Keeping 2 Female Balls

[MisssMariee]

What size cage (dimensions) would be appropriate to house two female ball pythons together in? Seperating them for feeding of course. Does it make any difference to keep them together from a young age vs introducing them as adults? Do you have to introduce them at the same time or can you add a new to the tank? Based on snakes about the same size. If you were to provide ample hiding and basking spots on both sides as well as two water bowls. What size tank would be appropriate to keep them in throughout their lives? Would a 48" long x 18" deep x 24" tall cage work?? Thanks! Are there any other things I need to take into consideration??

[BCBallPythons]

First off i wouldnt recommend housing 2 snakes together. 3 simple reasons:
-cant tell if one isnt pooping
-if one gets sick, chances are both will get sick = double the vet bill
-they WILL fight for certain spots inside the enclosure

Now, based on what your asking... IF you are going to house 2 snakes together (which i have done in the past),people will say housing 2 females is the best way to go about it.

The tank you have described im pretty sure is the same size as a 55 gallon "Zilla" terrarium. Which would definitly house the 2 snakes until they are about 2 years old. But once both are starting to fill out, around the 1500-2000 gram, ideally they should have that much space EACH. Which means eventually you would have to seperate them.

If kept in an aquarium or glass type of enclosure they would benifit from lots of hides. You would NOT however want basking spots on both sides of the tank. Basic husbandry caresheets are easily accesible and based on some of your questions, i recommend doing a little more research before you buy multiple snakes.

Also, my thoughts of feeding outside there enclosure are... You're taking it out of its comfertable environment (stressing it out), feeding it (stressful enough), then picking it back up after its been fed (more stress)... Its much easier to just feed inside their enclosures.

Again, this is just MY opinion on the matters. Hope some of it helped and goodluck on what you decide.


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[Mike41793]

If you think that the snakes each need their own water bowls then you probably shouldn't be attempting to house them together...

[TheSnakeGuy]

I'm gonna start emailing every website that publishes a care guide to include in the husbandry section - "BALL PYTHONS ARE SOLITARY ANIMALS AND SHOULD NOT BE HOUSED TOGETHER" Who's with me!?

[MisssMariee]

In my defense, I have barely started my research into it. I personally like keeping separated (I enjoy decorating enclosures). I'm mainly asking because I was browsing craigslist for a snake because I'm looking to get my first ball python, and I saw someone selling their two females that they are housing together (both are still young) in a 15 gallon. I only have room for one tank, so I was wondering if it would be fine to buy them and put them in a larger cage (like the one with the dimensions I gave) and keep it there until I move out (in a year or so) and have more room for a tank. So, that was my issue. Should I attempt this or just leave it for someone else to pick up?

[Mike41793]

I'm gonna start emailing every website that publishes a care guide to include in the husbandry section - "BALL PYTHONS ARE SOLITARY ANIMALS AND SHOULD NOT BE HOUSED TOGETHER" Who's with me!?

Well you'd be wrong in saying that, so im certainly not with you.

[Mike41793]

In my defense, I have barely started my research into it. I personally like keeping separated (I enjoy decorating enclosures). I'm mainly asking because I was browsing craigslist for a snake because I'm looking to get my first ball python, and I saw someone selling their two females that they are housing together (both are still young) in a 15 gallon. I only have room for one tank, so I was wondering if it would be fine to buy them and put them in a larger cage (like the one with the dimensions I gave) and keep it there until I move out (in a year or so) and have more room for a tank. So, that was my issue. Should I attempt this or just leave it for someone else to pick up?

I personally don't believe you should attempt it. It IS possible; however, not something that id recommend for a keeper without much experience. (Not even sure its something i would try). Don't take this as me telling you what to do, im just giving you my honest opinion.

[MisssMariee]

Hey, I don't want to get in over my head so I do appreciate the advice. I currently only have a corn snake, and before that I haven't had a snake in 9 years. That was a very hostile red tailed boa constrictor. I don't want to take the snakes if I can't provide adequately for them, but I am a bit of a bleeding heart and so I wanted to take them if I could. If it's not something I should attempt, I'll sit it out

[dr del]

Hi,

Look into tub setups - you might be able to stack them on shelves like a rack system.


dr del

[BoostedMX3]

Oh boy...