Reptile & Amphibian Forums

YES I am obviously NEW!!

I think I have a strange question. Maybe not.
Have some of you found that some ball pythons seem
to thrive while being put in the same tub together?
I have a Cinny female 200 that seemed to totally
thrive when I housed her in with my Lesser male.

I know the seasonal change can affect eating habits but since
I took the male out (he is about 500 grams so trying my hand
at breeding him so keeping him away from all girls except breeders)she seems to be listless and has not eaten. Do you
think she can be fearing more for her safety? She is in a nice
secure tub with a black hide not much bigger than she is.

Babies in the wild aren't they usually born in termite mounds?
So aren't they all together sort of? Are they cannibalistic?

V/R Paige
-----
1.1 cinnamons, 1.1 pastels, .1 mojave, 1. spider, 1.1 super pastel, .3 normals, 1. lesser, .1 black pastel, .1 pinstripe .1 rosy boa, 1.1 gophers, 2.1 kids, 1. hubby and a bunch of other animals

Snakes are solitary creatures, they are not social. All snakes can and will eat other snakes if they want to, and sometimes they do want to.

Actually, Yes. I have two male 100% het pieds which live in the same tub. They are the only snakes that I own which truly live together. All the other snakes are only placed together for breeding. When I first purchased them from my brother in-law, he warned me about them being a little "clingy." Of coarse I didn't buy into it and kept them individually. But over time I started to notice they "seemed" to like each others company. When separeated they both have pushed out the tubs in my AP rack and where found behind each others tubs (each on their own occasion). When separated, they where, at best, sporadic feeders. Together the eat like clockwork...even in blue. During breeding season, I even place both males together in the females container. Since housing them together, I haven't had any escape attempts in the past 2 years that I've owned them. Maybe it's me interpreting their behavior incorrectly, but for some reason they seem to seek each other out. Maybe they are better feeders because they have competition for food. Or maybe I've been influenced by my Brother In-laws suggestion. Anyway, I'm not really sure why but it seems to work for them and I don't really mind.

W. Smith

Thanks so much for the info. I know some snakes are cannibalistic (i.e. I had a Kingsnake that was before I got it. Ate the girls ball python when placed with it)

But do balls eat their young? I mean healthy young not sickly young which I think most animals will consume. I know males will generally try to knock out anything that isn't their offspring in nature.

W. Smith ~ That is exactly what I was thinking. Either competition for food or the fact that they have a comfort level being together could explain this situation.

I usually house all my snake separately except when breeding. Both of those snakes were actively trying to get out of their tubs last night when I walked into my snake room.

Do you know if as baby snakes spend anytime together? Or do they instinctively go out in search of food after consuming their yolk sac? V/R Paige
-----
1.1 cinnamons, 1.1 pastels, .1 mojave, 1. spider, 1.1 super pastel, .3 normals, 1. lesser, .1 black pastel, .1 pinstripe .1 rosy boa, 1.1 gophers, 2.1 kids, 1. hubby and a bunch of other animals

Honestly, don't believe that a ball would consume another ball. In fact, I have my doubts of any python eating another python. I don't think they would recognize each other as prey. I know colubrids do...including some corns...which might surprise some snake owners.

I know that my snakes were produced by Peter Kahl some years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if they were clutch mates. I know my brother in-law picked them up from him as young adults some years ago (when hets were still expensive) and he kept them together. I tried keeping them apart and they seemed to do much better together. As long as you closely monitor feed time and ensure there isn't a significant size discrepancy between the two snakes, I think you will be fine. You will likely have a cage that needs twice the cleaning though.

Anyway, I wouldn't try to make a habit of keeping more than one snake in an enclosure...and I would steer clear of mixing taxa. Not only for the loss of a snake but also for possible spread of disease.

W. Smith

Thank you for the info W. Smith. None of my snakes are housed together at this time (except breeders). I put them together to breed 3 days on then 3 days off.

That makes 100% sense that they wouldn't recognize each other as food, I love it. Thank you for the information, Paige
-----
1.1 cinnamons, 1.1 pastels, .1 mojave, 1. spider, 1.1 super pastel, .3 normals, 1. lesser, .1 black pastel, .1 pinstripe .1 rosy boa, 1.1 gophers, 2.1 kids, 1. hubby and a bunch of other animals

I don't think that rodent eating snakes like most boas and pythons typically recognize other snakes as food but it does happen on occasion. A good friend of mine placed a sub adult red tailed boa in the cage of another red tail to clean the first snakes cage and 15 minutes later he looked into the cage and saw his beautiful sub adult pastel boa disappearing down the other boas throat... lol so it does happen, like I said on rare occasions. Not saying you should be worried but just so you know.

I would agree to this too. I have worked in zoos and sancutaries with many species that are kept in long-term captivity. It can change their natural behaviors significantly.

This isn't to stay that Ball Pythons should never be housed together. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if there was that one large female who liked to nab up baby ball pythons, maybe even her own. Or, there are brothers, sisters, or even long-term mates that prefer to be housed together rather than separate. If the snake sees a benefit from the behavior or association they will continue to do it.

It all just comes down to knowing your snakes.
-----
Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.1 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 Whitesided P. catenifer sayi, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

Great info!!! I love this site! I learn so many new things.

Boids4life - I was thinking about what you said and that makes sense since I used to have a Mojave that would prefer that I leave the f/t'd mice in her cage overnight. I know she didn't eat them right then so that means it was the scent or something else that would attract her.
A few months ago she switched to f/t'd rats and she tears them up!! Can you tell me is there a feeding schedule that I should follow for an adult (Aug09)? I am pretty sure she would eat every day if I let her and I am helping her get up to size for breeding. I feed her a small rat 2 times a week.

Bolitochrome - I am so jealous!! Zoos and Sanctuaries!! How cool is that! I would love to do that! Did you get to work with any big animals?
My job is boring in the military but I have gotten to travel all over the country. I do try to know my snakes as well. I spend time with them individually at least weekly. Wish it was more also it helps that I have 15 snakes or so not a bunch. I wish my husband liked them more because it would be on!!! He likes motorcycles.

TGIF!!!!
-----
1.1 cinnamons, 1.1 pastels, .1 mojave, 1. spider, 1.1 super pastel, .3 normals, 1. lesser, .1 black pastel, .1 pinstripe .1 rosy boa, 1.1 gophers, 2.1 kids, 1. hubby and a bunch of other animals