daytime active

[otiswest]

I've had my Balls for about 2 months now and one of them is quite active during the day time. He is very healthy (checked out by vet not long ago), NEVER has any problems eating, has shed once since I got him, and really likes being handled. He is generally very curious and active, but contrary to the vet's advice (the vet specializes in exotics) I am starting to think that he should not be sharing his home with another Ball of the same age (both around 3.5 months old). What do you think?

[Spaniard]

My own personal opinion is that there should be one snake per enclosure. Typically snakes that roam excessively during the daytime hours are stressed by something in their environments, however these snakes will typically not eat when stressed.

My advice would be to separate them. If he's not having feeding issues yet I think they could be close if the roaming behavior is a recent development.

[Vypyrz]

I've had my Balls for about 2 months now and one of them is quite active during the day time. He is very healthy (checked out by vet not long ago), NEVER has any problems eating, has shed once since I got him, and really likes being handled. He is generally very curious and active, but contrary to the vet's advice (the vet specializes in exotics) I am starting to think that he should not be sharing his home with another Ball of the same age (both around 3.5 months old). What do you think?

You are correct. The reason your snake is active during the day is because he is stressed. Snakes are solitary animals and only come together to breed. Anytime there are more than one living together, one will be the dominant, getting all the best spots, hides, food, etc, and the other won't. Once separated, he should relax.
There are several ways you can separate them. You can put them in entirely separate tanks or tubs. Or, if their tank is big enough, you can use cardboard or something as a partition to divide the tank and set up each side as a separate tank...


Rob

[otiswest]

You are correct. The reason your snake is active during the day is because he is stressed. Snakes are solitary animals and only come together to breed. Anytime there are more than one living together, one will be the dominant, getting all the best spots, hides, food, etc, and the other won't. Once separated, he should relax.
There are several ways you can separate them. You can put them in entirely separate tanks or tubs. Or, if their tank is big enough, you can use cardboard or something as a partition to divide the tank and set up each side as a separate tank...


Rob

Cool. Thanks to both of you. I am finding that the advice / input I get from people in Herp stores or even veterinarians just doesn't compare to what I am getting here. BP.net has made being a new snake owner a lot easier.

[otiswest]

My own personal opinion is that there should be one snake per enclosure. Typically snakes that roam excessively during the daytime hours are stressed by something in their environments, however these snakes will typically not eat when stressed.

My advice would be to separate them. If he's not having feeding issues yet I think they could be close if the roaming behavior is a recent development.

He's never had feeding issues, and the roaming behavior is not at all recent. He's been that way ever since I brought them home. By all appearances he is a very healthy snake, but he deserves the best life possible. Without George being able to tell me if he's stressed or not, I have to do what's most likely best for him and separate them. Thanks.

[jblaze]

I would consider not going to that "exotic" veterinarian anymore, any "exotic" species should be housed alone.

[adrenalinejunkie]

leopard geckos are an exotic and they can be housed in small groups provided enough space; and they aren't the only species that this can be done with.

Although mixing species or sub-species wouldn't be the best idea. ( i.e a leopard gecko and african fat tailed gecko, etc.)