Two Females...

[zmd0827]

OK. So I am the founder and current keeper of many reptiles for Carolina Reptile Rescue. We only started this at the beginning of the new year, and we have had several animals since.

Since we have only just applied for certification as a non-profit organization, we haven't really had the funding or opportunity to find a permanent venue to keep our reptiles in. Currently, they are all in my apartment.

I am running out of space. Tanks, that's not a problem, we have more than enough, but we're running low on actual physical space.

We are due to pick up a reticulated with scale rot. He will need his own tank to prevent spreading the infection elsewhere.

This is my question: I have two female ball pythons. They both have locked up a few weeks ago. None of them show signs of being gravid as of yet. They are currently in two separate tanks, however, they have lived together in the past. Would it be a good idea to stick them both in the same tank? It is big enough for the two of them, as it is a 75 gallon.

If not, I'm going to have to figure something out to get this retic up to health.

Thanks,

Zachary.

[hops523]

Regardless if they've lived together in the past its never a good idea to house ball pythons together. A 75 gallon tank is huge for a bp, how big are the females? I guess you could get a divider and put it in the 75 gallon, and that way both can be separated.

[mpkeelee]

how big is the retic?? why not put him in the 75 by himself?? you could get some racks instead of the tanks, even stacking tubs on top of each other will help.

[zmd0827]

I'm 21 years old. This all happens in my apartment... Let alone, my room. I don't have the space or controls to dedicate to a tub system.

The females are pretty much full grown. One is nearly 5 feet, and weighing in at 10 lbs, a cinny. The other, a granite, at 4 lbs, but four and a half feet.

The retic is pushing 6' himself.

[mpkeelee]

so basically your in over your head and need a solution. you say you dont have the space for racks, but you have room for multiple tanks which takes up more space. this is something you should have thought about before starting this. what if these animals need emergency surgery, you are looking at an easy 1000 dollar bill. then what? just let the animal suffer and die?? i dont see how putting two BP's together is going to help at all. its going to make it more difficult if anything. i understand you are trying to do the right thing but you really should have planned better and prepared more. if you get evicted from you apartment for the amount of animals then you are in a real bind. im not trying to come off as angry or a critic but you certainly dont sound prepared for what you are trying to accomplish. good luck

[zmd0827]

We aren't in over our head. We're just in a small bind. The apartment is not an issue, it's just space. We're getting a Zoo Med Euro Storage Cage Unit, but it won't be available for another two weeks.

As far as vet bills are concerned, we have an exceptionally helpful individual working with us, and vet bills are practically non-existant. She's working with us on the rescue team, and she is a licensed veterinarian.

It's all a matter of providing sufficient space.

[mpkeelee]

a rack is the best way to provide more space

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Not gonna be a popular post once again but oh well

Food for the thought here, I understand trying to do good and rescue animals however if you do not have the space for the said animal (obviously you don't) than you should not take in the said animal.

You can't rescue them all or take them all, only those you can comfortably house should be taken in.

Question for you, you have as I understand your own animals and bring rescues into your apartment, what are your quarantine practices? Do you have a room dedicated for YOUR animals, one dedicated to rescues, and one dedicated to QT?

['SiQ']

I applaud you for trying to do whats best but the only thing that threw me off is trying to breed balls when your are trying to rescue at the same tiem.

[Egapal]

We aren't in over our head. We're just in a small bind. The apartment is not an issue, it's just space. We're getting a Zoo Med Euro Storage Cage Unit, but it won't be available for another two weeks.

As far as vet bills are concerned, we have an exceptionally helpful individual working with us, and vet bills are practically non-existant. She's working with us on the rescue team, and she is a licensed veterinarian.

It's all a matter of providing sufficient space.

A Zoo Med Euro Storage Cage Unit might be fine for lizards but its an awful solution for snakes. It provides vertical space where you need horizontal space. If money is not a huge concern your best bet is still going to be a rack system. If you don't have a rack setup you are ill prepared to start taking in snakes.