Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A while ago I heard from someone at a local pet store that snakes can't tell the difference between their species and others, thinking the guy was a moron I decided to do an experiment. I have an albino granite burmese python and a redtail boa that were about the same size so I put the python into the boas cage and got ready to pull him out as soon as I saw a sign of aggression,I watched them for a while and to my surprise at first they kept their distance and later on they coiled up together and just hung out. That was about a year ago, today they spend their days just the same, paling around. Would anyone disagree with communal housing of this species? I haven't seen any problems, I keep them well fed and of course feed them seperatly, though I will seperate them when the burmese outgrows the boa. Thanks.

Mike

I know of people who house different species together with no problems, but I have seen pics of snake that are the same size/different species trying to eat each other, and the diseases that they can pass back abnd forth have been another reason against housing them togther.

I find it easier, personally, to house separately. That is my choice. As long as you educate yourself about the possibilities of future problems you are capable of making your own choices....be prepared as some people will take you apart over what you are doing.
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0.0.2 Colombian Boas
1.1.0 Jungle-corns
0.0.1 Spotted Python
0.0.1 A. geniculata
0.0.1 G. rosea

The problem is that pythons are super succeptible (sp?) to certain diseases that boas can carry. What a boa can fight off could potentially kill your python. IBD is a great example of this. It's really not worth it.

There's really no good reason for having more than one snake in a cage, other than breeding.

Unless you can't afford an extra cage or don't have the room, in which case that's a real good idea not to have the extra animal.