Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've read that alot of folks here keep various species together in groups, so I was wondering just how likely my annulata would be to eat another snake introduced to his enclosure? He is well fed, so would that discourage him from wanting to eat another snake?

Thanks,
Paul
-----
L. annulata
Naturalistic vivarium with BSS

Cannibalism is more common in some Lampropeltis(kingsnakes) like "brooksi",easterns, and "floridana, than others.....but this is something that is TOTALLY unpredictable, and isn't a good idea at all unless you are breeding them,......and even then is a very good idea to see how they react to each other.

It's not worth ANY of the many risks that can take place over the price of a container that costs only a couple of bucks!

~Doug
-----
"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I have never had any problems with my annulata or any other milks for that matter. I keep them separate during brumation and in the spring until the females 1st shed, then they are together until the females pre-lay shed. Once she lays , I put them together again until brumation because of space problems. As long as you watch them when feeding you will be ok. I also keep mole kings, prairie kings, pyros and even cakings together without any trouble.

dude.....its only a matter of time....i speak from experience.....gonna be at whiteplains????

I have bred and maintained most lampropeltis as co-habitants year round since 1992. This includes annulata as well many sub-species from the getula group. When I started breeding snakes in 1990 I was very concerned about this also. After visiting Bob Applegate's my mind was put at ease as he had been co-habitating millks and kings at that time for over 20 years and had only one incident with a paticular cal king. In the last 15 years I also have had only one incident. This was my fault as out of discouragement working with speckled kings (l.g.holbrooki)and no viable eggs two consecutive yrs I obtained a male on breeder loan. He was wild caught but had been in captivity for several years. I was a bit concerned as I assumed he had fed on other reptiles in his past. My fears were proven right when he ate one my albino females. He was twice her size and being wild caught was obviously risk. I wouldn't make that mistake again. A local herp club asked me to write a paper on co-habitating lampropeltis several years ago. Follow the link and read if your interested.
Tad
Co-Habitating lampropeltis

As a general rule is not a good idea to house lampropeltis together. Number one, they are snake eaters and two it's easier to deal with at feeding time.
-----
Steve W.

Steve thx for the husbandry lesson. I understand the risk of housing lampropeltis together, as I have done so for the last 15 years. What do you base your general rule on? I know when I was new to breeding I had the same conception. I had read all the available 'books" by the so-called experts and confirmed my fears. Without building up Bob Applegates ego (jk Bob), I would say he is the definative expert in this area. With close to 40 years of experiance co-habitating lampropeltis, with one incident from a Cal king. As far as feeding goes, snakes can be easily seperated at feeding time in several ways. I use cages with sub-level drawers that can be capped off to accomplish this. Follow link for detailed reccamendations on co-habitating. I very rarely frequent forums because when I see these kinds of "pat" answers given to new breeders it compells me to respond, and I hate to type! Anyway if there are new breeders out there would like to try co-habitating their lampropeltis, read the paper I wrote(link) and/or feel free to call me and I would be glad to talk with about it, you too Steve W., and any other experts out there.
Tad
(702)279-2155
co-habitating lampropeltis

I have had some very food-aggressive milksnakes cohabitate for years with no issue of cannibalism. In all cases, the snakes were raised up together, usually siblings. I even did it with Cal kings, though I think with the getula the chances are greater. In any case, no cannibalism occured. Doesn't mean it can't;just means it isn't the rule.

Introducing a brand new snake in with an adult is more risky IMO. Kind of like what Tad related in his post.

There are good reasons to not cohabitate - keeping cages clean, keeping records, etc. But if you want to do it, cannibalism would be my least concern with annulata. Not impossible, but not the rule.
-----
Mark