Two snakes. One tank

[Nuttybuttercup]

At one point I actually did attempt to house my snakes together who are similar in size. Despite providing space and multiple hides, the slightly larger one ended up "sitting" on top of the other. I took this as it trying to assert dominance and not wanting to risk their lives, separated them.

Since I was low on space at the time, I still only had one tank. Instead of housing them together I took measurements and bought a plexiglass piece from lowes for less than 5 dollars. I used it as a divider an attached it with velcro so it could be removed for cleaning. It held sturdy and solved the space problem.


Edit: I forgot to mention that these were both female snakes, the "most appropriate" pairing to avoid fighting.

[Konotashi]

I have no idea what you are saying. However since I think you are agreeing with my point, I will agree with yours.

When this question is asked ("Can two snakes be housed together?") there is almost always the following answer somewhere among the replies:

It can be done if you really know what you are doing...

It just seems (to me, who is very inexperienced) that no matter who you are and how long you've owned snakes/how experienced you are with them, it would be a bad idea - period.

[satomi325]

By experienced, it means you can tell if there was something right or wrong with the animals who are housed together. Its the ability to keep them healthy and thriving, knowing when they're not, and how to fix it. Inexperienced keepers just don't have the eye or knowledge for such things yet, which is why its not recommended to house multiple BPs.

Some species of snakes *have* to be housed together permanently in order to breed successfully.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Skiploder]

When this question is asked ("Can two snakes be housed together?") there is almost always the following answer somewhere among the replies:



It just seems (to me, who is very inexperienced) that no matter who you are and how long you've owned snakes/how experienced you are with them, it would be a bad idea - period.

Exactly.

All these people recommend that only experienced people should attempt cohabitation (recommendations made by people who have never cohabitated snakes). Seems hard - so no one should try it. With any animal. Ever.

After all, there are no benefits, only risks - right? I mean, that's the understanding I have after reading the opinions of other people.

So I'm gonna keep making my recommendations, which are based on my opinion. Which even though I have no experience, should suffice.

As a side note, I just have to add that I always admire people who give me parenting advice, even though they have no kids. I often times find myself questioning the methods my wife and I use that are rooted in experience when confronted with their opinions (which are rooted in what they've heard).

[MrLang]

Oh I do love Skip.


The only thing about cohabitation that seems sketchy to me (barring regular poor practices that would be problematic for a single housed animal) is at feeding time. My wild speculation says that the activity of one feeding might interfere with the activity of the other feeding. Is there truth to that with the all skittish ball python? The other side of that would be if they're wrapped up together and one part of one snake gets constricted by the other accidentally. Again, is that as silly as it sounds or something you would pay attention to if you kept 2 together?


Additionally:

Two Snakes, one tank... dot com

[Rob]

Idk why this topic gets so much back and forth. If you have to ask, the answer is no it's not a good idea. For the people who claim they are experienced enough to do it and have done it for years, great but the risks are still there and I could care less how long you have done it for. It's not an ideal situation for the animals.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

I'm going to chime in on this one.

I housed a male and female together for over 10 years without any issues. The tank, however, was 125g. They slept in the same hide together every day, they drank from the same water bowl and they basked under the same heat lamps. I fed 1 of them in the tank and fed the other, at the same time, in a separate tank.

No issues.

This was their home, I've posted this photo before:


The snakes did breed, and the eggs were maternally incubated. Funny as it sounds, the male and the female actually took "turns" protecting the eggs.

[Skiploder]

Oh I do love Skip.


The only thing about cohabitation that seems sketchy to me (barring regular poor practices that would be problematic for a single housed animal) is at feeding time. My wild speculation says that the activity of one feeding might interfere with the activity of the other feeding. Is there truth to that with the all skittish ball python? The other side of that would be if they're wrapped up together and one part of one snake gets constricted by the other accidentally. Again, is that as silly as it sounds or something you would pay attention to if you kept 2 together?


Additionally:

Two Snakes, one tank... dot com

Gotta feed them apart.

[FireStorm]

I've never tried housing multiple BPs together so I can't offer any first hand experience. But, my concern would be that the female would become gravid before she hit a weight that I would feel was big enough (my minimum is 1500g or 3yrs).

[jasonmcgilvrey83]

I would try a rack system if u want to save space. I personal don't have one cause I only have three but heard they are really good and the little guys love them.