's easily done if done right, plenty of hides of snug and big sizes, 2 warm ends, a big cool bit in the middle, it CAN be done. Like Loco said, Just has to be done right