Opinions on housing a pair of large pythons in a VERY large cage?

[AK4900PA]

I've been considering purchasing a male retic or burm for awhile now and have a question about housing. If I do purchase a large python it won't be for at least a year or two as I have a few boas and more cages I need to purchase for my breeding project, but I'm somewhat neurotic about planning ahead so here I am. Anyways, if I decide to get a burm or retic I will be building a very large, built-in, display enclosure for him. The cage would be roughly 12' wide, 4' deep and 8' tall. I'm just designing things in my head right now, but it would have very large branches for climbing, some rocks, plants, and maybe even a small pond. Now heres my question. Obviously I would not have room for multiple cages of this size so if I got my male and later on down the road got the urge to get him a girlfriend would it be alright to house them together? I know it is generally frowned upon to house more than one snake in a single enclosure, but I'm wondering if it would be ok in a situation like this where they would have a significant amount of space to live in.

Anyone have an opinion on this? More than likely I would be perfectly content with a single male since it will be purchased purely as a pet, but I'm still kinda curious.

[joepythons]

I've been considering purchasing a male retic or burm for awhile now and have a question about housing. If I do purchase a large python it won't be for at least a year or two as I have a few boas and more cages I need to purchase for my breeding project, but I'm somewhat neurotic about planning ahead so here I am. Anyways, if I decide to get a burm or retic I will be building a very large, built-in, display enclosure for him. The cage would be roughly 12' wide, 4' deep and 8' tall. I'm just designing things in my head right now, but it would have very large branches for climbing, some rocks, plants, and maybe even a small pond. Now heres my question. Obviously I would not have room for multiple cages of this size so if I got my male and later on down the road got the urge to get him a girlfriend would it be alright to house them together? I know it is generally frowned upon to house more than one snake in a single enclosure, but I'm wondering if it would be ok in a situation like this where they would have a significant amount of space to live in.

Anyone have an opinion on this? More than likely I would be perfectly content with a single male since it will be purchased purely as a pet, but I'm still kinda curious.

Well the answer here is very easy.I would not recommend housing 2 large snakes together unless it was a VERY large enclosure(zoo type size) and you have someone with you all the time.I say this because whenever you open that enclosure you have 2 accidents waiting to happen not the 1.This accident is also know as 2 large hungry will grab you on your first mistake(smelling like food) and thats all she wrote snakes.Why take the chances or have them suffer if you are happy with just one?

[AK4900PA]

Why take the chances or have them suffer if you are happy with just one?

I haven't purchased one yet, but I'm sure I probably will be more than content with a single python of that size. I was just somewhat curious about this so I figured I would throw the question out there.

Right now I'm concentrating on building up some BCI breeding stock so any retic or burm purchase won't be for at least a year or two anyway. If/when I get one it will definitely be a male. Just haven't decided between an albino burm or tiger retic.

[AK4900PA]

I would not recommend housing 2 large snakes together unless it was a VERY large enclosure(zoo type size) and you have someone with you all the time.

Most people would consider 12'x4'x8' to be a pretty big enclosure, but it's definitely not zoo sized. I'd basically have to convert my entire basement for something like that. Most of my friends think I'm enough of an idiot for converting a single bedroom into a snake room.

I suppose if I did end up deciding to get a female I could always put her in the large enclosure, get an AP or boaphile cage for the male and just put him in the large one with her during breeding season, but to be honest I really don't have any interest in breeding pythons of that size. The only reason I would consider a second burm or retic is simply to have a different morph (i love them all!).

[PythonWallace]

That's a pretty big enclosure. Why not make it smaller and allow yourself room to add another enclosure later if needed. I wouldn't want to put two snakes together, much less go into that cage with two hungry giants as Joe mentioned.

[AK4900PA]

That's a pretty big enclosure. Why not make it smaller and allow yourself room to add another enclosure later if needed. I wouldn't want to put two snakes together, much less go into that cage with two hungry giants as Joe mentioned.

Handn't even really thought of this before, but I could always design the enclosure with the option to divide it. 6'x4'x8' should still be more than sufficient for an adult retic or burm.

Like I said though, one will most likely be plenty. Just throwing ideas around in my head at this point. With the retics for some reason I love tigers and albinos, but I don't like tiger albinos. If I go with a tiger retic I would get one that is het. for albino just incase I decided to get an albino down the road. I am rediculously anal about planning ahead. Especially considering none of this will happen until I get everything started with my boa project.

[_BoidFinatic_]

Handn't even really thought of this before, but I could always design the enclosure with the option to divide it. 6'x4'x8' should still be more than sufficient for an adult retic or burm.

Having a divider would work out in two ways.

First, it can seperate you from your python, much like a lion enclosure at the zoo. This will come in handy because while cleaning one side of the cage, the python can stay on the other, and vice versa. Therefore, you theoretically never make physical contact with the snake and so no mistakes can occur. This is demonstrated at zoos in which zookeepers must place food on one side of the enclosure, while the big cats are kept on the other, after which the keepers exit that side and allow the big cats to enter. No contact.

Second, the other half will allow you to house the second python of your choice, once you have decided on it. Worst case, the divider can somehow be removed, especially if you design it that way ahead of time, although it may be a permanent fix for the reason I stated above about cleaning.

[MPenn]

The problem with a cage that size is that it is very hard to maintain heat and humidity.

If you are just wanting to get one, why not start with a male. A male of either species can reach 10 -14 feet with a respectable feeding schedule.

[Kagez28]

have fun cleaning a 12x4x8 cage...

i would invest in some AP cages, it might end up being cheaper then building, and it will be a lot easier to heat.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Please don't breed burms. We have too many in rescues already that were dumped off on unsuspecting or even unexperienced people. If you love the species, don't breed them.