Keeping two balls together

[keyo77]

Is it ok to keep two balls together or will it harm them in anyway

[Shelby]

It is not ok. Canibalism is not unheard of and snakes are solitary so living together is very stressful. Only time they should be together is for breeding purposes. You also can't tell which one is sick sometimes and they will both get sick anyway if they are together.. parasites spread etc.

[elevatethis]

If you did a search on this topic you would find a lot of info on this, including debates on this issue. Look at it like this- all of the pro ball python breeders in the world spend thousands of dollars on rack systems with individual units for individual snakes. If the snakes got along together when housed together, wouldn't they avoid all of that extra cost and say, keep groups of females together and groups of males, and then just pair them for breeding? Keeping them together is just asking for problems. Why would you want two in the same enclosure anyway?

[IamKaervek]

Why would you want two in the same enclosure anyway?

Probably to save money, and when BP's are purchased at pet stores, they are almost always crammed in their enclosures with several other BP's. It's really not too difficult to understand why a new and inexperienced owner would think this. You make it sound like it's common knowledge that is taught in elementary school, and if that was the case, he wouldn't have asked.

[frankykeno]

Can't remember if I welcomed you to the forum...if not...welcome Keyo!

Even though a lot of pet stores will either tell you differently or by their sad husbandry model it differently, it's just not good for ball pythons to be housed together for all the reasons previously stated.

It's also a smart decision if you think about trying to manage two snakes in a tank and one gets sick. First is the...which one is really sick issue...then you end up spending twice the vet fees to treat both since they both are now ill. It just makes sense for the sake of the snakes and your wallet to house them seperately.

You'll certainly up your chances to be a happy snake owner with happy snakes.


~~Jo~~

[Entropy]

I know some smaller breeders who have successfully kept ball pythons together for years with no ill effects. It's not something I recommend but I don't think it's quite the catastrophe that people like to paint it as.

[sweety314]

I know some smaller breeders who have successfully kept ball pythons together for years with no ill effects. It's not something I recommend but I don't think it's quite the catastrophe that people like to paint it as.

Uhhhhhh, did you see the thread where the author's snake got eaten by its roommate??????!???? Then the author was here seeking advice? sympathy? what-evvvv-er.....

Better safe, than sorry to have a sick, dead, eaten pet. Once something bad happens, you have to deal with the consequences. Better to NOT be in that situation in the first place.

[Bev]

so basically thats a big NO NO all round, please take this advice and dont keep em together. the lats thread about this ended very badly as the guy asked the same question and then ignored all the advice just to "see if it was ok"

one of his bp's ATE the other! then he was back lookin for sympathy and got a resounding lot of ppl saying "serves you right" and "poor snakes"
best not to even try it.

[ddbjdealer]

Just based on the subject line, I'm SHOCKED that Adam hasn't popped into this thread with some kind of "I always keep my balls together" type comment. lol

[Adam_Wysocki]

I know some smaller breeders who have successfully kept ball pythons together for years with no ill effects.

And I know a crack head that pan handles in front of the local community center .... he's been there for years ... even though he admittedly smokes crack every day, he's alive and functioning ... wonder how long that's going to last?

Sure, it can be done ... just like heat rocks can keep a snake alive and healthy ... just like dogs can be kept alive inside a crate for their entire lives ... just like people can eat nothing but McDonalds every day .... doesn't mean that it is the right things to do.

When taking a living creature into your home, the owner is obligated to provide that animal with the best possible care ... 2 snakes in one cage is certainly not the best possible care.

-adam