How many snakes in a cage?

[Python-77]

P. regius is already a CITES II regulated species. According to the latest CITES population surveys of Western Africa, ball python numbers are thriving. There has actually been talk of increasing exportation numbers because of the huge population increases in balls in West Africa over the last several years.

I don't understand what being from more than one country has to do with anything?

-adam

Cool I did not know that, I had read a article about 2 year back that talked about stopping the exporting due to the dwindleing population. Good to here they are thriving.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Cool I did not know that, I had read a article about 2 year back that talked about stopping the exporting due to the dwindleing population. Good to here they are thriving.

Most likely, that article was very old. In the late 90's, the CITES under pressure from the EU, conducted the most extensive survey to date of wild ball python populations. The EU had believed that the wild populations of ball pythons were in jeopardy due to the large numbers of annual exports ... the results of the CITES survey were so promising that CITES actually increased the export quotas!

-adam

[Python-77]

Cool, like I said its very reassuring to hear they are doing well in the wild. MY new reduced patern male is a CH import he looks awsome and I cant wait to see if its genetic or not either way he still rocks. Pics of him are up in the pictures forum, let me know what you think of him adam.

[frankykeno]

This has been an extremely interesting thread to read for a newcomer such as myself so thanks to you all for your participation in it.

My only comment from the point of view of someone that is so recently involved in the keeping of ball pythons is this....I would be ten kinds of a fool to not take full advantage of the knowledge and advice of people who keep large numbers of ball pythons over a good number of years. No matter how long we keep balls as pets my family would never gain that kind of cumulative knowlege base but thanks to the internet we have access to it to the benefit of my family but more importantly the benefit of the snakes.

Ours will always remain in single enclosures as we believe that is the best way to house them successfully. We are truely honored to have these wonderful snakes in our home and feel that we have an obligation to provide them with the best possible life, albeit a captive one.

Again, I thank all of you for this discussion. Like any good debate it can get heated but the knowledge I'm gaining reading along is invaluable.


~~Joanna~~

[Ginevive]

I second that emotion!
I kept 2 males in the same tank for a few weeks (after I rescued them.) out of necessity. It was a major, major pain in the butt during feeding-time; had to put one in a seperate enc. while the other ate, etc. Not to mention, the stress they had to go through. I got one of them into a seperate Rubbermaid, quick.
Even if we choose to ignore what's best for the animals (single-occupant cages) can't we at least put them in single cages for our owl laziness? lol
Seriously, though, it is much safer and more convenient.

[jglass38]

Wow, I can't believe I read all of this thread. Its amazing that there could be 85 posts about a point that is fact, not speculation. Ball Pythons are solitary creatures and need to be kept alone. Adam, great points throughout. There is no convincing the unconvincable (if thats a word).

[doobysnack]

there should be no darn poll here it is only right to keep one snake per enclosure. some poeple should only have one snake per house or no snakes at all and i say if you house more than one snake in a single enclosure and it is not breeding season you shouldnt have snakes only my opinion.no one should take this negativly.

[jglass38]

there should be no darn poll here it is only right to keep one snake per enclosure. some poeple should only have one snake per house or no snakes at all and i say if you house more than one snake in a single enclosure and it is not breeding season you shouldnt have snakes only my opinion.no one should take this negativly.

Well said!

[doobysnack]

very very very untrue. in my opinion if you keep more than one snake in an enclosure you gotta think one has to have dominence and i own 2 red tails and i have a hogg on the way i say poeple who house more than one snake in an enclosure are either 1. lazy 2.cheap and wont go buy another cage but will purchase another snake.3 dont know what they are doing.or 4. have not been told the right ways and the wrong ways. this is in no way trying to disrespect you i am just stating my expirence and my beliefs and opinions.

Thanks,
WENDELL

I keep a male and female adult boas in same encloser
As long as you know what your doing in terms of feeding and quarentine.
Boas can be kept together in the same encloser

Having said that, i wouldnt house a Bp wit a Boa, and im not sure about other species of snake, but as for BCI, they are fine to house male and female all year.

Chris

[JimiSnakes]

I do know BPs seem to be dominating snakes, but I also believe Pythons in general are completely different world than other snakes in general. What goes for one species isn't always the same as the next.

I once saw three JCPs together and they "seemed fine" but after awhile one kept getting bigger and the others were not. So, the guy started feeding them seperate. This is when he noticed that, what Adam was saying about submissive, the big was overpowering the other two. After they ate and were put back in together the smaller ones would soon regurg and act scared and skittish. The guy soon smartened up and seperated them completely.

I also know another guy who has two RTBs and has had them for as long as I've known him (four years or more) and he told me that he once seperated them and then was not able to take them out anymore, but as soon as he put them back together after a few months they were fine again and has never had a problem since. They were both females.

I am not one too really talk though, since I house two Rosy Boas together, but have always fed them seperate. I never really thought twice about it til now. I was thinking of putting all three of my rosy boas into the same cage in the future, maybe a year or two from now when they are all the same size. I am still not sure though. It has nothing to with being lazy or cheap, they just seem to be happier together, calmer if you will.