Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok, i know this is gonna sound stupid to most people, but please just humor the question. I have a little house gecko, about 4 inches long, and im thinking of letting him run loose in my ball pythons tank. do you think the python would bother eating him? or would they co-exist ok? also, the ball python has been in captivity for at least 5-6 years, and is perfectly healthy. i have only had the house gecko 3 weeks, is there a chance the house gecko could give the snake parasites? if the gecko gets eaten, so be it, it wasnt much more expensive than a mouse, but i dont want my snake getting parasites because of the gecko.

I'm thinking this could easily put stress on the animal. I wouldn't recommend it. It's good your asking, you should get a few more opinions. That's what's great about the forums!! Usually good advice, from people who care. Good luck!!

Is not only the stress factor for both animals (head shy ball pythons with a tiny fast animal racing about and the geckos being a natural prey item)...but also they have different gut flora and organisms than each other. You could risk exposing them to each other's pathogens and having all sorts of problems.

Just my $0.02, it's best to house them separately. Different species need their own habitats.

Amanda

I'd be more worried about your BP eating the gecko and liking it so much it'll never go back to rodents

thanks for the fast response people =]
i wasnt so much about the gecko getting eaten. i honestly was most concerned about my snake getting sick or stressed. i have had him 6 years, much longer than any other pet, and he is my most favoritist....I just wanted to get the opinion of a few people who know much more than i do.

I could give a you-know-what about the gecko, just worried about you having to chase down geckos all the time for a snake who develops a taste for food that has to be green

Why would you want to do this anyway?

Why did you by the Gecko in the first place?
Also, Why would you by this animal keep it for three weeks, just to see if what would happen if you put it w/ your ball?
First the poor gecko would be terrified of the snake and would completely freak out. Then if your snake is a regular rodent feeder, It would put much undo stress on your snake if it doesn't eat it. It could make your snake stop eating too.
Why bother putting 2 very different animals through all that just to find out "what If".

It can happen.

I don't really think the gecko would be 'terrified' and I seriously doubt your ball would eat him either(It could happen though, stranger things have). I'd think more about it from a practical angle. House Geckos eat insects, no ball python that I know of does. The insects at best will be a bother when it comes time to clean the snakes cage, and at worst they may actually chew on your snake. I don't imagine having crickets jumping all over the place is easy on a ball python, either. Anytime you want to get your ball out, you need to account for the gecko, too, and other stuff like that.

I'd encourage you not to do it.

I am also a ball python and gecko owner. After reading your post, I held Monty (the BP) up to the glass of V's (the gecko) terrarium. V immediately freaked out and ran straight into his water dish, and Monty rolled himself into a ball. This was 2 seconds, through glass, with me right there. Just based on my totally random and unscientific test, I'd say this is a BAD idea.

Wendy

It's been a long, long while since a post made me laugh out loud. Thanks for the humor in your otherwise honest and sincere post!
AlliMarie

...don't do it. This is a GREAT way to inoculate your healthy BP with a plethora of little nasties!!! Let's see, starting with 'a', amebiasis....
Scott J. Michaels DVM