Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys,

Sorry to bring this up again if you feel it's been covered adequately! I'm just about to purchase one or two gray-bands from a breeder who strongly advises against housing them together. I had set my heart on having a Blair's phase and an Alterna phase in the same enclosure (I don't have room for another cage), and was encouraged by an earlier posting on the forum. I notice also that some of the pictures in the classifieds show gray-bands housed together. However I don't want to risk the lives of both snakes (not to mention the wasted money). Can I open the discussion again? I guess if anybody out there has seen GBK's eating each other, that will settle it!

Best regards to everyone.

Tim Cousin

I have housed females together for short periods of time (a week or two) with no problems. I know there are several zoos out there that house gray bands together. The philly zoo has an exhibit with 5-7 in the same enclosure. They vary in size from about 24" to 40". It is a GREAT looking exhibit. I spoke to a keeper there and he said they had never had any problems with it.

If you do house two together make sure they are not hatchlings. I have heard of hatchling and yearling gray bands eating one another.

Also make sure that they are both healthy animals as you don't want to induce parasites or disease from one to another. Do not keep two males together. Feed them in separate comtainers. Keep a close eye on them and let us know how it works!

Tom

I can't offer any guarantees, but I have litterally caged numerous adult alterna year round together for the last 20 years w/out any cannibalism. I do believe w/ the proper precautions it should not be an issue, but than again maybe I've just been lucky in this department. For details see my earlier post of July 18th.
DB