Need some help and advise asap plzplzplzplz!!!!!

[JohnyB]

Ok i am a new member here.. hello everyone. i am john.
I am the proud owner of a baby female python... and recently adopted a full grown male ball python. (earlier today actually)
He came with everything he needs including tank and lamps and all that.. but the tank is only 30 gallons or so...
but my baby who is about 2 feet or less is in a 100 gallon tank
i know thats a crazy size for a bp especially a baby.
I want to put them both in the 100 gallon... Im afraid of the male killing my baby... how long should i wait to combine them? plz plz plz help

[Royal Hijinx]

You should never combine them. Use separate tanks.

[angllady2]

Why would you not just bag both snakes, sterilize both tanks, put the baby in the 30 and the big guy in the 100 ?

Both of those tanks are much to huge for a ball, but at least that makes more sense than putting them together in the same tank, no matter how big it is. That is just asking for something to go wrong.

By the way, welcome to BP.net! We hope you will stay and learn from us, we'd love to see pictures of your snakes some time. Most of us here got into snakes under less than ideal circumstances, so we can sympathize with you, and of course we are happy to answer any questions you may have and help you become a better owner. I've been here for 3 years myself, and I still learn something new about every week.

Gale

[JohnyB]

thanks for the rapid feedback!
and thanks for the welcome!
I was told by my local reptile store that ball pythons can be housed together and everyone i know that owned a bp owned two in the same tank... ofc they were the same age...
the male is a good 4 ft.. and quite thick.. so im afraid for the baby...

as for switching tanks... I feel bad but that would make the most sense if i chose not to try them together.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Keeping ball pythons in the same tank is just asking for trouble... If one gets sick, they both get sick. There is a chance that they will hurt/kill each other. Ball pythons only need 1 square foot of floor space per foot of length of the snake. I agree that the larger snake should be in the bigger tank, a 30 gallon is even on the big size for a 2 foot BP.

Are you following proper quarantine procedures? (at least 90 days long, separate tanks, wash hand before and after handling each snake, not letting anything that comes into contact with one snake come into contact into the other)

[JohnyB]

wow i had really no plan on keeping the separate at all.. i thought there was like a weeks grace time before putting her in with the baby...
but they should stay sperate for life?
I didnt even think to wash my hands before and after.. im very new to reptiles and bp's.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Yes they absolutely should stay separate for life, mine will only ever see another snake during breeding season.

In the wild they are solitary creatures from the moment that they hatch from their egg. There mother is already gone and all of the hatchlings go their separate ways.

Give this a read, it should really help:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

and this as well:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Husbandry-FAQs

[JohnyB]

i will give it a read.
what does the numbers and decimals mean when talking about pets
Example 0.1 ball python

[The Serpent Merchant]

1.0 = male, 0.1 = female, 0.0.1 = unknown sex

so 4.2.6 would be 4 males, 2 females, and 6 snakes of unknown sex

[JohnyB]

oh wow!! i love discovering a new community!!
this is just like two years ago when i started car modifications.. had to be a noobie in the threads. ty for your help!