Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I just got a cage that I am going to be using for my corn snakes. I have 2 males and a female. Is it ok to put them all together, my grandpa always kept his in one large cage and they all got along fine(I think he had 6).
My other question was, is it ok to use cedar in a cage for corns. I got some driftwood that used to be in a snake cage and I even think one of the pieces was from my grandpa's cage. I've heard that it is deadly for reptiles, is that true?
Any help will be appreciated
Thanks
Brittany

Brittany,

Snakes are best housed individually. Corn snakes are solitary by nature and keeping them together will stress them out (even if your grandpa did it).

Cedar has harmful effects on snakes - specifically the oil contained in cedar shavings. There are a variety of other recommended substrates out there - like newspaper, aspen, Care Fresh and pine shavings.

Tim

Third Eye

Draybar has a post that is appearing more and more often here about co-habiting, giving lots of reasons why it's not a good idea.
The first thing that jumps out there for me is the fact you've got 2 males and a female together - they will breed, even if you don't want them to. It also gets tricky if one if them starts reguritating or becomes ill - how do you tell which one it is? But he has many more compelling arguements

this snake ate his cage mate.look at his sides and how distended he is.
also this corn is not mine he was produced by a friend of mine who breeds

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hybrid breeders association
0.0.32 baby corns
2 leo eggs-due sept
0.1. normal corn het hypo,anery
1.0. snow corn het hypo,anery,amel
1.0. amel corn unknown hets(4ft 8inch long)
1.0 sinacorn
1.1 kenyan sand boas
0.1 mbk
0.1 albino nelsons
0.2 normal leo geckos
1.0 blizzard leo gecko
0.0.1 3 lined mud turtle

>>Draybar has a post that is appearing more and more often here about co-habiting, giving lots of reasons why it's not a good idea.
>>The first thing that jumps out there for me is the fact you've got 2 males and a female together - they will breed, even if you don't want them to. It also gets tricky if one if them starts reguritating or becomes ill - how do you tell which one it is? But he has many more compelling arguements

COHABITATION
MY OPINION

I feel it is best to keep snakes separate.
I know a lot of people can and do keep multiple snakes together without problems. I just feel the possible drawbacks need to be expressed.
When a person gets the experience and knowledge of each individual snake in his care, and wants to try co-habitation, it is up to them. They just need to be careful and observant enough to see and understand the subtle signs of stress in their snakes.
There can be definite drawbacks in co-habitation.
If one snake becomes sick there is a very good likelihood the other/others will get sick as well.
It may also take a while (usually too long) to determine which one is the sick one.
If one regurgitates its food you won't know which one unless you happen to get lucky and see it.
If one has a problem stool you won't know which one. Once again one may have a problem and by the time you figure out which one the other/others could end up with the same problem.
Although this is only a slight possibility, it is still a possibility and has been know to happen... one snake could eat the other. Cannibalism can and does occur with corn snakes. The smell of a prey item could trigger one snake to eat the other. Or simple hunger accompanied by a ready food source could do the same. Although uncommon, it has happened and is a possibility.
Another possibility is unwanted pregnancy. A female may become gravid and you may not have the knowledge, desire or ability to incubate the eggs, care for the hatchlings and find homes for them. With hatchlings comes added responsibility.
A lot of people rationalize by saying, "I will just put two males or two females together". That can work but mistakes can be made, especially with hatchlings. You could easily end up with a male and female.
There is also a chance of a female breeding too young or too small and becoming egg-bound. Although uncommon, it is a possibility and can happen.
With multiple snakes in the same enclosure you could easily loose them all if there happens to be an avenue of escape. Instead of losing one you could loose two or more depending on how many you decide to place together.
With multiple snakes in an enclosure, one or all of them could be stressed by the presence of the others. Stress can cause a drop in appetite and other health problems as well.
People will put multiple snakes in an enclosure and ask why one isn't eating.
When they are told it is probably due to stress caused by the other snake, the response is almost always the same "they like each other, they are always under the same hide together". Well this probably just means "that" hide or area of the tank has the optimum conditions they are looking for.
Snakes do not LIKE each other or ENJOY each other’s company.
There is no capacity for snakes to "like" or "enjoy".
I have kept multiple snakes together, without problems, but have made a choice to keep them separate. There are NO good arguments as to why you SHOULD keep them together but there ARE several good arguments as to why you SHOULD NOT.
So, in my opinion, although people do it successfully I just don't think it is worth the risk.
If you decide to keep multiple snakes together, watch closely for any signs of appetite loss, shedding problems, regurgitation or “personality” changes. These could all be signs of stress.
You would also want to feed them in separate containers and give them an hour or so before putting them back together.
My 2 cents
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

Poor Jimmy. Good thing that is just cut and paste. You should just put the link to your co-habitation in your signature. Either that or post it as a new thread ever week or so. lol
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****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

"Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints"

Not counting Hatchlings, this is what I have.........

1.1.2 bearded dragons
8.16.0 corn snakes
1.1.0 jungle corns
1.2.0 California King
1.0.0 Mexican Black king
0.1.0 Blotched king
0.1.0 Lavender Brooksi king
1.0.0 Sinaloan milk snake
0.1.0 Tri-Hybrid milk snake
1.1.0 Arizona mountain king
0.1.0 Congo African Grey Parrot
0.1.0 German Shepherd (hybrid) dog

>>Poor Jimmy. Good thing that is just cut and paste. You should just put the link to your co-habitation in your signature. Either that or post it as a new thread ever week or so. lol
>>-----
>>****Misty****
>>
>>

I have thought about and even mentioned it a couple of times so may be I will just start posting it every Friday evening.
Can't hurt...lol
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____