Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can I Ball Python live with a Bull snake? And get along?

No, pretty sure the care requirements for the two species are different. Also mixing species have its own set of issues to deal with.

An adult ball python may even eat a small bull snake.
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PHLdyPayne

"An adult ball python may even eat a small bull snake"

Why would you even suggest this??? Ball Pythons do not feed on other snakes!!!

Oh and no you shouldn't put the two together!

I'd think you would be surprised what something will eat when it lives in a tight enclosure.

In any case, I don't know the relative size of the snakes, but a Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer) that is larger than a BP will almost definitely try to eat it at some point. They are supreme generalists and will eat other snakes given the opportunity.
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Lincoln, NE
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Thanks for all the input..I dont think either will eat each other but not sure if one would kill the other over territory reasons..But Im gonna put the Ball in a tank by himself.Thought I might save me some space by putting in with other snakes thought bulls would be best choice.

dont try to save space. if you want the pets give them the space they need. even if you have 4 bps give them their own "habitat"
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I put him in a 55 gallon all by him self and bull is in 20 gallon all by him self.Got rid of 2 other snakes to compistae for space

Ball pythons may not normally eat other snakes, but if it smells like prey, it will eat it. Even if both are fed in separate containers, the smell of rodent on a smaller snake has a chance of triggering a feeding impulse. Heard enough stories of snakes eating other snakes for this reason alone, even if the species of snake doesn't typically eat snakes naturally.

Whether its the bull snake eating the ball python or vise versa, its always a possibility. Even if the two snakes are the same size it can happen, though the result is usually both snakes end up dead.

Bull snakes get significantly larger in length than ball pythons but ball pythons have alot more girth.

Either way, not a good idea to mix two species, especially two that come from different habitats to begin with. Best way to 'save space' is to set up a rack system for your snakes, or limit how many snakes you own if you just don't have the space or money to invest in separate cages for your snakes.
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PHLdyPayne

O.o
Dude. Look at the natural ranges of these animals They're drastically different, it's a very definite no.
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.1 corn snake
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I would say YES as long as they are almost the same lenghts, I kept a ball python with my corn snakes and they got along and I kept the temp. at 85F during the day and 75F at night and defintly fed them in different cages tho. so I hope this will help you and to give you a perspective of what to do.

Nolan

I got rid of one of my king snakes so the python can live alone.Thanks for the advice though.

No.
No no no no no no no!
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

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