multiple snakes in same tank

[littleindiangirl]

If we didn' rely on the collective knowledge passed down through word of mouth from years past, we'd all have a bunch of dead snakes.

Science is a growing collection of knowledge, proven time and time again. There is nothing wrong with challenging our theories, but it takes more than one guy to say "You didnt do it yourself, so you have no right" to convince many that it is bad advice.

There is absolutely no harm in keeping snakes separate. For all our purposes here, which is to keep things simple, why not?

I imagine the keeping snakes seperate came from many keepers in the past finding PROBLEMS with keeping snakes together, since the common thought of many newbies is to put the two snakes together! Not the other way around.

People tend to put our emotions on any animal in our posession, so who wants to make a snake be lonely in a huge tank? No, they want to get him a friend. If this worked, then we wouldn't have many experienced keepers saying with a resounding "No" to that method.

[Texas Dan]

I have nothing other than personal experience as far as keeping multiple snakes in one cage and that is several years old.

It interests me that so many espouse ONE way of doing things as the ONLY way that is proper when NO other way has been tried.

I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, personally I figure what you do with your snakes is up to you. I just like to know where these people who so freely give advice get that advice from.

It seems that most of them have had, at best, less than half a dozen snakes and have not had them for more than a year or two and are relying on large scale breeders or lousy pet shops to give them the information they then pass on, never having verified any of it, just saying it because someone who does it that way said to.

No matter what, the points that have been given are good ones. If one of them gets sick, it may spread to the other. And then, like stated before, who's poop is who's?

And in regards to you saying that there are huge amounts of pythons in the same termite mound. I'd like to see some information on that. So far when I look up density of royal pythons, all I get is that document.

If there's something else that says different, I'd like to know.

[fishmommy]

Connie, that was an awesome post.

[littleindiangirl]

Haha rep? j/k j/k...I'm just playin

[fishmommy]

I tried but it wouldn't let me since I had just Repped you for something else

[stormbourne]

Would anyone like to consider, it is hard to understand a lot of the aspects of Royal or Ball pythons in the wild as they have been exploited for so long they have had to adapt to the environment according to our agriculturalisation, and industrialisation as well as considering the fact that so many pythons a year are caught that we have no clear measurement of the "pythons per acre" I have not found any studies of ball pythons in the wild as far as their social habits, but I know there has to be something. Apparently Dr Steve Gorzula has done some videos, maybe they would be descriptive? I plan on going to the library and studying the natural habitat of the ball python and seeing what I can find. We are only humans, we make errors and we are not meant to keep animals in captivity, so no way is the "correct" way, we just do what we can to accomodate these animals that we have bred out of their natural habitat. House cats? They're fine eating cat food and pooing in kitty litter, but I am sure they didn't do it in the wild before we domesticated them! Same thing. And yes, I go through battles with myself about the morality of owning pets constantly. We are a selfish breed. I don't judge anyone of you for wanting to own and breed ball pythons, don't get me wrong. I just understand there's no sure way of knowing what is best for an animal that is not naturally in this habitat. (I sometimes think the world'd be better off without us.) Kinda funny I am trying to become a nurse. I have empathy and compassion for all creatures, but I have no love for our so-called 'humanity'

[Brimstone111888]

Balls can probably be kept together by experienced keepers, who know what to look for. Keeping balls together isn't for the novice keeper and it is much easier to start out with these specific guidelines. Sorry I don't have my harvard study on hand for that bit.

[starmom]

Balls can probably be kept together by experienced keepers, who know what to look for. Keeping balls together isn't for the novice keeper and it is much easier to start out with these specific guidelines. Sorry I don't have my harvard study on hand for that bit.

Hi Jeff~ I follow your logic, but since large breeders and keepers with ample experience advise against keeping more than one ball/royal per enclosure.... well, this does give a message!
On a side note, it is my opinion that calling them royal pythons seems so much more...well...so much less...base

[Texas Dan]

Balls can probably be kept together by experienced keepers, who know what to look for. Keeping balls together isn't for the novice keeper and it is much easier to start out with these specific guidelines. Sorry I don't have my harvard study on hand for that bit.

What? You don't have your thesis handy? I don't believe you then.

[starmom]

What? You don't have your thesis handy? I don't believe you then.