Various BP Questions. :)

[Flicker]

Hello! I have had 2 ball pythons for about 4 years now! I had some questions I've been meaning to ask about quite a few things:

First off--Is it okay for these 2 snakes to live in the same tank? They have been for about 4 years. They only eat in separate boxes and are both VERY tame and social.

Also, If they are living in the same tank, will they eventually breed with each other? I read it works better to keep them separated and introduce them during breeding season, but is that 100% necessary?

Third--What size tank should I be keeping them in? Right now I only have a 40gal and was thinking about upgrading to a breeder.

Also, could you classify their types? They're nothing rare, but it would be nice to know. (I named them when I was like, 10, by the way. haha)

Ball Python #1 (Saphira) - Female - 35in - about 4.5 years old
http://i42.tinypic.com/2z6dq2b.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/euk13n.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/2qnxgjt.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/15czour.jpg

Ball Python #2 (Flicker) - Male - 33in - about 4 years old
http://i42.tinypic.com/2nibgqg.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/hth4k0.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/dhg20n.jpg

Any other tips/comments would be nice. I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right..

Thanks!
-Joe C.

[Kaorte]

Can you house snakes together? yes. Should you? no.
Housing ball pythons together can cause a lot of problems. How do you know who is defecating when? If you have them both together, it is impossible to tell which one is defecating regularly. Also if one gets sick, they both get sick, double vet bills. When ball pythons are housed together, one will dominate over the other. This can cause feeding problems.

As for tank size, bigger is not always better for a BP. I would get them each their own 20gallon long tank. This should be adequate for their entire life unless your female gets over 2000grams. By the way, it is much easier to know how big a snake is by their weight rather then by length.

[joshn6805]

Hello! I have had 2 ball pythons for about 4 years now! I had some questions I've been meaning to ask about quite a few things:

First off--Is it okay for these 2 snakes to live in the same tank? They have been for about 4 years. They only eat in separate boxes and are both VERY tame and social.

Also, If they are living in the same tank, will they eventually breed with each other? I read it works better to keep them separated and introduce them during breeding season, but is that 100% necessary?

Third--What size tank should I be keeping them in? Right now I only have a 40gal and was thinking about upgrading to a breeder.

Also, could you classify their types? They're nothing rare, but it would be nice to know. (I named them when I was like, 10, by the way. haha)

Ball Python #1 (Saphira) - Female - 35in - about 4.5 years old
http://i42.tinypic.com/2z6dq2b.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/euk13n.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/2qnxgjt.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/15czour.jpg

Ball Python #2 (Flicker) - Male - 33in - about 4 years old
http://i42.tinypic.com/2nibgqg.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/hth4k0.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/dhg20n.jpg

Any other tips/comments would be nice. I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right..

Thanks!
-Joe C.

1. ball pythons can be housed together, but its kinda frowned upon because they are not social animals and they dont have feelings for each other. if its been working this long and there have been no problems than i see no problem in it. but if they start showing signs of competing for dominance than they should be separated. what looks like cuddling may actually be a competition for there "turf" you might say.
2. im still experimenting with the breeding myself so its not quite my expertise, but given the right circumstances any balls of the separate sex should be able to breed if all is well.
3. 40 gal sounds fine for the two if they aren't going off eating or anything than it sounds like there pretty comfy, upgrading could possibly stress them out.
4. looks like you have 2 pretty good looking normals there.

[Flicker]

Can you house snakes together? yes. Should you? no.
Housing ball pythons together can cause a lot of problems. How do you know who is defecating when? If you have them both together, it is impossible to tell which one is defecating regularly. Also if one gets sick, they both get sick, double vet bills. When ball pythons are housed together, one will dominate over the other. This can cause feeding problems.

As for tank size, bigger is not always better for a BP. I would get them each their own 20gallon long tank. This should be adequate for their entire life unless your female gets over 2000grams. By the way, it is much easier to know how big a snake is by their weight rather then by length.

Thanks!

Just wondering--how would that cause feeding problems?

Would a glass separator work for dividing the cages? The only way i could afford a new cage now if I sold the old one afterwards, so having 2 separate cages isn't really an option for me. :/

[Flicker]

1. ball pythons can be housed together, but its kinda frowned upon because they are not social animals and they dont have feelings for each other. if its been working this long and there have been no problems than i see no problem in it. but if they start showing signs of competing for dominance than they should be separated. what looks like cuddling may actually be a competition for there "turf" you might say.
2. im still experimenting with the breeding myself so its not quite my expertise, but given the right circumstances any balls of the separate sex should be able to breed if all is well.
3. 40 gal sounds fine for the two if they aren't going off eating or anything than it sounds like there pretty comfy, upgrading could possibly stress them out.
4. looks like you have 2 pretty good looking normals there.

Thanks!

What should I look out for as signs of "dominance"?

[akaangela]

Welcome to BP.net. You have some very nice balls. If you do a search you will find a ton on housing. There is a lot to read here and there are a lot of smart people willing to help.

[joshn6805]

Thanks!

What should I look out for as signs of "dominance"?

one laying on top of another, kinda looks like cuddling but its really trying to claim its space.

[zackw419]

Can you house snakes together? yes. Should you? no.
Housing ball pythons together can cause a lot of problems. How do you know who is defecating when? If you have them both together, it is impossible to tell which one is defecating regularly. Also if one gets sick, they both get sick, double vet bills. When ball pythons are housed together, one will dominate over the other. This can cause feeding problems.

As for tank size, bigger is not always better for a BP. I would get them each their own 20gallon long tank. This should be adequate for their entire life unless your female gets over 2000grams. By the way, it is much easier to know how big a snake is by their weight rather then by length.

Or you could put them in tubs for cheaper, heres how to set them up:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules/...warticle&id=40

a 31-41q sterlite would be all each one would need (separately)

Tubs are easier to clean and hold heat and humidity better

[zackw419]

one laying on top of another, kinda looks like cuddling but its really trying to claim its space.

interesting, i never knew that.

[joshn6805]

interesting, i never knew that.

yea two males during mating season in the same cage is kinda crazy. YouTube - Ball Python Combat