GRAPHIC PICTURES: Ball Python Cannibalism.

[Rikoku]

Yesterday these images made a round on my Instagram/Facebook. Original poster is "The Reptile Report." I could not locate a source for this so take what I read/wrote with a grain of salt but the story is a breeder put three ball pythons together for transporting to a show. Apparently one of them killed off the other two and then attempted to eat one of them but ended killing themselves in the process. People are trying to use this as a warning for cohabiting ball pythons. Do you guys thinks the breeder was in the wrong? I believe the breeder should have put the snake in individual snake bags for transportation but then again I've never breed/sold any BP's.

[Reinz]

I remember this from a few(?) years ago.

Around the time of the same previous post a member here was cleaning cages and put two BPs together during his cleaning task. One of those snakes ate the other.

I don't recall if he came back and reported if the cannibal snake lived or not.

[Rikoku]

Oh wow, Do you know if this is more common with same sex snakes? Will opposite sex simply attempt to breed?

[ladywhipple02]

This situation is rare but entirely possible if the animals are stressed. This is why husbandry is SO important.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

It's old animals were stress from transport and really look underweight.

BP cannibalism is RARE and like most everything there usually is a cause if you do a little investigation.

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[wolfy-hound]

Knowing nothing of the situation or whoever was involved, I will say that second dead snake in the photos looks extremely emaciated, and the cannibal also looks at least thin. Starved, stressed animals will act in ways that healthy animals may not. Once the cannibal wrapped the rival snake, it may have eaten it out of instinct.

That said, don't cohabitate snakes. There is a small chance of cannibalism if you cohabit snakes, but a nearly 100% chance it will not happen if they aren't in the same cage, after all.

[cletus]

Pretty sad.

[Yzmasmom]

Um......is one snake punching through the one that is eating it?

[highqualityballz]

Were these pics taken the same day he found them? Look at how skinny the snake is in the top of the picture, looks like it has not eaten a day in its life.

[Rikoku]

Were these pics taken the same day he found them? Look at how skinny the snake is in the top of the picture, looks like it has not eaten a day in its life.

Not quite sure TBH, I could not locate a credible source but according to comments yes they were. Those poor snakes were not well taken care of.