How often to try to feed a reluctant feeder?

[blackcrystal22]

I would just like to address a few things real quickly as he has PM'd me about the issue in the past.

First off, most people seem to jump to the conclusion that the snakes are indeed dominating one another and that "the top one is being extremely dominating." I mentioned this to him and learned something interesting... Syntax, the snake NOT feeding, is always on top. Interesting.

Secondly, I see a lot of people telling him off to just go buy another tub and that they only cost 5-10$. Well lets run through what a tub based setup costs roughly, for those of us without heated rack systems:

-Tub: 5-10$
-2 heat pads (hot/cold): 30-50$
-Thermostat: (minimum) 30-50$
-homemade/purchased hides: 10-20$
-water bowl: 5-10$
-Extra substrate: 5-10$

For someone who is in a tight spot in the money department this could be difficult to just fork up out of no where. Last time I checked, 85-130$ isn't just chunk change. Also, he mentioned the issue was space, he doesn't have house space to store an extra cage.

Perhaps someone could help him by adding a different method of reducing stress other than the suggested and already answered methods?

Someone mentioned that feeding him in a separate enclosure could very well be what's stressing him out. Well perhaps he should try placing the other snake in a box for a little while and feeding Syntax within his own enclosure?

Cheers!
-Fatal

If you are tight on money, you should not be getting these animals in the first place. If you don't have the proper space or requirements to take care of one or both of those animals, then you should not have them. This is not a selfish hobby, you have to accept all responsibility for these animals.

If he doesn't have the extra money for a cage, what if one gets a RI from being so stressed? It wouldn't be the first time I've seen it happen, but that's TWO snakes getting antibiotics and vet visits to cure the RIs. There is a financial responsibility for these animals.

The idea of feeding is possible, and could help. But it will not solve the problem.

I don't know if you completely understand the concept of dominance. The snake whom is dominating can be just as stressed (if not more so) than the snake being dominated. For one, these animals are very simple creatures who act purely on instinct; thus their dominance behavior indicates stress of the other animal communing in their cage and that it's attempting to ward it away.

Also, both snakes will continually compete for the "best spots" in the cage considering security and heat. Would you want to share your single sized bed with another full sized adult?

If these animals were both eating properly and did not roam and act stressed constantly, then by all means take the risks of transmitting disease, breeding, and cannibalism. They're your animals. But one is not eating and that means that this set-up isn't working for these animals just as it has not for many others.

Some species of snake are capable of living together without too much stress or fuss (though there are still some risks) and ball pythons are just not one of those species. If they were, I would not be seeing this reoccurring issue over and over again.

I may sound harsh, but we're talking about having responsibility for lives other than our own. We should treat them with respect and allow them to thrive in our provided environment. Just surviving should never be enough.