first time happening

I have two 2013 juvinile bps. ones a fire male and the other a mystic male. i was told i could keep them in the same enclosure untill they were about a year old. well i learned last night that the information i had been given was wrong. i was on the couch relaxing before i went to bed. i heard a thud, i look over and these two are going at it. i tried pulling them apart. after a minute of no success, i grabbed my water bottle and drenched them. finally the fire let go and i was able to seperate them. i have them in different enclosures now. ive never seen that before. of course im still fairly new to the bp world. so my question is, when do i need to seperate the young ones? they were together since my friend bought them from repticon with no problems untill last night. im sorry if i posted this on the wrong forum.

now would be a good time...


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I seperated them as soon as i got them apart.

Males will fight for dominance like any other species. They can reach sexual maturity within a year. Sometimes even within a few months of birth. Its best to house then individually from the get go.

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Do you mind describing what you meant by "going at it" ? How big are these males exactly?

It sounds like they were physically fighting, but good to get a description as well. Do rejecting females of males also fight?
There was recently a video posted on a thread showing two males in a pushing and shoving match, pretty much upright. I wonder if it was like that.

I think with the occasional exception of some species of garter snakes (could be misinformed on that but anyway), snakes are always to be housed seperately. I think some breeders have them housed together at shows - and sometimes young ones all the time, also as with pet stores - to save space. This is generally not a good idea.
Some species are also known to be cannibalistic, like king snakes and even corns - although rare.

I don't think ball pythons have be known to eat each other, but they do fight over resources. Apparently physically from time to time as well.

I am glad you got them apart though! I hope there are no wounds or anything like that. I am sorry you were misinformed... but at least you know now.

Best of luck!

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Originally Posted by NH93

I don't think ball pythons have be known to eat each other

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It has happened more often than you might think. A couple years back we had a thread floating around here with some very graphic photos of the aftermath of one BP eating another. I'll see if I can dig it up from the crypt.

Bottom line, Ball Pythons are not communal animals. Period.

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Originally Posted by Slim

It has happened more often than you might think. A couple years back we had a thread floating around here with some very graphic photos of the aftermath of one BP eating another. I'll see if I can dig it up from the crypt.

Bottom line, Ball Pythons are not communal animals. Period.

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Oh my... Oh wow... well then, all the more reason to keep them seperate... :(

(I am okay with not seeing photos)

Never have 2 together unless you're breeding them.

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Originally Posted by runintoluck

Do you mind describing what you meant by "going at it" ? How big are these males exactly?

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the mystic male struck the fire male and they wrapped each other up. they rolled around like this untill i got them apart. there both right at 200g. i learned my lesson and they will not be put back together. they are both fine, he didnt even leave teeth marks. thank all of you for the information.