2 corns in same tank

Hi everyone. Just wondering if corns can be housed together or not. Thanks

Well, that is a hot topic for debate.
PERSONALLY I would say it is not a great idea. If you search this forum for cohabiting threads, there are like thousands. Your best best is to search those :)


Corns have been known to be cannibalistic from time to time... it is not pretty. Housing two snakes together, regardless of species, is often stressful for them. They are not social creatures (with the possible exception for garters, but again, up for debate). They don't "cuddle" together, but rather that is their way of fighting for resources.

It *can* be done, but, I personally wouldn't bother.

Thanks just curious!

Like stated above its a debatable topic. That beibg said I had my corns in the same tank for the last 17 years. They were from the same clutch and stayed around the same size. I had a tank that was also very big 6 foot by 3 by 4. There was 4 hides in there with two diffrent hot spots.. yet they were always in the same hide together. The only time i seperated them was feedings. One died this spring so now the other is all alone now.

My experience if rom this is much the same as the above ^^ had too carpet puthon juveniles who yes are also known for cannibalistic behavour from time too time! They had a few good years together until my female was sadly moved on due too a downsize! My advice is always have Spare housing at hand, and keep your husbandry Tip top, not saying it's fault proof but it worked for me

While I understand housing for a short period of time. Housing two animals together is not for the long term! If you do not have room to house 2 snakes, well you shouldn't have the 2. I've housed snaked together before but only for a very short period of time. Housing multiple animals isn't companionship it is competition. If you do decide to house both, be highly attentive & always make sure you have an extra home just in case!
Do what is best for your snakes.
Good luck!

Hmmmm.

The OP has now heard from several people.

One who tried it, applied some intelligence to the set up and had success - for 17 years.

.......plus several people who haven't tried it, but are offering opinions anyway.............

Does anyone know what the word is for an opinion that is based on no experience?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

Hmmmm.

The OP has now heard from several people.

One who tried it, applied some intelligence to the set up and had success - for 17 years.

.......plus several people who haven't tried it, but are offering opinions anyway.............

Does anyone know what the word is for an opinion that is based on no experience?

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Having success housing multiple animals and it being bullet proof are not the same thing. I've seen many times where they have done well together(though not housed for 17 years, I see your point) and some who clearly are being stressed out. What is your opinion ? Or Fact on the matter ?

I've had two attempts at cannibalization during breeding seasons. One required me to rush them under tap water to get the offending snake to release their constriction. The other was the female 'tasting' the male as I watched. They were even locked at the time, which made her 'bite... release... bite... release... bite... attempt.... release' even odder to witness. Fortunately no intervention was required in that case.

My first attempt at cohabbing (multiple hot spots, multiple hides, 55 gallon tank, same size hatchlings) resulted in such stress for the snow that it was at least a YEAR, probably longer, before I could even touch it without it going on a 3 week long hunger strike. At 3 years old, the snow was just over 100 grams. And that was despite being cohabbed for only two months or so.

So one person claims to have kept them together for 17 years...and another claims they had problems with cannibalism.

Take each story as if it were true. Why would one person have an issue and another person did not?

Why were two snakes magically devoid of the sinister cannibalism gene?

Oh psh. Sinister cannibalism gene? Hyperbole much?

The one corn is a strong feeder who can be 'exciting' to remove from her cage. Every single thing is food. I did succeed in breeding her this year without issue. The second, well, I have no idea why she was tasting her male like that as they were fed 3 days prior and she, despite being a petite thing, had stuffed herself with 2 extra large mice. And she only did that the once.

Feren's personality was not such that he could handle the cohabbing, which is why he went off feed and became such a skittish thing.

It is simply a thing that *can* happen. Some people have worse 'luck' than others when it comes to things. Hell, I have a kitten with frickin' scoliosis which is so rare that there's only a single case study on it. I've had TWO foster animals with hydrocephalus who both lived. I had kittens with transient pancreatic insufficiency, also exceedingly uncommon. My current dog is allergic to human beings. I am queen of the "But that's supposed to be rare."

Partly because of my history with Murphy, and as a veterinary technician, I do not view the potentials risks to be worth it. At best, I have 2 snakes in a large tank. At worst, I have a stressed out snake, or even only 1 very fat snake. There is NO benefit to the snake, it's only about human convenience. These are my pets. I'm going to do the best for them that I can, and that involves their housing, feeding, and their medical care.

You know, for as heated and debated a topic as I have seen this many times, I do have to say this is very civil and personally I appreciate it! I enjoy these types of conversations, and was the focus of my joining this forum. :) So thank you, fellow members, for keeping it so well! :oops:

Well, I personally have housed adult corns together for several years with no ill effects. I have also housed baby corns together and have had personal experience with them eating each other. Once while still in the incubator. In all instances, the consumer and the consumee both died (it was really weird to find an incredibly bloated and mishapen dead baby corn with a tail sticking out of it's mouth. I guess that's just something that is bound to happen when you eat something that is 100% of your body weight)

I do find it interesting that this has always happened to me with babies that had not yet started feeding on their own and it has not ever happened to me with adult snakes. On the other hand, I don't typically house adult snakes together but I typically DO house together clutches of baby snakes until after their first shed so it could just be a matter of percentages. In any case, cannabilism is rare.

Snakes are opportunistic feeders that can, when they are in the mood, eat whatever is in front of their faces. MOST OF THE TIME, this will not happen. But it can.

On a side note, I've also had this happen to me with baby leopard geckos.