boas cohabitating with pythons

[avriette]

What are you feeding the boa? Twice a week is a little much. I suggest a 7-10 day feeding schedule. 2500 grams seems a little over weight for a 3 foot long snake....

The boa eats small rats I would say every five days. I buy them in (frozen, of course) three packs from The Gourmet Rodent. He's too small to eat anything bigger.

[Kinra]

The boa eats small rats I would say every five days. I buy them in (frozen, of course) three packs from The Gourmet Rodent. He's too small to eat anything bigger.

Could you post a picture of him? Now that it has been mentioned it does seem like he could be over weight. My year and half old boa is about 3ft and only about 500-600g (I haven't weighed her in a while). Boas aren't supposed to be round like pythons. A healthy boa will have a box like shape to it and unlike ball pythons boas will eat anything at anytime.

My boa for example:

[avriette]

I'll have to get a picture of him. We just moved (hence the discussion of tanks etc) and things are kind of chaotic at the moment. I would say that he is quite "boxy".

[Wh00h0069]

Some species do better than others when housed together. Ball pythons do not seem to do very well, because of dominance. It is very important when housing snakes together to ensure that each snake has access to proper heat. For example, you may need multiple under tank heaters...

When housing animals together, you increase the chance that all will become ill if one does. You also increase the chance that they will breed if they are opposite sex.

I personally would never suggest housing multiple species together, because I would fear that they would kill each other.

[avriette]

Some species do better than others when housed together. Ball pythons do not seem to do very well, because of dominance. It is very important when housing snakes together to ensure that each snake has access to proper heat. For example, you may need multiple under tank heaters...

When housing animals together, you increase the chance that all will become ill if one does. You also increase the chance that they will breed if they are opposite sex.

I personally would never suggest housing multiple species together, because I would fear that they would kill each other.

You know, it's interesting that you post -- green tree pythons are one of the species I see together a lot.

[twistedtails]

Back when I was a young lad I made the mistake of housing 2 boas together. When I went to feed I fed one a rat and went to feed the other one a rat right away. Long story short, the one that was eating was struck at and wrapped on by the one without a rat and all hell broke loose. Boas were striking at any heat source and it was very scary and hard to seperate the animals. DO NOT house together it is pointless. They gain nothing from it and you could find yourself in the same situation. If you don't have the money to house them seperately then don't purchase animals. Husbandry should be figured out before you buy animals.

[wwmjkd]

You know, it's interesting that you post -- green tree pythons are one of the species I see together a lot.

where are you looking? unless they are very young neonates right out of the egg or adults that are breeding, I can't recall ever seeing chondros (or any morelia for that matter) cohabitating.

you've been given some good advice, but ultimately it's up to you whether you intend to put it into practice. I'm not sure your best angle is to try to look for inconsistencies in the husbandry of other animals that don't pertain to your collection.

good luck and keep us posted.

[Kinra]

where are you looking? unless they are very young neonates right out of the egg or adults that are breeding, I can't recall ever seeing chondros (or any morelia for that matter) cohabitating.

I know Garrick DeMeyer keeps his GTP in pairs year round.

[Highline Reptiles South]

I don't think snide sounding comments are what needs to be posted. The OP is here looking for help and guidance, not to be made to feel stupid or talked down to.

I'm not trying to sound snide or [mean] either, just wanted to say that I'm sure we ALL have things to learn and bp.net is a wonderful place for that and to help out other herpers

My point is this. When one first becomes interested in exotics, you need to do the research BEFORE you bring them home, not after. I have taken in too many sick and dying exotics that were brought home by folks with good intentions but a "ready, shoot, aim" approach to animal husbandry. These have included both balls and boas (add parrots and dogs as well). Perhaps that is why i don't demonstrate much patience for poor husbandry.

Both are solitary animals, Boas have a tremendous feeding response and if you ever saw a really hungry or jazzed up boa hit a rat I would think you would have second thoughts of ever housing it with another snake. There are caresheets for both listed here....read them. Ask your breeder, the pet store etc...

[xFenrir]

The only thing I want to add is that boas can contract minor diseases that are fatal to pythons. You might be able to "get away with" housing the two pythons together, but putting a whole 'nother genus of snake in with them is certain trouble.

And of course the obvious size difference. I have two females that are probably a half year apart in age. My ball is about 3 ft and 620g's. My boa is 6.5 ft and 5 pounds. At the VERY least my boa could easily crush my ball just by moving over her. In other words, she wouldn't even need to be trying to kill my ball to do it. It could be a total accident, but why would you want to take the chance at all?