So, I was studying up on BP's ...

I googled "ball python care" and came across this:

Q: Can we keep several together, how big will they get, and how do we keep them tame?A: Yes, you can keep several together, but it is always recommended when you get a new reptile that you quarantine it for several months ( 4-6 months+) to make sure it is not carrying any diseases that would spread to your other reptiles. Also, when housing more than one snake together, it is absolutely mandatory that they be fed in separate cages. Otherwise, they may accidentally eat each other. Ball pythons average 3-5 feet. A few unusually large ball pythons get close to 6 feet long. They are heavy-bodied snakes, and are fairly slow movers. While they are usually of a calm temperament, handling your snake regularly will help keep it tame and accustomed to being handled.

They may accidentally eat each other?? What?

With a quick perusal of info found by a google search, it's no wonder newbies have problems starting out (myself included).

not likely to happen, especially if they're around the same size and well fed. balls arent really known for being cannibalistic. the internet is full of misinformation. get all the online information you need pertaining to your snakes from here and you should be fine.

To add to what creepin said, they don't need regular handling to stay tame. Handling doesn't make a difference with bps like it does with other species.

Mike would know, he handes his balls all the time

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Here's ball python eating a ball python:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...ncannibal1.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...ncannibal2.jpg

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When fed in the same tank snakes can start on one rat and continue eating down the head and body of the other. This is why inexperienced should NEVER house snakes together. It can be done but requires more experience, more effort, and more money.

While cannibalism is not common, it does happen. Yes multiple ball pythons can be housed together, but the average new owner has their hands full caring for a single snake in a single enclosure. Adding multiple snakes to a bigger enclosure only multiplies your problems and makes correct husbandry that much harder. I don't recommend anyone with less than 5-7 years of experience in snake keeping {and I don't mean keeping a single snake in an aquarium with no heat, no humidity and once monthly feedings} to even try housing more than one together.

Start out slow, learn all you can and make your first snake's enclosure as perfect as you can, then start with another snake in a separate enclosure and see how quickly you can get everything right. Once you can set up an enclosure just right on the first try, then you can try housing two of the same size in a single enclosure and see how things change and learn how to compensate. Truthfully, other than space concerns, there isn't much reason to house two or more together. And rack systems pretty much negate that issue. So in general you will find most people don't recommend it. The small gain is usually not worth the very real difficulties and hassles.

Gale

Quote:

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Originally Posted by angllady2

While cannibalism is not common, it does happen. Yes multiple ball pythons can be housed together, but the average new owner has their hands full caring for a single snake in a single enclosure. Adding multiple snakes to a bigger enclosure only multiplies your problems and makes correct husbandry that much harder. I don't recommend anyone with less than 5-7 years of experience in snake keeping {and I don't mean keeping a single snake in an aquarium with no heat, no humidity and once monthly feedings} to even try housing more than one together.

Start out slow, learn all you can and make your first snake's enclosure as perfect as you can, then start with another snake in a separate enclosure and see how quickly you can get everything right. Once you can set up an enclosure just right on the first try, then you can try housing two of the same size in a single enclosure and see how things change and learn how to compensate. Truthfully, other than space concerns, there isn't much reason to house two or more together. And rack systems pretty much negate that issue. So in general you will find most people don't recommend it. The small gain is usually not worth the very real difficulties and hassles.

Gale

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Here's the answer to the 'can I house two snakes in one enclosure' question. No more arguing about it, just post this up. :gj:

I wasn't planning on keeping snakes together, I just wanted to point out some of the strange information there is out there. This section in particular I found... odd...

Thanks for the additional info though, everyone. I appreciate it very much!