question about multiple BP's

[cklovestodrum]

So ive had Jim my 3' male and i just got 2 more a male and a female that live together. The female is very large, probably large enough for breeding. the male is too small to breed. however Jim is probably big enough. I was thinking about putting them all together in the same tank. i had them all together last night and didnt see any signs of aggression so i think i might be all right. its a sixty gallon tank so i think there is enough room.... What do you think about housing multiple BP's together?

[CatandDiallo]

It's not a good idea, and it's very stressful for the snakes. Ball pythons should always be housed alone (for their permanent homes).

I'm assuming you didn't quarantine the new ones either.

Maybe you should think about a small snake rack, with tubs instead of tanks for your snakes.

[xFenrir]

It's not a good idea, and it's very stressful for the snakes. Ball pythons should always be housed alone (for their permanent homes).

I'm assuming you didn't quarantine the new ones either.

Maybe you should think about a small snake rack, with tubs instead of tanks for your snakes.

x2

Especially the quarantine part. Even if a new snake SEEMS healthy, it doesn't mean they are.

[cklovestodrum]

well they are in their own tank. Luckily i got the tank they were in before as well as the snakes so the transition was pretty easy. ive also been around these guys for a while they arent random snakes. they have never shown signs of being sick or ill. both are very well mannered. the male is a little skiddish

i was just introducing last night. nobody really seemed stressed out.

im building one right now.. i know the tanks just take up too much space and the racks would be so much easier access.

also the new male and female have been living together for at least a year...i dont know if that would prove one way or the other... i think for right now ill let them hang out when im in there handling them.

[Inknsteel]

The only time two bps should be housed together is very short term for breeding purposes. I would recommend grabbing three sterilite or rubbermaid tubs and set up three individual enclosures for them. Then if you WANT to breed the big girl with your bigger male, you could try doing so intentionally rather than just letting it happen by chance. But before you do decide to breed, think about the fact that you could end up with anywhere from 3-10 MORE snakes you will need to house individually...

[cklovestodrum]

good point about the babys... its not that i couldnt feed them. i breed mice so ive got tons of food, its the space.... i guess its definitely something to take into consideration.

[AJs Snake House]

Research research research...and then when you feel you've researched everything you possibly can about ball pythons...research some more. This forum has a wealth of information about all aspects of owning and breeding BPs. All its member's knowledge is at your fingertips. People who are exceptionally experienced owners. I would advise you to take all their advice if you want healthy happy ball pythons. QT is a MUST and so is individual housing. BPs are not social and you could risk exposing Jim to disease.

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[xFenrir]

well they are in their own tank. Luckily i got the tank they were in before as well as the snakes so the transition was pretty easy. ive also been around these guys for a while they arent random snakes. they have never shown signs of being sick or ill. both are very well mannered. the male is a little skiddish

i was just introducing last night. nobody really seemed stressed out.

im building one right now.. i know the tanks just take up too much space and the racks would be so much easier access.

also the new male and female have been living together for at least a year...i dont know if that would prove one way or the other... i think for right now ill let them hang out when im in there handling them.

Not trying to start anything, but like I said, just because there are no signs doesn't mean they aren't carrying anything. The scary disease everyone talks about, IBD, can take YEARS to manifest signs, and sometimes it never shows signs at all. It's just something to consider, I wouldn't want you to lose your first one because of new ones.

[cklovestodrum]

yea its true. well like i said right now they are separated so i guess we will just have to see

[Kinra]

Not trying to start anything, but like I said, just because there are no signs doesn't mean they aren't carrying anything. The scary disease everyone talks about, IBD, can take YEARS to manifest signs, and sometimes it never shows signs at all. It's just something to consider, I wouldn't want you to lose your first one because of new ones.

I agree that quarantine is important, but no one is going to quarantine their snakes for years. It would be almost impossible to move anything out of quarantine because you need to reset the quarantine clock when you add a new snake to quarantine. So the fact that IBD can take years to manifest is moot in this argument. Things like internal parasites would be a much better quarantine argument, or something else that can take weeks to present itself. Most people quarantine for 60-90 days, not years.