Keeping a rat and snakes in the same room?

[kriegsmom]

Hi. I have 1 pastel ball python and a monstertail hypo rtb. I want to get a rat because I've owned them and loved them since my childhood and nothings changed that. Is it okay to keep them in the same room? Any tips on doing so? I'm worried it's gonna drive my snakes mad. If it can't be done, I won't get one. And, I can't keep the rat in a different room. Thank you.

[JoshSloane]

Personally I wouldn't do it. I know that when I walk into my room with even a thawed rodent the snakes begin to look interested and ready to eat. I wouldn't want to be handling snakes with the constant odor of rodents in the air.

[frostysBP]

I had three rat tubs with a total of 7 rats in my small snake room for 5 months and never had any problems at all. I have since moved the rats to the garage because I tripled my breeding supply. I personally dont think you will have a problem as long as your not hold the rat and then holding the snake.

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[Reinz]

I've done it in the past because I had no choice. But I made sure that I washed my hands right before entering the enclosures. Which is habit now anyway since I have dogs and a cat as well.

[carolineleven]

A bit OT, but during my "research", reading experienced owners' stories, lone rats are almost never as happy as those wityh buddies, so consider geting your future rat a buddy. You might be able to adopt a pair that has lived together for a while. Or don't, your choice .

[Reinz]

Forgot to mention in previous post:

A little over 3 months ago I scored a bunch of free live feeders from a breeder getting out.

I gassed and froze all but a pair of breeding Jumbos. They were the sweetest rats I've ever seen. Besides at the time I though that I was getting my Coastal Carpet soon, not 3 months away.

I kept those two in the garage. I decided that it was teasing to my snakes by keeping them in the same room.

That was just my thinking.

[JoshSloane]

I just think it produces too many opportunities to have rat smell on you during snake interactions. I think it also depends on the snake species. With their heightened feeding response I think boas would probably be the most affected. However as ball pythons are finicky and inconsistent feeders, they might scoff at the idea of having to be so close to a rat, haha.

[GoingPostal]

I would also think it depends on the snake. Most of mine seem to know as soon as I take a rat out of the freezer and start looking for a meal. I schedule my rat cleaning days on feeding day and mid week and don't handle my snakes when I know I reek of rodent just in case. My boas and short tails I think would be asking to get bit keeping a rat in their room, the ball python and hognose probably not so much.

[kriegsmom]

I had three rat tubs with a total of 7 rats in my small snake room for 5 months and never had any problems at all. I have since moved the rats to the garage because I tripled my breeding supply. I personally dont think you will have a problem as long as your not hold the rat and then holding the snake.

How did you do it? Did you have problems with behavior? Any tips on it?

- - - Updated - - -

A bit OT, but during my "research", reading experienced owners' stories, lone rats are almost never as happy as those wityh buddies, so consider geting your future rat a buddy. You might be able to adopt a pair that has lived together for a while. Or don't, your choice .

Yeah. I will get 2 females. I just forgot to state so.

[JaYdEd]

It's fine. Do it. My rat rack is about 10 feet away from my snake rack. No issues. I do make it a point to clean the rat rack regularly and never handle the snakes after handling the rats.