>>Sorry no Gulf. It looks like an intergrade or a mix between different obsoletus subspecies where yellow or orange is one of the parents.
>>Nice Tom to tell to be alert. Yes obsoletus can be canibalistic, BUT that is so rare when feed alone, that it isn`t worth telling. Keeping hundres of ratsnakes, kingsnakes (a few) and garter snakes I actually only have problems with canibalism amongst garters and even that is rare. I keep my juveniles in groups of 10 animals and have done that for many many years. I hardly loose 1 animal to canibalism a year and of larger animals NEVER.
>>Good to be alert and observe your animals, but don`t give them a reputation not deserved
>>Best wishes
>>Søe
If it happens EVER it is worth warning a person to the possibility.
and you think loosing one animal a year, to cannalbilism, is OK?
What if you only have two snakes? hmmm
whether it is to larger animals or animals of the same size, it can and does happen.
yes, snakes can cohabitate and it is done regularirly, but it should never be recommended as non problematic. Just beacause you do it with what YOU think to be success doesn't mean you should recommend it to people who are new or less experienced in the hobby.
there ARE definite drawebacks and problems. Not just the possibility of cannalbilism.
If you would like, I can find plenty of photographs showing cannabilism in non-canabilistic snakes.
but like I said, that is only one thing to consider.
this is basically written for corn snakes but corns are rat snakes now aren't they?
Things to consider
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.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes
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