Housing BP's together

[gtlevine]

I am looking for my second BP and recently read that housing BP's together causes stress and seperate cages are recommended. Is this true? because I really want to use the same cage for both my BP's since the cage is large. What are your thoughts on this?

Gary

[bigballs]

using seperate cages is not a recommended practice, it is a must do if you want to keep multiple snakes. im sure the article you read on the topic had some very good reasons why BPs need to be seperated and im sure others will chime in here to let you know why it is a must.

[xdeus]

Yes, it is true. If you have a large tank consider dividing it using plexiglass into two smaller areas. This way you will have two happy snakes and can still use your cage.

Good luck!

[frankykeno]

Gary, a search through our many threads on this subject will I'm sure be very helpful to you as you make this decision. In the end, the best advice I can give you is to always make any decision about how you keep these snakes based on what is best for the snakes above what is your personal preference. I think when one does that, you rarely can go wrong.

As for myself and my husband, we've always kept every snake one per enclosure other than for breeding rotations. For us, when we weighed the pro's and con's of individual vs communal housing, the individual housing just made more sense because it lessened stress/health risks for the snakes. Less stress for the snakes in the end means less stress on the keeper so I think it's a win/win situation (at least it's been that way for us and our collection over these past few years).

[python.princess]

You should not house multiple snakes together for many reasons

- Cannibalism. Do you really want to risk it?
- If one gets sick, they all get sick. Double vet bills. Or double death… whichever comes first
- Unwanted breeding. What happens if they breed? What if the female gets eggbound? What if she lays the eggs? Are you prepared to take care of them? And the hatchlings that will soon follow?
- Stress. They’re not cuddling in their hides. They’re dominating one another. Stress leads to a multitude of other problems. Such as not eating/ growing like they should.

When I first got my snakes, I had two in one enclosure- assured by Petco that it wasn’t a problem. They’d bond. After reading all the reasons for NOT housing them together (on this site) I immediately separated them and noticed a difference right away. They both ate more, grew faster, shed better, and seemed overall much more content.

Hope this helps.

[hawaiianice99]

In my opinion, if you house snakes in the same enclosure you had better be ready for some problems to happen. Its not a question of if it will happen, its a question of when it will happen. there are just too many factors that put the snakes health at risk, so dont risk it.

[gtlevine]

Wow!, I had no idea it was such an issue since I always see them together in stores. THanks for answering the questions.

Gary

[rabernet]

Wow!, I had no idea it was such an issue since I always see them together in stores. THanks for answering the questions.

Gary

Keep in mind that pet stores generally don't plan for them to be in the store for long. Housing together in the stores is meant to be temporary housing, not permanent.

[mainbutter]

They are together in stores because stores, to remain profitable, have to minimize space per animal to maximize the number of total animals availalbe, in order to maximize sales.

The stores generally think that it is alright for them to keep them together since hopefully they will be sold fast. But it still isn't good for the snakes.