Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Due to limited space for tanks right now, I have a Taiwan in with two corns in a suitable tank. They were all born this year and of similar size. I know at some point I will need something much bigger and plan on the Taiwan being alone, but for now does anyone see a problem? They all seem to get along o.k.Any help or suggestions would be appreaciated, and yes, I realize what I'm doing may be very ignorant, I'm a rookie.

It's OK that your a rookie. That's how we ALL started. But there are lots of reasons to keep ALL snakes in their own tanks, and if you are going to keep snakes together, it would be much better if you did so when you are no longer a rookie. You will want to get another cage quite soon. And then, you should probably get a third. If cost is a factor, I suggest sterilite, rubbermaid, etc. Use a woodburner or soldering iron to make ventilation holes. Just make sure that you do this outside or in an extemely well-ventilated area.
Best of luck. Duffy

I'm not so certain keeping different types of snakes together is as bad as we've always been lead to believe. After all, different species hibernate together in the wild. Most people know about the Indigo Snakes & Eastern Diamondbacks sharing a den. Most people don't know that Black Ratsnakes share living space with Copperheads and Timber Rattlers. My herp buddy, Dwayne, told me about a Black Rat and a Copperhead that were always next to each other around his grandmother's barn, sharing the same piece of wood or hay bale.

When I was short on tank space (accidental breakage - not poor planning), I put a 9ft male Vietnamese Blue Ratsnake in with a 2ft female Bull Snake. I didn't expect problems because there were two hides and a couple of other items the Blue could get under. What surprised me was the Bull left her preferred hide and moved in with the Blue. He didn't seem to mind her so I ended up hibernating them together. Next Summer I moved them to outdoor cages and separated them. The Bull went into a pen with 2 juvenile Blues. She never shared a hide with them and only ate 3 mice all Summer. I brought everyone inside for Fall and put her back in with the big Blue. Immediately, I could see a change. She went straight to him from the first minute and now has an appetite. Lately he has started sleeping out in the open so she moved out of the hide box rests on top of him. She's so small by comparison that she looks like a necklace he's wearing. I'll see if I can a picture of them together in the next couple of days.
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Who is like Set...

1.1 Vietnamese Blue Beauties
2.0 Taiwan Beauties
2.3 Cave Beauties
0.1 Bull Snake
1.0.0 Argentine Blk & Wht Tegu
2.5 Box Turtles

Sorry, forgot to add the following - 1) take the snakes to a vet to assure all are healthy and parasite free, 2) make certain that you don't mix an opportunistic feeder in with other snakes, and finally 3) observe them carefully for the first couple of days so you can catch problems immediately.

Regarding #2 above, years ago one of our local traveling herp dealers lost some expensive snakes when he mixed them together with some Chinese King Ratsnakes - bye bye profit margin!
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Who is like Set...

1.1 Vietnamese Blue Beauties
2.0 Taiwan Beauties
2.3 Cave Beauties
0.1 Bull Snake
1.0.0 Argentine Blk & Wht Tegu
2.5 Box Turtles

Thanks for the reply's, I really do appreaciate it. My main reason for housing together is a strange one. My wife HATES snakes with a passion, and they are my favorite animal. Any way I built a big wood closet and keep the tanks in there so she does not have to see them. This is where my space is limited. Strange I know but it was my only chance of ever having snakes, and I had to do all that when she was out of town for a week. Right now she believes the Taiwan is full grown at 28 inches, some day I'm going to have to fess up. Thanks again both you.

They grow FAST, so that 'day' is nearer than you think! They're great animals overall, so Good Luck!
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Who is like Set...

1.1 Vietnamese Blue Beauties
2.0 Taiwan Beauties
2.3 Cave Beauties
0.1 Bull Snake
1.0.0 Argentine Blk & Wht Tegu
2.5 Box Turtles