seems social...

[MarkieJ]

Can you share data you've collected during this scientific experiment? Air temps, hides, belly temps, humidity, etc... Also please post the exact procedure you've taken during this experiment. Any other observations? Was one laying on top of the other in the hide? If that was the case, was it the same one? How long was this experiment conducted and was there a preference for a particular hide? What kind of hides are you using? You're going to have to be more specific instead of just stating to "take your word."

[chasingtime]

im going to track who i move and who follows for the next few nights because it doesnt seem to matter which identical side they end up in which would put the best spot theory to rest. really weird...

[chasingtime]

Can you share data you've collected during this scientific experiment? Air temps, hides, belly temps, humidity, etc... Also please post the exact procedure you've taken during this experiment. Any other observations? Was one laying on top of the other in the hide? If that was the case, was it the same one? How long was this experiment conducted and was there a preference for a particular hide? What kind of hides are you using? You're going to have to be more specific instead of just stating to "take your word."

ambient 83, hide belly 92, humidity 55 for one week. hides are exact rock molds. all i would do is pull one from the hide and let them slide and settle into the other hide before bedtime and every single morning they would be together but never on top of each other.

i could just give you fake data if i wanted to deceive you. in fact youre really taking everyones word on here so please take mine...

[MarkieJ]

Just a few tips, document everything and keep everything consistent. Separate them at the same time every night and take the temps inside each of the hides before adding them together. Place them at the same place every time. Feed them the same size prey and at the same time (hopefully not together in the enclosure). Take pictures and share them with us. Do this over the course of a month (preferably longer). Also the snakes should be the same size and age.

Housing BPs in the same enclosure is a touchy subject. You'll have to share data to back up your claims, and still then I would expect you should be prepared to defend yourself.

[chasingtime]

ill keep you guys posted but not feeling the need to defend myself...

[MarkieJ]

i could just give you fake data if i wanted to deceive you. in fact youre really taking everyones word on here so please take mine...

I'm not taking anyone's word here to heart. I've read good arguments from both sides of the fence. What you're doing can turn out to be a pretty cool experiment if you take the right steps and your animals are doing well.

[Kaorte]

Balls have been known to share burrows in the wild. Especially during breeding season (which is now)

[chasingtime]

its already cool to me. besides it doesnt meet the same size snake and prey requirements stated. im kinda just doing this for myself and thought i'd share what i noticed but it somehow turned into me being responsible to you guys to turn it into a scientific experiment. im just a guy who enjoys his snakes. a bit sorry i posted it now...

[mainbutter]

Whatever the cause is, it isn't social behavior. They don't have mechanisms in their behavior for social behavior.

That doesn't mean that they are ignoring each other. It could be competition, it could be sharing warmth, it could even be a sense of security seeing another python.. "Hey, that python is hiding somewhere, I bet that means it is safe".

They MIGHT be ignoring each other as best as they can.

My personal guess is that they are seeking as much heat as they can. A 120G glass aquarium is freaking hard to heat. Another note: one ball python remaining on top of the other is a common sign of a python asserting dominance.

[chasingtime]

please read the whole thread...