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If they are both male and they very mellow and there is plenty of room for 3 hides at each end and I feed them in seperate containers.Tell me what could go wrong? I havent done this but was thinking on building a big enclosure for the living room and putting both in it. I have heard of people housing snakes together without any problems.I just wonder what the chances are that anything could go wrong? Somethings are more of a chance then others and somethings are blown out of proportion because something happened maybe one time..So hit me with all your reasons please and give me what you think would be the likelyhood of it happening so I can make a decision..Thanks all I appreciate it.-Sila

Biggest turnoff to me as far as housing more than one snake together is the possibility of disease/illness transmission resulting in 2 vet bills versus one or even the death of both snakes as opposed to just one. Another turnoff to me is the possiblity of stress that may result in health and/or feeding issues and creating competition for space, hides, territory, etc.

Can't tell you the likelihood of any of this happening - just that it can and I'm not willing to try and find out.

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snakes for the most part seem to be solitary creatures. So for that alone keep them apart. Now with two males it can be a little more of a risk in my opinion than with a male & a female.. male balls might combat around breeding season. it doesn't seem like they hurt each other but it could lead to biting etc. then there's feeding issues. If you were to throw to meals in the cage they may fight over them. Also if there's not enough hidespots that could stress them. Now you're gonna do whatever you want. So since you will prob go through with this idea I would just say make the enclosure as big as possible with minimum 3 hidespots & I would say two waterbowls if you can this way if they want to soak they dont have to jump into the same bowl. Personally I would be more for it if you said it was a male & a female but either way best of luck. I just strongly recommend for feeding you seperate them. Alternate one meal this one in the cage & the other in a rubbermaid. Next meal switch it up just so they both have the luxury of eating in their home. & if you can pull of more than one hot spot I would do that to.

In one word: Feeding ! ! ! !

np

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Well this becomes a question of basic common sense about the breed your dealing with, there have been a lot of people on the right track. Young snakes are fine to keep together to the age of sub adults males should be removed sooner. Males when they reach maturity the start changing just as us humans do when we start becoming sexual mature, the males them become over protective and wish to be left alone during this time they will be come over whelmed and stressed out over other snakes. and combating between males to find who the Alpha is, death and consumption is possible. I know this from other breeders and most of all with my own two eyes, I went to a pet store that I go to regularly and saw 2 male balls in a aquarium together oil male with a sub they were combating the males will raise up almost like a corba and strike each other. This is a site to see.. I told the owner of the pet store what was happening and told him he cant house them together. 3 days later I came in to pick up my feeders, and asked the owner where the smaller snake was he explained to me the "OTHER ONE ATE IT! "

So its your choice.... but Good luck.

they have no contact with other snakes but I do regularly take them out and they are together then, Im prepared to deal with that if the need would arise I raise my own rats so parasites are unlikely. I did say I feed them in containers, so they are used to that as well.Unless one thought the other was a rat which is unlikely as they dont think Im a rat or each other when I take them out..
The issue of being stressed is probably my main concern they are of very equal size..I see burmese pythons housed together but maybe that is different..Ive seen corns housed together and that is different too..Of course I have not followed them to see how they were doing either so I cant really use that as an example...So in the wild they would avoid each other but do you think that in a large enough terrarium they could avoid each other as well..My one ball does not move around much even at night unless I take him out then he is really curious gets lots of exercise..The other has always been more active and moves around alot more...Okay so I am still curious as to how we know they get stressed, How much is actually known about ball behaviour? I sincerely hope noone gets the wrong impression here I am just researching to see what I will eventually do..If it turns out negative I will just leave them in thier tubs..It sometimes gets hard to differentiate between hearsay and fact and who just really knows what they are talking about or just parroting what they have heard..I do appreciate all opinions though...-Sila

you still didn't answer if the sexes of the snakes is. because if you have a male and a female together that can bring up another bunch of issues.

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Disease is always a factor.. like you some one has a cold in your house bam now you got it. Same gos for your snake
I house males together as babies.. think of your self when you were a kid all kids were your playmates.
as you grow now your a teen looking to find your self, wanting to be left alone, hormones kick in etc.. now you don't want to be stuck with a male.. grin. So what is the first thing you do? Who is bigger and better the alpha.. keep in mind this is how all animals work including humans.. I have knocked a few guys on there butts over a girl, and I am sure you wood too. So same gos for the snake. they give off a sent at maturity that attracts the females. and other males sense this..

So in the long run adults cant be housed together..

I get asked what about my male and my female.. This is fine but.. if you plan on breeding them it usually wont work. They get the couple syndrom like they have been married and the flame is aaaa lets say out!

hope this helps...

Signs of stress are illness, feeding changes, etc. But by that point they've been stressed for too long in my opinion. Yeah, others have had success with it (with BPs and other specesi), but to me that doesn't mean it's okay, is right or will work for you. I think since you're talking about 2 males that issue has already been addressed. I would also wonder if the higher level of activity of the one BP would be stressful to the more 'mellow and inactive BP'.

Just no good reason to do it in my opinion - at least no reason that points to the benefit and well being of the snakes. And to me that's the most important thing.

As Jeff said - what are some good reasons to do it? People always ask "why not?" but perhaps we should be asking "why do it at all?" and "who are you doing it for?".

Just my opinion.
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How are you going to feed them? keep them in seperate tanks until for a few days until the smell of food is off? They will most likely attack each other.

Also what are the benefits of housing togther? (not your benefits but the benefits of the animals)
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Feeding is quite simple.. The snakes are removed from there enclosures placed in totes and fed. I wait apr 15-20m after they are done feeding. Then returned them back to there enclosures. Never a problem..

so you are saying that ALL traces of mouse/rat smell will be off the snake in 15-20 minutes? because if you aren't why would you put two snakes that smell like food together?
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I've known several cases in which 2 balls were housed in large enclosures (and one where 2 were in a fairly small enclosure). There were no problems presented in these cases. I only recommend that feeding be closely monitored and possibly that they be separated for feeding.

I still believe that balls are best housed alone... but I don't anticipate a significant liklihood of problems arising.

Mark

Ok so you've basically said no to keeping two MALES together, but my guestion is how about females together? In a large cage of coarse. Just wondering don't get mad.
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Basically the same risks whether 2 males or 2 females - okay maybe the possible aggressiveness might not be as bad w/ 2 females. But again, there are still risks and why chance it?
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if your broke now, wait till you house 2 snakes together, ESPECIALLY if they get sick. You WON'T know who is sick, Therefore you have to take BOTH snakes to the vet, DOUBLE the vet bill, plus any meds you need (For both as a preventative).

Not only that but,
As un natural as it is to keep them in captivity, it is even MORE unnatural to FORCE them to live together, ball pythons are solitary creatures that only come together for breeding purposes.

And it really shouldn't be a 2ft X 2ft cage, it should be atleast half the length of your snake, that is why most people keep their snakes in 3ft long cages.
And ball pythons don't climb (much) they are ground snakes, not aboreal. If they do climb you have to watch them carfully as they aren't very graceful and could hurt themselves falling.

If you should however decide to house them together you need a 6ft long enclosure (half the length of 2 snakes) about 2.5ft wide and about 1.5ft tall, atleast 4 hides, 2 PERFECT hot spots, 2 perfect cool sides, 2 water bowls...

Who are you housing these snakes together for anyways? For looks, have a custom made cage done with a plexi glass (or glass) divider (though you would still need a 6ft Long cage)

Personally, if you can't afford to house 2 snakes seperatly, then don't get 2 snakes.
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Does anyone think that a large enough enclosure would solve the stress problem or are we looking at an unmanagable sized cage, like room size or something...I might just save up and buy fancy already made enclosures that stack nice and neat but all this isnt going to happen till Autumn anyway because Im pretty broke right now...
What about putting them together(or seperately) in a large "play yard" type enclosure with lots of branches etc on a few hours every few days basis..Do they need exercise? Or are they truly happy just sitting in 2ft by 2ft tubs all the time?

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I was just asking a question. I'm not getting mine till next month.
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Every time you put them together, you are putting both at risk especially your ball. They won't 'play' together so what's the need.
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Kane

The fact is that we have already have them living in an area that no where compares to conditions in the wild but add two snakes where they constantly have to feel that only the strongest survive instinct constantly. Even Zoos with huge enclosures do not house snakes together...even though they adapt to captivity it they still have there instincts.
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