The boa and ball python question...

[m397]

Hello everyone this is my first post here and just wanted a little advice, i was wondering if it would be o.k for me to put a boa and my now almost 10 month old ball(Nikki) together i was thinking of buying a baby boa. Would it ever be possible for both of them to get along, i love them both and would like to have a boa. Her brother escaped out of his cage about 3 months ago and i found him a few weeks later, unfortunatly dead. I feel bad for her cause they would curl up together and were really cute. I don't want her to be by herself.

Thank's
Nat

[JimiSnakes]

No. Research this real quick and then ask the moderators to erase this post.

There is a lot of reasons why not to do this. A few are the most important: Boas can carry IBD, which is deadly to pythons...Snakes look "cute" together, but it stresses them out...BP are known to sometimes eat other snakes (even their own)...one snake gets sick, both will get sick (double the vet bill)

There is a hundred other reasons why not to do this, but this should answer your question. Spend the extra 25-30 and get a seperate home for this boa. He/she will be much happier.

~Jim

[Krynos]

As stated above it's really not a good idea!

For an an extreme graphic example (warning ickky stuffs) got to:

http://www.boa-constrictors.com/com/com.html

Click on "news + infos" on the left then scroll down the page to "Canniblism" For photos of a boa that ate its ball cage mate (both snakes were of equal size). Then regurged it.

WARNING: that page also contains distressing photographs of what can happen if you leave a rodent in with a snake.

[rabernet]

Besides the fact that they have different husbandry needs, the boa is most likely going to eat your ball. Risk of IBD infection has already been mentioned, and from what little I know about it, I understand that it's a swifter killer of ball pythons.


Your ball pythons curled up together, not because they liked each other, but because they were competing for the best part of the enclosure at the time.

Sounds from the loss of your one ball python that you should work on perfecting your housing for your remaing ball python befroe even considering taking on the care and responsiblity for another animal. Remember, it is a priviledge to own these regal animals - respect them with proper care!

[JimiSnakes]

the boa is most likely going to eat your ball.

True, True, but I think he said it was a baby boa. Either way it's a risk.

This post should be deleted before it goes off in other directions, and maybe a PM sent to M397 explaining why this isn't a good idea. Just my

[rabernet]

True, True, but I think he said it was a baby boa. Either way it's a risk.

It is a baby - for now - and just asking the question doesn't suggest he would plan to separate them when they are older - just a matter of time!

[cassandra]

No need to delete the post - it's a very good question that needs to be answered. =)

As everyone else said, snakes are solo creatures and are better kept in cages by themselves (except for breeding or for boas and other live birth-ers, until the babies are out of their egg sacks). Being housed together can be stressful, despite appearances that they enjoy the company of another and their unfortunate cuteness together.

[Rusty]

As stated above it's really not a good idea!

For an an extreme graphic example (warning ickky stuffs) got to:

http://www.boa-constrictors.com/com/com.html

Click on "news + infos" on the left then scroll down the page to "Canniblism" For photos of a boa that ate its ball cage mate (both snakes were of equal size). Then regurged it.

WARNING: that page also contains distressing photographs of what can happen if you leave a rodent in with a snake.

Poor BP huh? The pictures where the rat gnawed on the Boa also bothered me alot, those are some deep wounds.

[Krynos]

Yeah I know there are some nasty pics on that page, that why I put a warning on the link...

But a picture tells a thousand words...

[m397]

Thank you very much for the replys. I didn't realize it was that extreme. That's why i posted im trying to get as much info about her as possible.
Thanks again