I want another snake but not sure which one

[Homegrownscales]

Im saying this with as much respect as possible: I personally think that your friend couldnt see the signs of a problem if it slapped him over the head. Snakes that cohabitate together compete. For warmth, space, everything. From the sound of it the balls are very stressed and they eat but that doesn't mean he's doing things the right way. Just because the animals have lived together for 10 years definitely doesnt mean anything to me. In my honest opinion he's not doing things Right. If he cared about each snake he'd have completely separate enclosures for each one so they don't have to compete for it. Ie laying all over each other. Snakes don't cuddle, and the only reason two of the same species animal come together is to breed. Some species have to be kept together bc their husbandry and high level of care requires that. But that really is for hot snakes I believe.

You can buy a snake from a reputable breeder and still have an issue. Somethings are asymtomatic until stressed or Inadequate husbandry. Housing more than one together you aren't going to know what did the runny poop. Or who regurged etc.

Anyways I think they are all gorgeous jcp, ij, rtbs all of them. But im going to urge you that even if you get another ball and especially if you get a different species to house them separately. Even if they have the same requirements which actually if you do enough research you'll find that none of them have the exact same requirements as your ball. Simply because balls get stressed in large enclosures, and with a cage mate.

[sicilian1928]

I have been reading that balls get stressed with big enclosures and didnt know if they like to stretch out like that.

And in no way was I starting a debate with you or your friend; i was more in awe than anything...Im not a vet, a pro, or even an experinced handler so I would have no business critisicing

oh yeah touche, i dont know how much it actually matters to stretch out because yeah they arent super active. They just relax in the day and roam at night, which isnt even a guarantee.

[sicilian1928]

Of course you buy from a reputable dealer and quarantine, but still, things happen. Yes, boas and ball pythons are both pretty relaxed snakes that aren't likely to show aggression toward each other, but that's not really what I'm concerned about. Yes, boas and pythons have nearly identical husbandry requirements, but from what I'd read, you hadn't settled on a red-tailed boa (basically, that comment was aimed at housing different species together in general, not specifically at balls and RTBs). And finally, I understand that it CAN work and has been done. What I don't understand is why you would bother risking it. They would never live together in the wild, so I don't see any reason for them to in captivity.

The reason people are "tunnel-visioned" (which to me is a horrible choice of wording, I would go with "cautious") is that there have been negative consequences for people that did this in the past. Those people in turn told of their mistakes so that we could learn from it.

If I came off too aggressively in the first post, I apologize, it was not my intention. However, I'm sick and tired of people doing things like this either out of convenience, or because it CAN work (rather than it DOES work). Again, there's no guarantee their health will be compromised, but there's always that chance.

I don't think a keeper's living/wall space should ever be put above the animals' welfare.

yeah i suppose if there is any form of risk then its not worth it. And yeah they do live on different continents and probably wouldnt even live around other snakes in their own species let alone the RTB. I was a bit snappy and was "tunnel-visioned" cuz i felt i needed to defend myself so I also apologize.
thanks for the input

[sicilian1928]

Of course if you don't want to listen to suggestions about not housing two snakes together, I'm going to suggest that maybe you should try housing your ball python with a black headed python! Their temperature needs overlap wonderfully, and BHPs are smaller than RTBs, so it should work, right? I bet that'd be fun to try!

[/sarcasm]

I am listening to suggestions but I always have to ask questions to fully understand what is going on. Plus it keeps the mental juices flowing =), instead of just simply accepting a common way of keeping snakes as pets. Kinda like when people get dogs and never question anything they are told. But I can see that the people here havent had these issues. Sooooo I have come to the conclusion that I am not going to house Samson with any other snakes. Not worth the risk.

[SpartaDog]

yeah i suppose if there is any form of risk then its not worth it. And yeah they do live on different continents and probably wouldnt even live around other snakes in their own species let alone the RTB. I was a bit snappy and was "tunnel-visioned" cuz i felt i needed to defend myself so I also apologize.
thanks for the input

Don't worry about it, I don't hold grudges over stuff like this ^_^ I get defensive too, so I understand. Glad to see you've made the smart decision to house them separately, and I hope you can convince your friend to do the same. If I were you I'd just forward him this thread.

Just think, the money he'll be spending in buying tubs/building full enclosures will be FAR cheaper than the money he'll be spending in vet bills.