Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,
I'm moving over the summer and once I settle in I want to keep some snakes. I've never kept snakes before, and I've decided to go with a ball python(s). I've read up and I have friends who keep snakes, don't worry, I won't get any more creatures until I'm totally prepared.
The only question I haven't seen an answer to yet it this: can I keep more than one ball python together? I don't want to breed them, but can two males (I doubt it) or two females live together? The cage they would be going into is large (5 long by 4 high by 2 wide), is this big enough for two?. I was originally thinking about a blood python, but since I'm totally new to snakes I don't think I should go for it.
By the way, I have an iguana, a tokay gecko, and two cute little curlytails. I'm not new to herps, just never done snakes before.
Thanks guys!

I don't personally see why a CB blood would be that much more difficult than a CB ball, but I guess this is the wrong forum to be telling you this, eh?
I'd say two snakes in a cage would be double the stress on both new snakes and a new keeper.

Hey meret... well, I just read that bloods are not a very appropriate beginner snake. Would you recommend one? They were my first choice until I started doing some research...

Well, given that they're CB (very important)-
The only real difference between balls and bloods is the larger adult size of the bloods and their slightly higher humidity requirements. As an iguana owner you should know all about humidity . Bloods have a repuatation for being nasty but most owners will tell you that theirs are sweethearts. Mine included. You just have to make sure you get one from a reputable dealer, so it's going to cost you a little more money as well.

Yeah I agree on that. It would be alot of stess. i would love to get a blood but right now I am focusing on building a rack system.

Bloods are very easy to keep. Just do a little bit of reading. I currently keep chondros and think those are easy also. It's all about how much time and effort you put into your animals INHO.
John

It's big enough, but whether they'd do well together depends a lot upon the snakes themselves. Usually, bp's prefer solidarity. However, there are exceptions to every rule. I put two babies of mine together as a very temporary situation last year. They are still together, albeit in a much larger enclosure now. This is not because I forgot to make arrangements for them, but because they have honestly taken to each other. Once again, these two are the exception and not the rule. Don't rule out the possibility of your two snakes being able to coexist (I doubt their genders will matter if you are not planning on breeding), but be prepared to make other arrangements quickly if they become stressed out. You should have them in separate enclosures anyway for at least the first thirty days you own them, in case either of them has any parasites or infections that could be passed to each other. After your vet gives them each a clean bill of health, introduce them to each other and watch for signs of stress throughout the next two months or so.