Touchy subject that i need some light shined on....

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Ah, so if you are doing something that "mimics behavior found in the wild" then it is ok....

YouTube - Ball pythons in the wild

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But this video should not be considered in the discussion for some reason... because it is a Utube video? Or because video of one happening certainly is not proof that it can and does happen?


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Not sure I understand what you are trying to show here? In the video they said it was 2 males and one female in a hole. That does not seem too odd to me especially since it was taken during breeding season.

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Originally Posted by pfan151

Not sure I understand what you are trying to show here? In the video they said it was 2 males and one female in a hole. That does not seem too odd to me especially since it was taken during breeding season.

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Some believe that BP's are ONLY by themselves in the wild. They believe that BP's experience nothing but stress and unhappiness when they are together with other BP's with the exception of breeding.

Others (like myself) are no so quick to go along with these theories, especially when our own observations and experiences show us differently.

The point of the video is it shows an instance in Ghana where 3 BP's were living together in the same hole. Could it have been just been a chance encounter because it was the breeding season? Sure it could have. but maybe it wasn't. The female already laid eggs so it had to at least been the very end of the breeding season if not past the breeding season. Either way, she wasn't breeding any more.

Going back to the original question.
I would be concerned about having 3 snakes in 1 tub with a lock up. If 2 snakes were locked up and the 3rd decided to go cruising over them or entwined in them I would imagine it could do some damage to both the male and female locked up if they were pulled apart. Beside that thought, they may not hold locks due to the 3rd snake being in there and added stress.
I know some boa breeders will have a 1.2 breeding maybe some research into that may help.
I'm not sure if you would separate them when they were about to lie. Females get uncomfortable before lying and move around a lot. This is a stressful time for them which could be exasperated by the other female and causing stress to that other female. Then going to one female being on eggs while the other's getting ready to lie, I would imagine that female #2 would definitely be struck at.
Also consider tub size. Having 3500+ grams worth of snake in one undersized (I'm not saying that yours are, just generally speaking) tub could cause bent scales and unnecessary rubbing which could lead to infections.

Personally I would not embark in this particular new housekeeping.
But, we all want to be the best keepers we can. If experimenting can teach us a new, better way, great. Just as long as the animals are safe, healthy and as ‘happy’ as we can understand them to be.

Keep us posted and Good Luck!

Key word that ive seen with keeping two or more snakes together is "can" "can survive successfully" well yeah, a man can fly to the moon, but not all men can. some dogs can escape a fenced yard, some cant. there have also been times where ball pythons kill each other due to one deciding to eat the other. Studies have been done in private homes aswell as businesses. It is generally the fact that they will eat and be merry, but a solitary snake is just as merry. back to the words of ball ptyhon owners everywhere "its up to the individual(s) in question"

Well as much as when I do plan to breed bp, I plan to breed one pair at a time, I don't see why breeding 1 male to 2 females is such a terrible thing. If one plants to breed them in a small tub, then the snakes might get pissy.

If you give them space, it could very well work out. You can just mark which one is which so you don't lose track. Although there certainly are some potential problems that could arise, I think that most people are against it simply because it's against what most people have been doing with ball pythons, and they are afraid to go and try something new.

Of course, I am referring to getting them pregnant, and then moving them to seperate enclosures to laye eggs.

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Originally Posted by monk90222

#1 Mike is not the first person to have BP's in captivity. There is no need for further experiments about multiple housing, it has all been done before.
#2 You have 3 ball pythons (as per your sig) how can you make an assumption that they will OK living together. I do believe that the snake on top was the dominant one. By you stating that "they swapped" tells me that they were in a struggle for domination.
#3 Good luck letting them rest 1/2 a day after eating before handling. I'm sure that's gonna work out great in the long run.

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#1 there is always room for more info. if anything he can be another example of a failure... but it doesn't seem like hes failing. I don't see whats so wrong about trying something. If it works learn from it, if it doesn't work learn from it.
#2 I have 7, havn't updated the sig, but that doesn't matter, if they were fighting for domination then they surly show it by not moving much, i see them sleeping, curled up together. then i go check on them a few hours from now and one obviously got out and moved around then went back to sleep...if ask me they just curl up together. last one in the hide is the one on top.

but thats my observation with 2 snakes, well and also my breeding male and female also swap spots when their together, one is never always on top, but im sure breeding is a different thing. but where is any evidence that they are trying to dominate each other and not just curling up together because thats what alot of animals do. im not trying to be a jerk eigher, i would like to see some sort of a report saying else wise, i don't see it.
#3 no negative effects observed, I can't say much more than that.