Husbandry issue?

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Originally Posted by cris78

pacing all back and forth all nite IS a sigh of stress

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I agree. I would be surprised if one or both doesn't start a sore on his or her nose from rubbing it along the glass or vine in pacing. Ball pythons are called ball pythons because they like to be secure and in little balls. If yours seem to be training for the snake Olympics then it is probably because they are stressed out.

I know that you have good intentions, and I am sorry that what you feel will help the snake is actually hurting it. The concrete proof is in the results. Your snakes are experiencing huge problems due to their housing. People who keep their snakes in tubs and smaller tanks (mine is in a 30gallon with a few hides, no plants, and a Dora the explorer towel covering part of the screen top and my snake had a great first shed this morning) have healthy, eating snakes. I don't think you've received the positive feedback you wanted. Like someone said earlier. They're your snakes and you can care or neglect them as you wish, but don't be argumentative with advice you're given when you ask.

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Ball pythons are called ball pythons because they like to be secure and in little balls. If yours seem to be training for the snake Olympics then it is probably because they are stressed out.

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Quote worthy!!! :D

I have to agree with what everyone has been saying. Its just not good for the snake. Its hard to hear a bunch of people tell you what you've been doing is wrong and the true test is whether you will take the advice or continue doing what you've been doing. The shame is that there is little concrete proof out there, these snakes are not the subjects of studies often and therefore have little publicized information. Take it from the collective years of experience of the great people on this site to be all the proof you need. We all care very much for these slithery creatures and would not give you harmful advice. In the end its your choice but you'd be wise to follow the advice given.

Good luck and welcome to our forum.

I know you haven't been recieving the replies you thought, but you came asking for opinions.

Though it's not the best thing to do, even if you split your tank in half with a peice of plexi glass, and keep a ball on either side (making sure both half of the tanks have the proper heat gradiant), and put in a lot of hides for them to choose from (of simular size or the same, so they don't choose their favorite). Balls don't need a lot of room to move about, they are not active snakes. In fact the best indicator that something may be off is if they are pacing in their tank (Pip did this on a few occasions after a power outage and the temps and humidiy in his tank stressed him out). Just simply separating them and adding in more hides, you'll notice a great difference in them. They'll be happier, more content. Balls are meant to spend their time inside their hides or well hidden (in the middle of my Pips tank, there are some rocks and big things of leaves, which he likes to hide himself in, in essence it's a another hide). He's calm and docile, eats great, and loves to be handled.

Well i have to say i agree with everyone but you ball pythons love tight spaces and dark they actually do not go far from there hides because of the security they need not eating bad sheds yeah i listened to theses guys and gals on here when i got my first ball and guess what a week later he was eating so why would you ask for advice and then not take it and try to bad mouth it your snakes are not happy together if you want to keep them both in the big tank fine but your going to have to do major work to it first seperate the cage into 2 differnt ones second add more hides maybe cover the sides of the tank and make sure you keep the temp and humidity good people on this site are more than willing to help you just dont and try them there wrong some of these people been housing snakes the majority of there lives guys and gurls add to it :rockon:
(should of read his first ^ )

there's a vid of africans finding snakes in the wild & pulling 4 out of one burrow

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Originally Posted by ReptiNut

there's a vid of africans finding snakes in the wild & pulling 4 out of one burrow

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Not sure what your point is? I believe it was one female and several males who were competing for the female during breeding season, if it's the same video I'm thinking of. Also, remember that each of those snakes have the ability to leave when the "deed" is done or they are stressed, but they wouldn't, if forced to live together in captivity.

let them swim around in a warm bath (not together) or let them slither around on the bed or sofa once in a while (again one at a time). that will give them a little exercize. even dogs will compete for dominance and the best of every thing. if you have a dog and you get a cat or a dog that dog will fell it has to compete. there's no way you can house two solitaire animals and not expect them not to compete. take the advice of every one in here or leave it, but please do some thing before one or both wind up hurt or worse.

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Originally Posted by m2sexi97

What are thay supposed to do if they dont climb and pace around, how will they get any exercise? Are they better off just laying in one spot all the time?

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Hey, not trying to beat a dead horse, but in changing my snakes cage tonight I thought of this thread. I got her out this evening and we socialized, talked of our days, etc. I cleaned the old newspaper from her tank and had been holding her 15-20 minutes. While I was putting down new newspaper, I set my snake on my bed, which is full of fun stuff that bad snakes love to get into, like comforter folds, sheets, etc. Well, also on my bed was her screen top, on top of which were her hides. Rather than going and checking out the bed or slithering off as I expected her to do, she went straight for her hide and sort of poked her head out watching me. I take this as a good sign. She feels comfortable in her hide, even if its on her screen top on my bed. While I agree that it is counter-intuitive to believe that roaming = unhappy and curled up and hidden = happy, I gotta believe that it is right. Anyway, this is just anecdotal evidence, but I still was sort of amused that it happened and wanted to share.