more than 1 ball

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Originally Posted by Kyle7676

Well here is my .02 on this.

So, I went to NARBC today with plans on getting a rack and a new BP. Got there and ran into a beautiful bumblebee. As crowded as the place was I was concerned she would get snatched up so I bought her and went off looking for the racks. None. I mean there were some for big breeders but nothing under $1k. No 4 - 6 tub small racks. So now I was stuck with 1 tank at home and a newly purchased bee. So I started talking to some of the vendors. Their take was very simple. For short term, housing 2 together is not an issue. Many stated they do it when needed. So I stopped sweating it and brought Isolde home to meet Guinevere.

So I got home with Isolde and 2 new black plastic hides. ( Btw - I bought both of my snakes from the same breeder within a very short time of each other. I know everyone is going to criticize for not quarantining but tbh they are a reputable breeder and so i felt there was no risk given the circumstances ). So I arrange the cage with both of the hides on the warm side. Put em both in and watched them for a good 30 mins. My pastel is very skittish and has been since I brought her home. Jumps anytime I walk by the cage and she is out of the hide. Still working on getting her to be handled well. My new bee seems to be a champ and not skittish in the least. Watching them in the cage I kept going back to what so many people on here say about stress, how 2 snakes would just become stressed out together. Honestly, I don't know about long term but I have to say, based on my 2, I just wasn't seeing it and here is why.

Like I said, my pastel is very skittish. When I put them both in, they decided to get a feel of the new cage and setup. Not once did they ever shy away from each other. No jumping, tensing up, nothing. At one point they even "kissed" and then went back to their exploring. This went on for 30 minutes at which time they both went into their separate hides and retired for the night.

My very long and winded point is this...

If you set up the tank in a way where they both can have their own space AND heat, then short term ( less than a month ), I just don't know about the stressing out part. Lets face it. So many on here go on about how balls like their solitude and a happy ball stays in their hide most of the time. Well if they both have hides and both have heat, I'm not seeing where they will have a lot of stressful contact.

* This does not address the issue of not being able to watch each separately for any problems that might arise. I am very aware that there are MANY other factors when talking about housing 2 together. I'm just pointing out that in my very brief experience tonight, I don't think stress would be one for a short term issue.

If you read all that, I'm sorry. Its Saturday night and I'm home and bored.

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Kyle, that is about what I have noticed with these two. I'm sure ideally they should not be together, and I will certainly be getting another set-up, but after 5 or 6 years of being together they never had issues with them not eating. I haven't been having issues with them not eating either.

In response to the person that said keep them in the bin I am feeding in that would require a secured lid and a new set-up as well.