Cohabitation (temporary)

[Jays2balls]

Okay, so I wanted to share a little about my experience and obviously I know there is a lot of people going to say this is bad. But I wanted to see if anyone has experienced anything similar.

I was planning on getting 1 ball python, but I could not decided between the 2 I was looking at on Morph Market. The breeder ended up taking care of me and now I have both. Go figure. lol

I bought at 60" New Age reptile lounge assuming it would be a 1 time purchase that my snake could just grow up in. Of course I would clutter it and make it feel small and slowly allow it to adjust to the larger environment over time.

Well, I ended up getting both and decided I would separate the enclosure and I used a piece of plexiglass to divide it in half. I bought 2 of everything and made the sides basically mirror one another.

I figured a 30"x24"x24" would get me through a year or so before I needed to buy a second terrarium.




Fast forward about 72 hours, and I kept finding them on the other side of the glass and in the same hide. I sealed the sides and bottom the plexiglass, so they were squeezing between the top and the screen. I tried several times to fix it and I thought i had until a few hours went by and I find them together again in the same hide.

The snakes are 3 months and 5 months old, so I maybe at this age it makes them feel safer and more secure?? So after fighting it and finding them together 5 different times. I pulled the glass out and made it one big space.

I rearranged it all and have 6 hides in there and 3 water bowls. I have 2 on the hot side, 2 on the cold and 2 more in the middle. The hot side is 90-91, the cold is 79-80 and I figured they have plenty of space to get away from one another if they feel stressed. But still they are always in the same hide and cuddled up, and it goes back and forth between 2 of the 6 hides for the most part.

They are male and female and I know I cant do this forever, nor do I want to risk their safety at all. So in my head i figured I would allow this for a few months maybe, let them grow up and feel more confident and then separate them again. I will have to do it a little differently or end up buying another $350 enclosure.

Anyway, I wanted some thoughts on this and see if anyone has done anything similar and been successful? I love these guys and I do not want to get either of them hurt. I am feeding them separately and keeping a close eye on them both. They are doing great right now, but I know this is a short term thing.

Thoughts and experiences much appreciated.