Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had a 4 foot ball python for a few years that I rescued from its previous keeper. I recently obtained a smaller one in the same fassion, probably about 2.5-3 feet and housed him in a 20L aquarium I decided today to see if they would be ok to house together in my 55 that the 4footer has been in, after about 20 minutes of introduction period, my larger python circled the tank waving his tail and everting, assumingly to spread his scent? does anyone know what this would mean?? I've read about female Retic's doing this theoretically to prevent males from becoming territorial on introduction any advice would be appretiated.

You need to seperate them. they need to be house alone. They will get stressed out.

NO you never house multiple snakes together

Ball pythons are solitary animals and the only time they should be put together is male being introduce to a female during breeding season and during breading season only. Even then this is not a permanent housing situation as the male introduced briefly to the female (This also require that both are the proper weight)

There is absolutely no benefit in housing multiple snakes together however it can create problems such as stress, going of feed, spreading of diseases and parasites, premature breeding, you are also at risk for serious injuries, death and even cannibalism.

-----
Deborah
www.myspace.com/gaballpythons

Ok that answers that then, thank you for the help

Since no one mentioned... The smaller one is probably a male, the larger a female. The behavior you described sounded very much like the ball python version of a blonde in a bar saying "I'm sooooooo drunk!". That was an invitation for baby-makin.

So, if you don't want eggs, or stressed out snakes, your best bet is to keep them seperated.

~jenny
-----
"The python has, and I fib no fibs,
318 pairs of ribs.
In stating this I place reliance
On a seance with one who died for science
This figure is sworn to and attested,
He counted them while being digested."
~Ogden Nash

jenny.thegreenes.org

"If you're happy and you know it,
Bomb Iraq!
If you cannot find Osama,
Bomb Iraq!
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq!

Jenny, I LIKED that comparison

Quig
-----
Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself