Need help A.S.A.P

[ama1997]

Hey i need a good care sheet that has all i need to know about breeding redtails. A friend of mine that runs the local pet shop. Has 2 redtails. They are together and this morning she noticed them locked together. She was told they were 2 females. She wasnt planing on breeding them (thought both were females). But now she wants to be ready for them when/if any babies are born. I know alittle about them but not much. I need a good care sheet with breeding info and care. Any help would be cool A.S.A.P. Ive checked the FAQ on here and not really any help. Thanks for you time.

[ladywhipple02]

Can I ask why they were housed together? If your friend owns a pet shop, she should know that snakes should NOT be housed together, females or no. They each need their own enclosure. It's entirely possible that these two snakes ARE, indeed, both female, or both male, and are attempting to exert dominance over one another (it could be taken for breeding, as one will try to stay on top of the other).


That said, have your friend read this: http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/care_breedingboas.htm

And also this: http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/care_raisingboas.htm

The first is on breeding... the second is on how to care for boa.

Hope this helps.

[ama1997]

ok Thanks Im not sure why they are together. There in a big display cage. Not for sale just pets. Everyone wants to see a big snake at a pet shop you know how that is. Well thanks again thats what i needed.

[ladywhipple02]

Everyone wants to see a big snake at a petshop....


Okay, I get that. But can she also show how to properly care for that snake??? Please? She's marketing that it's fine to keep two big snakes in a cage together... and it isn't.

Please ask her to separate them, and keep them separated. Especially if one is female... if she's pregnant, she's going to need that male OUT!

[JimiSnakes]

Not trying to cause any problems here...

I've never been to a single pet store that housed every snake seperately. Never. It's a given that they don't do it. That being said... if they are indeed locking up, there is a few things to look for

1) Does the male, the one on top most of the time, have his tail to the side of the female and indented towards her?

2) If she blows up like a balloon for a few days, she's ovulating...DON'T TOUCH HER OR HIM!

3) After she goes into an extremely deep and long lasting shed, take the male out immediately. She will stress out easily from this point on out and it is important not to let this happen. Think of this as the first tri-mester of a human pregnancy.

4) From the date she sheds, 104 days should do it. After the shed takes place, up the temps so she is basking (her BODY heat) at 88.6 degrees.

Hope this helps.

[ama1997]

Ok thanks ill pass that on to her. As for keeping them together. Ive never kept any big snakes so i dont know. My corns that i had all had there own cage. My balls all have there own tub unless breeding. Ive seen tons of pics of people keeping 2 snakes in a cage together if the cage is big enough. So im not going to get into that. Almost every pet shop ive been to keeps most of their snakes in one cage. No mixing say corns with boas or anything like that. Unless it was a kingsnake ive always seen them alone. As for her boas they are in a big display cage plenty of room for both. Id say the cage is about 8 foot tall about 15 wide and about 6 deep. Do i think its ok their together all the time. Not now knowing they are male and female. If they were two females then ok. They dont get fed in the cage, I will let her know that she has to take one out. I printed out the 2 care sheets and gave them to her. Now if she reads them or not thats up to her.

[ladywhipple02]

Just because they do it every pet shop you've been into doesn't make it right... *sigh*


Yay, pet shops

It is never okay to keep two snakes together (unless they're breeding, and ONLY for breeding). Snakes are not social creatures. They do not enjoy company. They will compete for everything and one will win dominance... it will always get the best warm spot, the best cool spot, etc. The other will not. If one gets sick, they'll both get sick.

Pet shops are not the know all, end all. The reason most pet shops keep their stock in one cage is because they keep too many animals for their space, and expect to move them out quickly.


I'm not trying to come down on you... but this is an old argument, and I get tired of saying the exact same thing over and over again... and all because: "That's what they do at the pet shop!"

[JimiSnakes]

Haha, you got me wrong. I didn't say it was ok, I just said it is a no-win battle. It's what they do. It's our job here to make sure others know this isn't ok, but pet shops will always do it this way. I guess till we own our own (which will NEVER happen, for me at least...lol) we will never fully understand.

[ama1997]

Im not trying to start anything either. They are not my snakes how she keeps her snakes is up to her. Is it right is it wrong? I keep my snakes how i keep my snakes all in there own tubs. Unless breeding like you said its an old argument and not one i want to get in since i dont keep all my snakes together. This person or that person is going to keep their animals how they want. Rather its right or wrong no matter what i say. All i can do is say this is how it should be. If they dont take my advice thats up to them.

[ladywhipple02]

Don't take offense. None of it was directed towards you, but rather to the fact that I find it sad that this person is keeping her snakes in a very unhealthy manner and marketing it as "right" because, as a pet-shop owner, many people consider her an "expert" on the animals she sells.


And yes, people are always going to do what they want... but I've said it before and I'll say it again: Fight ignorance with education!!!

At least try to teach them... don't just give in.