"2. Snake are NOT social creatures. They do NOT enjoy each other's company. That cuddling up they're doing in your pic... nuh uh, that's them competing for the best hot spot in that hide. And they ARE competing. One is going to be dominant over the others, is going to get the best hiding spot, the best hot spot, the best cool area... have you noticed them following each other? That's why."

I have concern over this statement. Snakes are ectothermic and require external sources of heat to activate enzymes for elevated digestion and nutrient absorption. This statement indicates that snakes are seeking heat sources at the same time and from the same source implying that they each have exactly the same metabolic process at any given moment and thus need exactly the same amount of body heat at any given moment. I have tested this theory by varying feeding times in snakes, and many keepers have seen the effect when a snake bathes its body in heat for a day or two after feeding.

Snakes in a healthy terrarium should be found locating different spots at different times to regulate their temperature (hence the point of a temperature gradient). I have not noticed my balls following one another, they usually tend to occupy different parts of the graident at any given time.

A slightly larger snake would require a higher temperature to raise its body temperature than a smaller snake and would thus occupy a different area. This is consistent with observation.

I could see following and clumping occurring in a cage where there is a large and sharp temperature gradient (cold ambient temperature with a single hot spot IE under tank heater) but that is a poorly set up cage. Some of the most experienced Herpetologists I have spoken to NEVER use under tank heaters for reasons many have gone into before (and these people keep snakes far more exotic than any intermediate to advanced keeper has dealt with)

Please realize that I do believe that people should, if possible, keep snakes in separate cages. As you mentioned snakes do not have the evolutionary capacity for emotion or socialization. However, I am adept at noticing stress and signs of ill health or problems and I do not believe this will be an issue for me (has worked so far in my 18 years of experience with reptiles).