Why not to cohabitate any snake

[calmolly1]

Thank you for that information. I'd love to know more. I had no idea they lived together in the wild. Fascinating subject


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[Skiploder]

Thank you for that information. I'd love to know more. I had no idea they lived together in the wild. Fascinating subject


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They can be found denning together in the wild. In some species, this is obligate behavior.

In ball pythons it is opportunistic behavior - meaning they can do it if it suits them, but it is not necessary for breeding, for protection, etc.

It is an important thing to keep in mind when considering cohabbing a species...does the practice serve a purpose? In some species it does.

As I've posted before, in some species it is next to impossible to breed them without keeping them together...the dispholidines for example.

I want to make it clear that I do not advocate it unless there is a purpose to it...and that purpose needs to be mitigated by the benefit to the animal, not the convenience of the keeper.

While I cohab snakes mainly for breeding purposes in difficult species, I usually opt not to.

Why?

Because it's more work (on every level )and more expensive. It's much easier to keep snakes separately.

[pmarks]

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[Skiploder]

I want to clarify one thing, and then I'm done.

I used to think that ball pythons were completely solitary animals.

I still do.

If all things are equal, they prefer small tight burrows that barely have room for one snake at a time. If given a choice, they will den alone.

However, if absolutely necessary, they will share a larger space with other ball pythons. While not the norm, we know it does happen.

This is critical to understand.

Your ball python prefers to be alone.

The only benefit they get from sharing a den site is if it's in critical need - ie: there is a lack of available dens and they are forced to share a space.

If you keep that in mind, you then understand the somewhat difficult task of setting up an environment if you wanted to cohab them and fulfill their natural preferences.

The enclosure needs to be large enough to accommodate several (not one, not two, not three) denning sites, and provide enough sensory distraction such that stress is reduced to a minimum.

There is no benefit to doing it.

[Darkbird]

Well, while this thread did start off with a poo storm, there's also some really good info here too. All I knowmfor sure on the subject is that I, as in just me, will probably never choose to co-hab. I dont work with any species that would benefit from it, and doubt I ever will. But it's nice to know some have the knowledge if that ever changes for me.

[calmolly1]

Awesome information Skiploader. It helps me understand my animals a little better.


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[Sir Hognose]

Out of curiosity what are some species that are ok to be cohabbed with careful monitoring and all? Why? And also: I see a lot of leopard gecko co habbing, with a male and 2 females most often. Do you think this is safe?

[Skiploder]

Out of curiosity what are some species that are ok to be cohabbed with careful monitoring and all? Why? And also: I see a lot of leopard gecko co habbing, with a male and 2 females most often. Do you think this is safe?

Thamnophis Spp.
Rhamphiophis Spp.
The Dispholidines (Rhamnophis, Thrasops, Dispholidus)
Pseustes
Spilotes
Philodryas Spp.
Phrynonax
Psammophylax Spp.
Crotalus
Etc.