2 Males "Locking"?

[zardonaz]

I have 2 Balls. One is 3 years old and the other 2. When I put them together they exhibit breeding behavior (I hear it's called "locking" - when the tails wrap around and they are clocoa to clocao).

My question is: I thought I had 2 males. So is it normal for 2 males to do this?

[blackcrystal22]

Question: Why would you purposely put two males together? This I just don't really understand..

It could be possible that one is male and one is female, if so I hope your ready for babies, or possible egg bounding if the female is the 2 year old.
It also has been heard of that two males will 'lock'. I think this has been asked on this forum before too, and it's not completely unheard of, though I don't know the reasons why.

I would assume, if they were two males, that they would fight.

[zardonaz]

Thanks for your reply! They don't fight at all. I "think" they are both male... maybe I am wrong. But they do show these mating signs.\

Yes I would prepare for babies, etc...

But I REALLY thought they were both males.

[zardonaz]

BTW: What is "egg bounding"?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Can 2 males lock? Yes

If they are male and female you might want make sure you are ready and prepared for breeding and all it involves before putting 2 BP together

The best is to have your BP sexed and keep them separated.

[zardonaz]

Thanks Deborah. I really don't see the fuss about putting my snakes together while they get along fine. They do have seperate quarters normally. But they look great together in the new large display I built.

Again... what is the fuss? I am new to this sight and these are my first 2 balls (although I have had many snakes over the years). I've had each since they were tiny. Maybe I am ignorant, but is there a Ball Python "etiquite"?

I only wanna learn more. So if I "should" keep my snakes apart, maybe help me by explaining why?

It's odd that snakes would have gay sex... Hmmmm.

[blackcrystal22]

Thanks Deborah. I really don't see the fuss about putting my snakes together while they get along fine. They do have seperate quarters normally. But they look great together in the new large display I built.

Again... what is the fuss? I am new to this sight and these are my first 2 balls (although I have had many snakes over the years). I've had each since they were tiny. Maybe I am ignorant, but is there a Ball Python "etiquite"?

I only wanna learn more. So if I "should" keep my snakes apart, maybe help me by explaining why?

It's odd that snakes would have gay sex... Hmmmm.

Egg bounding involves the female being too small for production of eggs yet, and the eggs becoming 'bound' or stuck inside her. It's very dangerous and could require surgery.

Keeping snakes together has no good qualities and many bad qualities. Unless your breeding (which you do not seem quite experianced enough for yet) I suggest you keep them separated.
If you keep two snakes together (ball pythons) it will result in a couple things:
-Stress. Balls are antisocial animals and do not like being with other snakes.
-Dominance. If you see two balls lying on each other, thats dominance, not cuddling, and is very stressful.
-Fighting. If they are two males, then they will fight. I'm guessing yours are not, what made you conclude that they are?
-Illness. If one snake gets sick, the other gets sick. Guaranteed. This doubles the risk and doubles the vet bills.
-Cannibalism. It is not unheard of, and is a risk that you really don't want to take.

People tend to make too large of enclosures for multiple snakes, when in reality, ball pythons prefer small tight enclosures (10-20g max) that are solitary with good tight hides.

[mechnut450]

balls python don;t hang in groups in the wild they live a lone and only fin each other mating, in a cage they will compete over he warm spot the hide and such. they don't cuddle they are fighting for the best warm spot and safest feeling spot ..

[zardonaz]

Ok Ok... You have convinced me to keep them apart (even though they seem totally fine together).

But I still have not got any explanation about the breeding behavior. (alhough if one is a female, I would be very worried about the possible "egg bounding")

Again... Thanks to everyone who replied!!!

[blackcrystal22]

Ok Ok... You have convinced me to keep them apart (even though they seem totally fine together).

But I still have not got any explanation about the breeding behavior. (alhough if one is a female, I would be very worried about the possible "egg bounding")

Again... Thanks to everyone who replied!!!

There isn't too much of an explanation, it's just happened before with males. I think that some males will 'make a move' on the other snake if he feels it is a female, while the other may not be as mature and doesn't really care enough to realize what the other male is attempting to do.
I don't know the details, but it could be that both males just think the other is female, and interlock. Nothing would happen, obviously, but the initial action has still occurred before.