a whole slew of q's...help!!!

i was lucky enough to inherit two beautiful bp's about 2 mos ago from a friend. they are male and female in on 50 gallon aquarium. i have proper heat and humidity setup with one hide. they are very active. the smaller snake which is the male (malachi) is getting along amazingly well. he has eaten two frozen mice and three live rats since i have had him. they have both went through a shedding cycle with no problems. the female and the larger of the two (jewel) seems content enough but we haven't been able to get her to feed. will she actually starve herself to death? i am worried. she is so beautiful. she has the width of a soda can. they are both really well mannered. they love attention. we have tried everything that we know to get her to feed (frozen, live,white, blck, brown).

next question. do snakes yawn? :rofl: i know it sounds silly but i have been reading up on bp forums and was wondering if they are yawning or if it is ri. they both do it occasionally but not a lot. there is no sneezing or wheezing.

next question. will they breed on there own? is it possible that my jewel isnt feeding because she is pregnant? as far as i know they have been together for over two years. if so, then what should i do to help her? how can i tell for sure?

next. is there any reason why i cannot introduce limbs and plants from outside into their tank? is it necessary to go to the pet store and spend loads of cash or can i makeshift with natural stuff from the woods?

next. the water dish. malachi is out to get me. every time i fill up their dish, malachi dumps it out within half an hour. is there a reason or is it just spite?:please: should i have a dish in the tank for both snakes or is one sufficient?

next. in all the reading that i have been doing, i haven't seen any snakes being kept together. is there a reason for that? my snakes like each other i think. should i separate them?

next. i was considering building them a tall terarium. the same base size as my 50 gallon just 6 feet taller. throwing in some climbing branches and such. do they prefer a smaller habitat or would you advise giving them a bigger home?

i guess that covers it for now. i am sure i will come up with another hundred questions later. thanks for your help. :oops:

I can tell ya the first thing they are gonna tell you is you need two seperate tanks / tub for them ...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by malachi

i was lucky enough to inherit two beautiful bp's about 2 mos ago from a friend. they are male and female in on 50 gallon aquarium. i have proper heat and humidity setup with one hide. they are very active. the smaller snake which is the male (malachi) is getting along amazingly well. he has eaten two frozen mice and three live rats since i have had him. they have both went through a shedding cycle with no problems. the female and the larger of the two (jewel) seems content enough but we haven't been able to get her to feed. will she actually starve herself to death? i am worried. she is so beautiful. she has the width of a soda can. they are both really well mannered. they love attention. we have tried everything that we know to get her to feed (frozen, live,white, blck, brown).

next question. do snakes yawn? :rofl: i know it sounds silly but i have been reading up on bp forums and was wondering if they are yawning or if it is ri. they both do it occasionally but not a lot. there is no sneezing or wheezing.

next question. will they breed on there own? is it possible that my jewel isnt feeding because she is pregnant? as far as i know they have been together for over two years. if so, then what should i do to help her? how can i tell for sure?

next. is there any reason why i cannot introduce limbs and plants from outside into their tank? is it necessary to go to the pet store and spend loads of cash or can i makeshift with natural stuff from the woods?

next. the water dish. malachi is out to get me. every time i fill up their dish, malachi dumps it out within half an hour. is there a reason or is it just spite?:please: should i have a dish in the tank for both snakes or is one sufficient?

next. in all the reading that i have been doing, i haven't seen any snakes being kept together. is there a reason for that? my snakes like each other i think. should i separate them?

next. i was considering building them a tall terarium. the same base size as my 50 gallon just 6 feet taller. throwing in some climbing branches and such. do they prefer a smaller habitat or would you advise giving them a bigger home?

i guess that covers it for now. i am sure i will come up with another hundred questions later. thanks for your help. :oops:

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Yes, BP's are solitary animals and should be housed seperately. They don't really like each other. What looks like snuggling is actually both of them trying to get the ideal spot in the cage at any given time.

Smaller is better...much better...they like to feel secure. Two hides for each snake, one on the warm side and one on the cool side is best.

I would not do outside plants simply because of little buggies. You can get them real cheap at a craft store.

ceramin cat/dog bowls work wekk for dumping water bowls....in the meantime, if you have a few rocks, that should help keep it stable.

Oh and, a snake will refuse to eat for months....do not worry unless she loses weight....keep offering weekly and she should take it eventually....especially when you correct her enviornment..she will be much less stressed

Hope this helps!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OhBalls

Yes, BP's are solitary animals and should be housed seperately. They don't really like each other. What looks like snuggling is actually both of them trying to get the ideal spot in the cage at any given time.

Smaller is better...much better...they like to feel secure. Two hides for each snake, one on the warm side and one on the cool side is best.

I would not do outside plants simply because of little buggies. You can get them real cheap at a craft store.

ceramin cat/dog bowls work wekk for dumping water bowls....in the meantime, if you have a few rocks, that should help keep it stable.

Oh and, a snake will refuse to eat for months....do not worry unless she loses weight....keep offering weekly and she should take it eventually....especially when you correct her enviornment..she will be much less stressed

Hope this helps!

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thanks for the suggestions. i dont have the space or the money t oset up another tank. i guess my best bet would be to give one of the snakes away.
:( that makes me sad. but i would rather have one happy snake than two unhappy snakes. so that will be my first tactic. any comments on the pregnant thing anyone?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by malachi

thanks for the suggestions. i dont have the space or the money t oset up another tank. i guess my best bet would be to give one of the snakes away.
:( that makes me sad. but i would rather have one happy snake than two unhappy snakes. so that will be my first tactic. any comments on the pregnant thing anyone?

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You're welcome. BP's do very well in rubbermaid or Sterilite tubs. That would be an inexpensixe solution and take up less space.

Wish I could help on the gravid question. I have only bred once and won't again until next season.

you dont have to give one away just separate them, storage totes or sterelite tubs work great and for that size snake should cost less than $12 or so.

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Originally Posted by hawaiianice99

you dont have to give one away just separate them, storage totes or sterelite tubs work great and for that size snake should cost less than $12 or so.

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the price of the tub isnt the issue. it is the price of setting up another heat and humidity system. even if i did it the cheap way its gonna cost me 50 to 70 dollars to set up another habitat and i just dont have it. plus i really dont have the room in my home for another setup. i would rather make sure they both are extremely happy and safe than to slight them both to be selfish.

Good for you! :gj: I applaud you for thinking of your snakes first!

1. http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...llon-heat-pad/

11.99

2. http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...at-with-probe/

26.95

3. 2-3 for a plastic container at Lowes or some such other store.

4. 1-3 for a plastic water bowl.

5. Free for newspaper from newspaper stands or such.

6. Sterilite/Rubbermaid tub range around 5-8. -Shrugs.- Maybe you could put some cardboard between them for the time being and then save up to pick up some of this stuff?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Melicious

1. http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...llon-heat-pad/

11.99

2. http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...at-with-probe/

26.95

3. 2-3 for a plastic container at Lowes or some such other store.

4. 1-3 for a plastic water bowl.

thanks for that. if i can scrape up what u suggested then i will be a happy camper!
5. Free for newspaper from newspaper stands or such.

6. Sterilite/Rubbermaid tub range around 5-8. -Shrugs.- Maybe you could put some cardboard between them for the time being and then save up to pick up some of this stuff?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by malachi

the price of the tub isnt the issue. it is the price of setting up another heat and humidity system. even if i did it the cheap way its gonna cost me 50 to 70 dollars to set up another habitat and i just dont have it. plus i really dont have the room in my home for another setup. i would rather make sure they both are extremely happy and safe than to slight them both to be selfish.

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A lot of the time people come here and act selfish and get angry if they dont like what they hear!!!!

You my friend are a breath of fresh air and welcome to the forum. The previous person pretty much hit the nail on the head with the answers. If you are tight on cash I would save a little bit of money each week for vet. Because when, not if, you need to take him or her to the vet it will be costly.

Welcome aboard and post up some pics

I agree with Mike. I know I posted all of those prices and stuff, but I really do applaud you for your choice to find one of them a better home because you might not be able to provide for her. It's great that you're being selfless. -Smiles.-

To answer your question about her being gravid (with eggs) is yes, it is possible for them to go ahead and breed on their own. Which is one of many reasons people recommend they be separated. If she is gravid, and the eggs make it, you'd have a lot more snakes on your hands!

But most likely she's just not eating because she's stressed out about having to share her space with another snake.

It is extremely awesome that you came here to get some answers. It shows that though you may not know everything yet, you are willing to learn and do what is best the animals placed in your care.

You have my respect.