Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Alright, so I went off herps for 8 years, now I'm back, and I'm going for some albino balls.

Anyway, I have 2 8 month old 100% hets. that i've housed together for the last four months in a 40 gallon long tank (3 feet long, 1 high, 1 wide). Plenty of space, climbing areas, 2 pools. They rarely aren'[t bundled around eachother. Also, neither is over 160g.

So I've always heard mixed things about housing balls together. I plan to seperate them permanently this summer. However things came to fruition faster than i expected, and I got a great opportunity on a high contrast male, also around 170g.

The question is, will the 2 girls be ok with him for a few months? SHould I introduce them in a certain way? I don't really have many options to house them separately till June.

I'm not concerned about space, there is plenty for this young trio, and none have ever shown aggression towards one another.

The boy's coming at 11am tomorrow, any help appreciated!

whoops, i hit the wrong numbers.

both females 6 months, new male coming is 8 months,

females housed together for 3.

Most Ball Pythons do not show aggression the way we think. They don't "fight" or duke it out in a violent manner. They stress each other out in quiet subtle ways you won't think twice about. That fact that they are rarely separate IS A BAD THING. Coiling on top of each other is a sign of dominance -- fighting with each other. They will compete for water bowels, hide spots, climbing areas, no matter if you have a zillion! And since they are only 160 grams... well, quite frankly, your housing situation explains it. Not to mention its impossible to tell how well either of them are doing, can't see if someone's drinking, having normal stools, nothing.

Balls or any snake really should not be housed together. They WILL constantly stress each other out, and they are. Just because they are still calm and still slow moving balls DOES NOT mean they are fine.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVING THE HOUSING THAN YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE THE SNAKES! PERIOD.

It is bad husbandry. I don't know where you could possibly get mixed feelings on the subject. Anyone who thinks housing balls together is okay really doesn't know much about them.

Besides, all new snakes should be quarantined, like Tosha said, before introducing it into your established collection.

Hope this helps!! And I really hope you don't get that third snake before taking care of your current situation.
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

they are not fighting for food space or anything.they are just hanging out together......try living alone and seeing noone and talking to noone for years....you'll go nuts....ask people in Jail....balls hang together all the time in the wild...they all hang in the same little /big holes and spaces inside termite mounds and old burrows......etc....

......but.......6 month old females don't want to breed.....8 month old males might want to breed...will they actually copulate?...yes they might...will it hurt? , probably not, will the females become gravid at 6 months old? probably not...but balls shouldn't have recreation copulations at the young ages ......(fem).....and the stress of the male trying to breed will be the stress you will see in the cage....

....I have all snakes alone....yes...

is it ok to house the 2 girls together?...why not...if they eat and shed and defecate....they are alive and fine...and you are going to breed them to the same male anyways.....won't kill the girls....

but the male will cause some stress....alot?...maybe not...but don't stress the girls ...they are what you need.....the male is just baggage with het amel sperm for a later date...try getting him a cage.....????

....have fun.......

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..J Yohe ....

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YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO QUARANTINE ALL NEW ANIMALS FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS. Then get separate housing for each snake.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

If the girls are already being housed together, I wouldn't worry about them for now. Just as long as you feed them seperately, they should be fine. As the other poster said, you will have to realize that determining individual conditions gets harder when you cant tell who is drinking what & pooping what. It takes daily observation to determine such things.

As Tosha said,,, QUARANTINE the new guy. It's a safe practice to ensure that you're not spreading any unseen diseases around. The new guy may come from a healthy home, but the stress of a new home could lower his immune system, thereby developing things that your hets could catch.

If he's only 8 months old, it shouldn't be too expensive to set up a basic 10gal for the next few months. I would bet you could get a 10gal for $10, and a UTH for $20? or less? and a screen top for around $10?

It's small for him, but as long as it's just for the quarantine period (around 3 months)you and he should be good to go.

he could live in that 10 gal tank for a couple years ....maybe...

......some males just don't grow huge....(some do though)...

good luck
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..J Yohe ....

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You have 6 month old female balls that are only 160grams each?? That right there should tell you something is wrong.. Keepin them seperate will eliminate stress so they will eat better and grow faster.. I have a pinstripe female I received when she was 6 days old she is now a little over 2 months old and pushin 250grams.. Balls stay small 3 10 gallon tanks would be more suitable for the snakes for about a year compare to a 40 gallon with all of them in it.... QUARANTINE!!!!!!! Good Luck!!!

N/P
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)