avoiding tracks - is this normal?

I have a boy and a girl, and the boy seems scared around tracks the girl has made. They're only two months apart, both less than a year old, but I just acquired the girl, so it could also be unfamiliar tracks. They're both normal, but she's 100% het for orange ghost. I really don't want them scared of eachother, or him scared of her at least.

Any suggestions?

If you just got the female and they're both so young, why are they together already?

How long ago did you get them? How BIG are they? They're probably not large enough, nor ready to breed, so he's intimidated by the female.

If you just got him/her/them, did you practice any quarantine to be sure they're both healthy and give them a chance to get used to their new homes??? BPs can be timid and not like change (as compared to some other species...like a corn).

separate them immediately... they are too young to breed, and obviously no quarantine was used either... separate - quarantine - keep separate after quarantine...

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Originally Posted by avriette

I have a boy and a girl, and the boy seems scared around tracks the girl has made. They're only two months apart, both less than a year old, but I just acquired the girl, so it could also be unfamiliar tracks. They're both normal, but she's 100% het for orange ghost. I really don't want them scared of eachother, or him scared of her at least.

Any suggestions?

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Agree with the others, less than a year old, I doubt either has reached close to 1000 grams let alone 1500. Also females should have around 3 winters under their belt before breeding according to what I have heard. Some males will go in their first year but that is on an individual basis. I just picked up a 08 female that is 1300+ grams. She is in quarantine in a separate room and level of the house. She'll remain there for at least 4-5 more weeks (has one week down). Definitely separate them right away.

you will find there is no support here for keeping a "colony" of balls togather. I agree that you should have quarantined her, but after that if you wamt ot keep them togather go for it if they are ruffly the same size there is very little chance they will hurt eachother.

That being said, There are a couple things to consider though, keeping them togather is not for all balls some will become stressed so keep a eye out for that, Multiple hides are needed. Also canibalizim is very rare but has occured. Keeping them togeter makes it difficult to know whats going on with each individual as far as checking stool and stuff like that.

Welcome, Good luck and before you know it you'll have a half dozen snakes and you'll come to the dark side AKA the rack syatem.

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Originally Posted by Hilltop

you will find there is no support here for keeping a "colony" of balls togather. I agree that you should have quarantined her, but after that if you wamt ot keep them togather go for it if they are ruffly the same size there is very little chance they will hurt eachother.

That being said, There are a couple things to consider though, keeping them togather is not for all balls some will become stressed so keep a eye out for that, Multiple hides are needed. Also canibalizim is very rare but has occured. Keeping them togeter makes it difficult to know whats going on with each individual as far as checking stool and stuff like that.

Welcome, Good luck and before you know it you'll have a half dozen snakes and you'll come to the dark side AKA the rack syatem.

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I know some do it, I wouldn't though. If he/she wants to keep them in the same enclosure, it is their choice. But the quarantine period is more for his original snake's well being than anything else. If the female he picked up has any transferrable issues (mites, etc) he is putting his male in harm's way.

Seems kinda oxymoron to ask if its okay to house 2 snakes together.


If you have to ask then your not ready nor experienced to do so. Theres a lot of maintenance that goes into housing snakes together. The cons outweigh the pros there for its a no brainier.

If you cant afford housing for a second snake dont get it. SIMPLE.

Oh and being same size means squat. Reported issues have been noted of smaller snakes eating the larger one.

http://www.texasreptiles.com/FreaksO...lCornsnake.jpg
http://www.gourmetrodent.com/images/...0hatchling.JPG
http://www.cornsnakes.com/pics/cannibal.jpg

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...tic_royals.jpg
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...oyals21zh3.jpg

Wow... Someone who doesn't know to not keep BPs together (Not to mention breeding weights) seems to know what 'tracks' are...

If you're into snakes for breeding and making money, you need to rethink your stance. First of all, you might want to start breeding hets with hets. Not hets with Normals.

I'd suggest reading these threads
Breeding Ball Pythons - Some things to consider
Breeding for business

There was also a thread where people voted in a poll on how much income they take in from breeding BPs... It was not as much as you would think.

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Originally Posted by h00blah

separate them immediately... they are too young to breed, and obviously no quarantine was used either... separate - quarantine - keep separate after quarantine...

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She is in quarantine. I took her out to see how she behaved in my hands and put her away. I later took the boy out and he was in some of the same areas she had been in, which is how I noticed it. They're not cohabitating. She's 370gr, he's 200gr. I am not trying to breed them.