Housing together?

I'm relatively new to corn snakes, and I was wondering if you can keep two of them together in the same enclosure.. any input?

No snakes should ever be housed together. There are way too many problems caused when they are. Cannibalism, double vet bills, accidental breeding, stressed (AKA NOT EATING) snakes among them.

Corn snakes and alot of colubrids are ophiophagus, meaning the eat snakes as part of their diet(King snakes do this more regularly).

It is best to house all snakes separately. Zero chance of cannibalism, parasite/disease transfer, stress-induced illness, stress-induced anorexia(not eating). Snakes should only be brought together for breeding, and even then, separated after a few days to rest and eat before being placed back with the female(s) again.

The abridge version: don't do it. Ever.

Or, to the left, yes, it can be done, done quite successfully and with no ill effects to the snakes.

Of course, I am only on generation 12, yes TWELVE, where I have kept corns together. It hasn't worked with my milksnakes, sand boas, jungle corns or hognosed snakes either. I DO NOT have multiple generations of all those species.

If you're careful and observant, you can do it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wilomn

Or, to the left, yes, it can be done, done quite successfully and with no ill effects to the snakes.

Of course, I am only on generation 12, yes TWELVE, where I have kept corns together. It hasn't worked with my milksnakes, sand boas, jungle corns or hognosed snakes either. I DO NOT have multiple generations of all those species.

If you're careful and observant, you can do it.

---

It can be done, but I just think that any risks outweigh the benefits, which the only benefits are for the owner. Not the snakes.

Lewisville tx?!?! I live in Dallas and work in Lewisville.. CRAZY!@!!


Ok, back on topic. Yeah, don't keep them together. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blueapplepaste

It can which the only benefits are for the owner. Not the snakes.

---

How do you KNOW this?

Housing two snakes together is fine IF YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, so please don't preach your OPINIONS that two snakes should be kept seperately like they are some sort of set rule.

With that said, I agree with the recommendation to house seperately. This poster is completely new to corn snakes. I would suggest keeping them seperately until adequate experience is obtained.

It is my OPINION that newer keepers should keep their snakes seperate. Inexperience of the KEEPER is what causes all of the risks listed.....it really has nothing to do with the snakes or how they are housed.

Props to Wes and Daniel...well said. =)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wilomn

How do you KNOW this?

---

What benefits are there to the snake? I honestly can't think of any. I can think of a lot of possible problems that could arise though, which make it not worth the risk IMO. If you want to house yours together, then that's fine. But I will do what I think is best for the snakes, which is to house them separately.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blueapplepaste

The abridge version: don't do it. Ever.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blueapplepaste

It can be done, but I just think that any risks outweigh the benefits, which the only benefits are for the owner. Not the snakes.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blueapplepaste

What benefits are there to the snake? I honestly can't think of any.

---

So because you can't think of any, which I find hard to believe, there are none?

My what a narrow little world you live in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wilomn

So because you can't think of any, which I find hard to believe, there are none?

---

I honestly can't. I, used to house together way back when I started keeping corns. And admittedly never had any problems. But, once I became a more informed hobbyist, I couldn't see any reason to continue to do so. If you can think of some benefits for the snakes living together, then by all means share them.

This is a poor analogy, but is the way I saw it. It was like driving w/o a seatbelt. 99% of the time it would be fine, but its that 1% that makes it not worth it. That's the way I feel about cohabitation; the risks outweigh any benefits.

Quote:

---

My what a narrow little world you live in.

---

Hardly, I just don't think its worth the risk. If putting my animals health and well being makes me live in a narrow world; then I guess I live in a narrow world.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blueapplepaste

I honestly can't. I, used to house together way back when I started keeping corns. And admittedly never had any problems. But, once I became a more informed hobbyist, I couldn't see any reason to continue to do so. If you can think of some benefits for the snakes living together, then by all means share them.

This is a poor analogy, but is the way I saw it. It was like driving w/o a seatbelt. 99% of the time it would be fine, but its that 1% that makes it not worth it. That's the way I feel about cohabitation; the risks outweigh any benefits.



Hardly, I just don't think its worth the risk. If putting my animals health and well being makes me live in a narrow world; then I guess I live in a narrow world.

---

The beauty of interaction, the knowledge gained by that same interaction, not assuming that the snakes are happier alone just because they can live that way, just to get started.

Your analogy sucks. Cars and snakes have little to do with eachother.

Your world is narrow if you cannot conceive of the possibility of more than you know existing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wilomn

The beauty of interaction, the knowledge gained by that same interaction, not assuming that the snakes are happier alone just because they can live that way, just to get started.

---

Pretty crappy reasons for housing them together; all for your benefit. None of those benefit the snake.

Quote:

---

Your analogy sucks. Cars and snakes have little to do with eachother.

---

The analogy is still valid. Both have risks; both have consequences if something goes wrong.

Quote:

---

Your world is narrow if you cannot conceive of the possibility of more than you know existing.

---

My world is not narrow simply because I decide to house my snakes separately. How you got me not being able to acknowledge the possibility of more existing than I know based off the fact that I see no benefit to the snakes when housed together is beyond me. It is quite arrogant of you to cast such a judgement.

Alright... I was trying not to get involved, but...

Does it say, anywhere, or have you personally viewed corn snakes in the wild living communally? As far as I have seen or read, most snakes only come together for the mating season or to hibernate like Garters. That leads most people to conclude that they are solitary most of the time. This, plus the risks of health issues or cannibalism, however small they may be, prompt most snake keepers to house their animals separately.

Until a full study is done on whether housing corn snakes together is beneficial to their health and wellbeing, there will be no solid proof EITHER WAY. The safe thing to do until then is house separate.

It is true that many people house their snakes together and never have a single problem. It is also true that there are many snake owners who have never had to take their snake to the vet it's whole life. This does NOT mean that something couldn't happen that would lead to a vet visit, just as keeping snakes together does NOT mean there couldn't be problems.

ive housed 3 garter snakes together with no problems then again it was a 175 gallon live plant tank with a canister filter pumping the half that was water and i had gold fish living with the garters as food and had earthworms in the tank they bred the garters seemed to be fine eating earthworms and fish all the time and with live mosses and plants made the tank work really well

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Monty

ive housed 3 garter snakes together with no problems then again it was a 175 gallon live plant tank with a canister filter pumping the half that was water and i had gold fish living with the garters as food and had earthworms in the tank they bred the garters seemed to be fine eating earthworms and fish all the time and with live mosses and plants made the tank work really well

---

Sounds awesome. Got any pictures?

Sounds nice. I had a checkered garter as my first snake. :)

That's a bit different, though, since garters are known to be at least partially communal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Argentra

Sounds nice. I had a checkered garter as my first snake. :)

That's a bit different, though, since garters are known to be at least partially communal.

---

It is not really different. It is situational.

If you are talking about providing an enclosure large enough with adequate resource, housing more than one snake can be just fine. If you are talking about cramming two snakes in a 20 gallon aquarium because you do not want to spend money on another enclosure.....you do not need to even own one snake. It depends on the situation and the keeper....so to say that you should NEVER keep two snakes together or that it is ALWAY for the keeper's own interests is getting a bit carried away.

In response to the other comment. I see reptiles side by side all the time in the wild. They may not be right on top of each other, but they share the same environment. When they have room to find their own space and do not have to compete over resources....everything is usually just fine.

http://odatria.com/SouthernHerper/Ph...eandanole2.jpg

Regarding the Garters. It this normal behavior for them?
http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...ter_snakes.jpg
I found the guys together every morining 2 yrs. ago. I did not put them there. Just found them. This is right outside of my front door.

perfectly normal i wish i stil had my old computer i would deff have pics of it up. but once the house got hit by lighting everything electronical got fried and we had to get all new tvs, dvd players, computers, refigerator, washer and dryer. it was no fun

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daniel1983

It is not really different. It is situational.

If you are talking about providing an enclosure large enough with adequate resource, housing more than one snake can be just fine. If you are talking about cramming two snakes in a 20 gallon aquarium because you do not want to spend money on another enclosure.....you do not need to even own one snake. It depends on the situation and the keeper....so to say that you should NEVER keep two snakes together or that it is ALWAY for the keeper's own interests is getting a bit carried away.

In response to the other comment. I see reptiles side by side all the time in the wild. They may not be right on top of each other, but they share the same environment. When they have room to find their own space and do not have to compete over resources....everything is usually just fine.

---

Naturally. But in the wild, they have enough room to get away from each other when they wish to. Also in the wild, they don't have someone taking care of them who wants to keep track of their sheds, refuse, eating habits and general health.
What I was trying to say with the nature thing is that many snake species hunt, sleep, and generally live alone. Yes they encounter others of their kind and may spend a bit of time with them, but they usually don't habitate together.

It would be wonderful if we all could provide enclosures that were huge and natural... but we do the best we can with what we have. And usually, that best is to lower the risks of problems or fights and keep one snake to an enclosure. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Argentra

Naturally. But in the wild, they have enough room to get away from each other when they wish to.

---

Who says that they can not have that same opportunity in captivity?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Argentra

Also in the wild, they don't have someone taking care of them who wants to keep track of their sheds, refuse, eating habits and general health.

---

I can keep track of sheds, eating habits, general health, etc....even if mulitiple animals are housed together. If someone can not monitor those things or does not wish for the extra work, then they should not house reptiles together. These are keeper dependant conditions......It has nothing to do with the reptile or how they are housed. Personal opinions....not a fact.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Argentra

What I was trying to say with the nature thing is that many snake species hunt, sleep, and generally live alone. Yes they encounter others of their kind and may spend a bit of time with them, but they usually don't habitate together.

---

Some do 'habitate' together. They share an common environment. I do not believe that reptiles 'look for company'.....but they do not seem to mind company as long as the others do not infringe upon needed resources.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Argentra

It would be wonderful if we all could provide enclosures that were huge and natural... but we do the best we can with what we have. And usually, that best is to lower the risks of problems or fights and keep one snake to an enclosure. :)

---

What if I can provide a huge natural enclosure and house two snakes together? If I followed the advice given by some in this thread to NEVER house two snakes together....I guess it would not be ok and they would fuss.