finally done!!!

I didn't put together a concise argument because it is constantly made. A little research into cohabitation on this forum or the internet will provide the responses for any argument against cohabitation. I didn't mean to insult anyone but someone already mentioned that they should not be housed together and as always does in these threads, the OP ignored the advice. It's always the same, whoever it is, just wants to house them together. There's no possible argument against this basic of reasons: if one animal gets sick, they both do. It can be prevented, is unnecessary, and irresponsible. That is just one reason. And brushing into another ball python is completely different than them sharing a dwelling, which by all accounts to date, they don't do.

And as for skiploders thread, he said he only did it for breeding purposes, never housed males together, and should only be done by experienced keepers. None of those seem to apply here unless the OP is experienced, in which case I apologize.

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Whenever you have multiple animals you run the risk of them infecting each other. Respiratory infections are probably one of the most common illnesses we deal with as reptile keepers. I've tackled the battle of an RI before and when I took it into the vet my vet recommended that I remove him from my rack until he was over it because it could pass to the other snakes. I caught it really early and no one else got sick, but it could have happened without them even coming with in direct contact with each other. My vet has told me stories of people who have lost all or large portions of their collections due to a few illnesses (some of which I believe he was still trying to determine the cause of).

The major reason people have for not housing snakes together is the risk of the spread of disease, but given the experience of my vet it seems like anyone who has more than one animal runs that risk. It is not easier to keep two animals together. It takes more work and is definitely harder for record keeping. Looking that OPs setup, they don't seem like a novice to me. Their setup looks great and if it's big enough to house two ball pythons comfortably and they are eating, I don't see a problem with housing them together. They could have unintended breeding and they could encounter two males fighting, it's something the OP will have to watch for.

I honestly think it comes down to personal choice. I've noticed as a whole we've become very set in our ways for how animals should be kept and as soon as someone does anything different everyone jumps on the train of telling them they are wrong and usually offer little reason as to why they think the person is wrong. Not everything is black and white and when we treat members in the community like it is we sometimes alienate them. We have enough opposition from politicians and animal rights groups that we don't need to be fighting among ourselves, but that's just my two cents you can take it or leave it.

I also just reread what I wrote, and I guess I did snap at the OP little bit. I apologize to you you for that. Not my intention, just got a little frustrated. I'm sorry

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The fact that you were able to catch it and remove your snake to another location is precisely the reason that it's better not to house them together. It gave you the opportunity to catch it before it spreads. Housing them together drastically decreases that chance because of the physical occupation of the same space. Yes it can spread if they are separated. At the same time it allows you a chance to stop the spread before it infects another snake. Housing them together doesn't allow you that opportunity.

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Instead of worrying about separating animals so they won't get sick from one another, how about we focus about not getting them sick in the first place? I spend a lot of time looking after my animals to make sure that their habitat is always perfect (I have one male and one female together btw). It also depends on how observant you are of your snake's behavior. If you're not paying attention to them, a small thing will turn into a serious situation regardless of how many snakes are in one terrarium. Now a BP might get sick even if you're the most caring and observing owner but exceptions do happen.

I think it comes down to a personal preference whether you keep BPs together in the same terrarium just like it's a preference whether you feed live or f/t. Now with that said, if you're going to keep two animals together, you should have a proper setup for it.

To be honest i don't mind people speaking their mind. If i didn't want to hear it i wouldn't have made the post. i make sure both snakes are healthy and happy. Regular herp vet check ups and they environment it in tip top shape when it comes to temp, humidity, and make sure there are enuff hides and clean water. Like i said before tho. They have been together for as long as i have had them and one of them stops hearing when separated. They seriously are always together. Wither its playing out side or in their cage. My wife says i take better care of my snakes then i do her. Lol. i do know the early signs of a ri and always checking them out daily for any virus or mites.

Here's my little ones being cute in their fav tree when their outside. Also after every outing they get inspected for mites and get wiped down with a baby wipe before going back into their home.

http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/...psecb0eef3.jpg

Sometimes i can seem like a ahole on a post and not catch it. So if i said something im sorry.