Keeping Males And Females Close To Each Other In The Same Rack?

[Aedryan Methyus]

Hey guys,
I have been wondering, as a general rule, does it matter if males and females are kept close to each other in the same rack or is it a good idea to keep them as separated as possible? For example; the way I have been keeping my snakes arranged in my racks is girl/boy (species 1), girl/boy (species 2), girl/boy (species 3), etc. Are there any reasons why it would be better to arrange them girl/girl/girl/girl/boy/boy/boy/etc?

I am wondering about this as both a general rule, as well as from a breeding standpoint. I mean, the males and females are going to smell each other no matter where they're at in the same room, aren't they? So, does it matter how close they are to each other? At this point, I only have one pair of adult, breeder ready snakes (Ball Pythons). The rest have a couple of years to go. I'm just wondering if it could be driving them both crazy smelling each other being right above/below, etc? Both of these adults have been refusing food for about a month now for some reason...

[JodanOrNoDan]

I have kept mine apart and together. As long as they are in the same house they can probably smell each other. I have not seen a behavior change one way or the other.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Can they sense or smell each others? Yes

Does that mean they will be affected by it? Some will some won't.

Mine are in the same room, the male racks are next to the female racks.

Usually the animals that start showing issues (feeding which is still rare with my males) are those being in rotation, if they are not they will eat.

Now in your case sure they could have breeding on their mind if they are sexually mature, or it could be something else (catching up due to overfeeding, husbandry issue etc)

If you want to see if they will resume first change location, make small husbandry changes, or simply pair them if they are ready.



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[Aedryan Methyus]

Can they sense or smell each others? Yes

Does that mean they will be affected by it? Some will some won't.

Mine are in the same room, the male racks are next to the female racks.

Usually the animals that start showing issues (feeding which is still rare with my males) are those being in rotation, if they are not they will eat.

Now in your case sure they could have breeding on their mind if they are sexually mature, or it could be something else (catching up due to overfeeding, husbandry issue etc)

If you want to see if they will resume first change location, make small husbandry changes, or simply pair them if they are ready.



Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

As much as I am aching to (hopefully) produce some Blue Eyed Leucistics, I have been trying to exercise restraint from putting these two together just yet, because I still need to build/buy an incubator and get a baby rack together. Also, I have been trying to develop a feel for palpating follicles with the female. Sometimes I could swear I feel follicles then I will do it again and on the next pass I can't feel anything. I know this is a different subject altogether, but it's my understanding that when you feel quarter size follicles that is the best time to put the male in. Is that correct? If the follicles are that big, wouldn't they be really hard to miss or are they still hard to feel?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

As much as I am aching to (hopefully) produce some Blue Eyed Leucistics, I have been trying to exercise restraint from putting these two together just yet, because I still need to build/buy an incubator and get a baby rack together. Also, I have been trying to develop a feel for palpating follicles with the female. Sometimes I could swear I feel follicles then I will do it again and on the next pass I can't feel anything. I know this is a different subject altogether, but it's my understanding that when you feel quarter size follicles that is the best time to put the male in. Is that correct? If the follicles are that big, wouldn't they be really hard to miss or are they still hard to feel?

When they are at a quarter they no longer need to be paired, when they are the size of a nickel however is when they are prime for breeding.

Some people are real good at palpating some not so much, like lot of things with snakes some take practice the more you do it the better you get at it.