How long can these two share a tank?

In a nutshell, I came home from the Texas Reptile Expo with three snakes more than I intended. Oh darn, right? Two are ball pythons from the same breeder. I think they're brother and sister, but not positive. Anyway, they're currently both joining forces to escape from the same tank because I'm all out of enclosures. Do I need to get them set up separately like, tomorrow, or can it wait a few days? They won't need to eat until later this week, and I don't have a free evening until Wednesday. I will also need to order the additional hides and water dishes, and that'll be Friday-ish before they come in. I'd like to get everything set up at once, so if it can wait five days, that'd be ideal, but if I need to get the new tubs tomorrow, I can. I'll just have to take the heat off my roaches to put on them until the new heating comes in.

While its not ideal. They will be fine together for a few days.

They should be fine if it's just temporary, reptile and pet shops keep lots of them together, I've even seen shops with several adults together and for long periods of time (more than a few days) so for a couple days i think they'll be good.

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How big is the cage? Either way if it is only a week or so then I agree with everyone else that all should be good.

Its not the best. Its probably better to separate them as soon as you can. You can always buy cheap small plastic tubs as temporary enclosures.

For a few days, its probably alright
But definitely not long term.

There's more cons of housing ball pythons long term together than pros. While it can be done, its not recommended for new keepers. And if you're asking the question, you're probably shouldn't house them together for longer than what you're wanting to.
Just because pet shops do it, it doesn't mean its ideal or safe.

And I think its only semi acceptable in this situation because they're from the same breeder. If they were from different places, it would be a firm NO. All new snakes should be quarantined. Cross contaminating new animals is a big no no. That's just asking for potential illness/mite spread.

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I'm only doing it now because they're from the same breeder. They've been in a sac together all weekend already (expo was an 8 hour drive).

From what I've read, BPs get stressed if housed together. I've never done it, and couldn't find any info on temporary sharing of a tank, only long-term sharing creating stress, low weight gain, and feeding problems. I was concerned that there could be some sort of snake territory issue I wasn't aware of.

They're in a 10 gallon with a large hide, which they're both in now. It's the handsome dude in my av, and a pastel. It's a good thing he's cute too, since he promptly crapped on me soon as I bought him.

On a happy note, my new Columbian rainbow boa ate a thawed mouse tonight with just a little coaxing, and she's only had live prior to this. And the hatchling corn ate it's second meal ever.

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On a side note I'm happy everybody is being resonable and not jumping down anybody's throat like oh no they can't be together blah blah blah. I've seen that happen too many times and it's good to see everybody being objective.

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Originally Posted by zach_24_90

On a side note I'm happy everybody is being resonable and not jumping down anybody's throat like oh no they can't be together blah blah blah. I've seen that happen too many times and it's good to see everybody being objective.

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BPs routinely get put in the same display case at shows, so obviously short-term is okay. It seems it's long-term that becomes an issue, but how long is short term? Prior to feeding? Prior to putting in an enclosure?

I've just never kept snakes together of any species. I have two female corns that were housed together without issue (that I know of) before I got them, but I separated them.

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Originally Posted by Bugmom

In a nutshell, I came home from the Texas Reptile Expo with three snakes more than I intended. Oh darn, right? Two are ball pythons from the same breeder. I think they're brother and sister, but not positive. Anyway, they're currently both joining forces to escape from the same tank because I'm all out of enclosures. Do I need to get them set up separately like, tomorrow, or can it wait a few days? They won't need to eat until later this week, and I don't have a free evening until Wednesday. I will also need to order the additional hides and water dishes, and that'll be Friday-ish before they come in. I'd like to get everything set up at once, so if it can wait five days, that'd be ideal, but if I need to get the new tubs tomorrow, I can. I'll just have to take the heat off my roaches to put on them until the new heating comes in.

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I'm not being a jerk by any means. But my one question is..why would buy a snake you don't have an enclosure for? If ur buying a set up in a few days why didn't u just buy it at the show? I dnt get it these are animals and should he cared for properly from day 1. If u don't have the right stuff or the money,you shouldn't have pets....

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

I'm not being a jerk by any means. But my one question is..why would buy a snake you don't have an enclosure for? If ur buying a set up in a few days why didn't u just buy it at the show? I dnt get it these are animals and should he cared for properly from day 1. If u don't have the right stuff or the money,you shouldn't have pets....

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Do not turn this into one of those threads.
She's keeping the snakes together for a few days, they will be okay. Please, let it go.

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

I'm not being a jerk by any means. But my one question is..why would buy a snake you don't have an enclosure for? If ur buying a set up in a few days why didn't u just buy it at the show? I dnt get it these are animals and should he cared for properly from day 1. If u don't have the right stuff or the money,you shouldn't have pets....

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Um for not trying to be a jerk.... that was rather rude.
While I agree, no animal should be gotten without their specific necessities, it's not like the snakes are roaming around on the floor of there house. They are in an enclosure and albeit not perfect conditions they will make it a couple days.

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Originally Posted by Bugmom

BPs routinely get put in the same display case at shows, so obviously short-term is okay. It seems it's long-term that becomes an issue, but how long is short term? Prior to feeding? Prior to putting in an enclosure?

I've just never kept snakes together of any species. I have two female corns that were housed together without issue (that I know of) before I got them, but I separated them.

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Short term is as little time as possible. Definitely before feeding time.

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

I'm not being a jerk by any means. But my one question is..why would buy a snake you don't have an enclosure for? If ur buying a set up in a few days why didn't u just buy it at the show? I dnt get it these are animals and should he cared for properly from day 1. If u don't have the right stuff or the money,you shouldn't have pets....

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This poster is tactfully asking a question concerning simple logic on the OP's part. Online text does not carry a tone and coupled with this syntax there is obviously no malicious intent...if the OP wishes to answer great...if not, who cares?

It was "buy the pewter, get the pastel free." I know darn well almost no one here would turn that down. Free snake? The horror! ;) I had only intended to buy one BP. We ended up with four snakes total. I had enclosures for three.

And I use Sterilite tubs with heat cable for my adult corns and all my BPs. Can't buy tubs at an expo, and I wasn't going to go to the store after driving all day. I was actually pretty disappointed in the lack of reptile accessories being sold there. I didn't find anything that I could use. Not even hides. I had banked on finding that stuff there.

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Originally Posted by Bugmom

It was "buy the pewter, get the pastel free." I know darn well almost no one here would turn that down. Free snake? The horror! ;) I had only intended to buy one BP. We ended up with four snakes total. I had enclosures for three.

And I use Sterilite tubs with heat cable for my adult corns and all my BPs. Can't buy tubs at an expo, and I wasn't going to go to the store after driving all day. I was actually pretty disappointed in the lack of reptile accessories being sold there. I didn't find anything that I could use. Not even hides. I had banked on finding that stuff there.

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Yep not sure I could pass that up!!
:)
But I do have to ask.... you do have all the new ones quarantined???

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The new BPs are in my bedroom. The new milksnake and new boa are on the opposite side of the living room from the existing animals.

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I did just think of a question regarding quarantining.

The new animals have been together in a hotel room for 15 hours, then in my vehicle for the 8+ hour drive home. That's almost a full day of being together. Isn't that already plenty of time for illness to spread among them? Would spreading those out in different rooms from each other really be necessary at this point?

Obviously I don't want them with my established snakes, but my house only has so many rooms after all.

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

Do not turn this into one of those threads.
She's keeping the snakes together for a few days, they will be okay. Please, let it go.

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Fair enough

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Originally Posted by Bugmom

I did just think of a question regarding quarantining.

The new animals have been together in a hotel room for 15 hours, then in my vehicle for the 8+ hour drive home. That's almost a full day of being together. Isn't that already plenty of time for illness to spread among them? Would spreading those out in different rooms from each other really be necessary at this point?

Obviously I don't want them with my established snakes, but my house only has so many rooms after all.

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Depends on what pathogens/conditions you are dealing with. Personally, the minute I get out of any show the first thing any new pick ups get is a good dose of mite spray and if I have any doubts then I also apply anti-parasite medications as well as keep temperatures on the warm side for all quarantine specimens in order to stimulate their immune systems and kick out any extra pathogens. Wild caughts automatically receive de-wormer the minute they come out of the box.

In the end, quarantine is about keeping your established collection safe, not necessarily the rest of your pick ups.

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Originally Posted by Physician&Snakes

Depends on what pathogens/conditions you are dealing with. Personally, the minute I get out of any show the first thing any new pick ups get is a good dose of mite spray and if I have any doubts then I also apply anti-parasite medications as well as keep temperatures on the warm side for all quarantine specimens in order to stimulate their immune systems and kick out any extra pathogens. Wild caughts automatically receive de-wormer the minute they come out of the box.

In the end, quarantine is about keeping your established collection safe, not necessarily the rest of your pick ups.

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I don't really get that mindset. If I'm getting a new animal, it has some sort of value to me, whether monetary or sentimental. It doesn't have less value than animals I already own.

I bought from some highly respected breeders this weekend. Ron Tremper, for example, sold my daughter her albino nelsoni milksnake. She would be devastated if that snake died; it's her new best friend. But there wasn't a way to quarantine her snake from my new boa or BPs or gecko in a hotel room or vehicle. Which I know is just the risk you take when buying multiple animals from an expo. But I trust someone like Tremper to have good husbandry to begin with, and really unlikely to be selling sick animals.

I'm just concerned for what happens once home, as I don't want new or established animals to fall ill.

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Originally Posted by Bugmom

I don't really get that mindset. If I'm getting a new animal, it has some sort of value to me, whether monetary or sentimental. It doesn't have less value than animals I already own.

I bought from some highly respected breeders this weekend. Ron Tremper, for example, sold my daughter her albino nelsoni milksnake. She would be devastated if that snake died; it's her new best friend. But there wasn't a way to quarantine her snake from my new boa or BPs or gecko in a hotel room or vehicle. Which I know is just the risk you take when buying multiple animals from an expo.

I'm just concerned for what happens once home, as I don't want new or established animals to fall ill.

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I did not say throw them together willy-nilly lol. I was just stating the basis for quarantine, yes it is a bit harsh, but it's about keeping any problems away from established specimens and being able to detect problems immediately in quarantined individuals. My little WC scrub stole my heart the minute he crawled out of the shipping box and wrapped around my wrist...I hoped to god that my de-worming regimens worked and he would prove hardy...thank god he has.

Just keep your new additions in a different room for QT at home. Especially your new boa since IBD is rather common for them. IBD will kill pythons very quickly. Some people have had entire collections wiped out in a matter of days.

Don't handle your QT animals before your resident animals.

Some pathogens can actually lay dormant up to 9 months before become active. Most people here only QT for 3 months. I QT for 6 months minimum. I know one person who QTs for a full year.
Some vets are starting to advocate year long QT, which I am heavily considering myself due to those months long dormant illnesses.

And no matter where your animals come from, always treat new additions for mites. Its a good preventative measure whether they have them or not. Its important since mites can spread fast and can be vectors to spread disease. So I suggest buying a can of Provent-a-Mite and spraying your tubs down for all your new animals. (Note: read the instructions carefully and do not spray the animals themselves)

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I always work from oldest-owned animals to newest when it's just me, but usually my daughter and I split the work, so for example she may feed/water/maintain any new animals while I'm doing all the older ones. Zero risk for cross contamination there.

We have new animals coming in every 3-4 months now, so I think it's time to start converting the spare bedroom for our older residents to live in. New ones can be split then between other rooms, e.g. boas in my bedroom, BPs in the living room, corns and milks in my daughter's room.

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Sounds good.

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