has anyone ever heard of not being able to put a ball python and a redtail boa in the same enclosure? the pet store where i live has them in the same aquarium and i was told that you cant do that because each one carries something that is harmful to the other one. is that true???
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just wandering???
jsmallwood
Oct 10, 2003 10:30 PM
Replies (3)
Scott_Sullivan
Oct 10, 2003 10:48 PM
I wouldn't do business with that store. It's certainly wrong to keep two completely different species in the same tank. Any chance you live in New England? The reason I ask is because a while back ago I went to a pretty well known store in southern New England and they also had the same setup? I spent about 5 minutes in the store and realized they weren't someone I wanted to do business with. Besides these two snakes coming from different parts of the world and carrying different diseases, they size difference will almost definately cause stress to both of the snakes (especially the ball!) I'm not one of the people that is against keeping multiple animals of the same species in the same cage. I keep 1.2 balls in one enclosure and 1.1 adult columbian red tails in the same cage without any problems (of course feeding is always done in seperate containers.) Well, there's my thoughts on this. Take care, Scott.
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Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
"In any civilized society, it is every citizen's responsibility to obey just laws.
But at the same time, it is every citizen's responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
—Martin Luther King Jr
jsmallwood
Oct 11, 2003 08:33 AM
thanks just wantin to know. i live in ohio
RandyRemington
Oct 11, 2003 01:13 PM
My vet recently mentioned something to the effect that lots (perhaps even a majority) of captive boas now have Inclusion Body Disease. Apparently some boas can live for some time with this disease and even breed possibly spreading it to their partners and offspring. They think it is also commonly spread by mites (found in many pet stores). It is fatal to pythons rather quickly which in a way is better for us python people since at least we can easily know if we have it or not - if a new python appears healthy and lives through a long quarantine it doesn't have IBD. My vet mentioned some liver biopsy procedure, which I think he might have helped develop, to diagnose it in live snakes so maybe there is hope for the boa people.
