Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anyone knew where to buy a bluestripe ribbon snake around eastern PA and what the price is?
And i can put it in with my western ribbon...right?

Don't know where you can buy one but try on the classifieds. It is never a great idea to keep two snakes together, even of the same species, which those to are not. First off, Thamnophis can be cannibalistic. Secondly, chances are both are WC, and both could harbor different diseases and/or parasites. And finally, snakes in the wild are not social animals. They don't need constant contact with other snakes (with a few exceptions...Thamnophis are not one of the exceptions). In fact, constant contact with other snakes can stress the snakes beyond help and even cause death or disease. Just spend the money on another 20 gallon tank or rubbermaid or whatever you use.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

And the sign says "No long hair freaky people need not apply." So I put my hair under my hat and I went in to ask him why. He said you look like a fine outstanding young man I think you'll do. So I took off my hat I said "Imagine that Huh Me working for you."

My two eastern ribbons are living together in a spacious vertically oriented vivarium. They came from a pet store where there were three in one small cage. One of them is about 25" and the other is maybe 18" (its hard to tell, they are so skinny and always wrapped around stuff). There is a marked difference in size but the little one has a voracious appetite and keeps eating all the fish before the other has a chance to hunt, so he will grow quickly I am sure. My question is this: do I need to be concerned about one eating the other?? They seem happy together and I really cannot imagine cannibalism occuring in there... but these are the first snakes I have kept and I need to know if this really might happen! Thanks--

Pretty much any snake can be cannibalistic. After all, they are the perfect shape for eating other snakes. It can result from something as simple as two snakes latching onto the same food item, but neither lets go so one just swallows the food item and the other snake. I know it has been recorded in Thamnophis, as well as many other snake species that you would not think were cannibalistic (hognose, corns, rats).
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

And the sign says "No long hair freaky people need not apply." So I put my hair under my hat and I went in to ask him why. He said you look like a fine outstanding young man I think you'll do. So I took off my hat I said "Imagine that Huh Me working for you."

Ok, so what can I do to avoid this? Should I just watch them while they eat? I actually saw some potential for this exact type of thing today when they were eating... One brought the fish he caught out of the water and the other was obviously still hungry, and grabbed the fish that was hanging out of the other's mouth. Luckily they both dropped it in the dirt and I didn't have to intervene...

I know I'm butting in in the middle, but I wouldn't worry about true cannibalism in garters or ribbons. Yes, they can both latch on to a prey item and just keep swallowing, and yes sometimes adults will eat juveniles, but I have kept snakes of similar size together for years and have NEVER witnessed a problem not related directly to eating. If you supervise feedings, or separate them for feedings, there won't be a problem with that, either. And my garters actually seem to prefer having "company" -- they will often hang out together in the same hide, even when there is lots of other places to go. I would not worry about keeping them together. (my opinion)
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Debbie
My email

I suppose it is more of a choice. I would rather not make the wrong choice though. True, people have housed snakes together for years without problems. But sometimes things go wrong and even after years, one snake will turn up dead, or will not turn up as it is in the other's gut. As I mentioned earlier too, parasites and disease are another worry. 2 snakes in the cage can mean when one snake is sick or has parasites, these can be easily transmitted to the other. But as you said before, it is a choice, an opinion. I just usally prefer not to risk it with my pets.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

And the sign says "No long hair freaky people need not apply." So I put my hair under my hat and I went in to ask him why. He said you look like a fine outstanding young man I think you'll do. So I took off my hat I said "Imagine that Huh Me working for you."-Tesla

Well thanks for everyone's opinion and input. They seem to enjoy each other's company and often "hang out together" on the same branch, same hide, etc.... I know they are happy but it sucks that I have to worry about them eating each other. I think I will take the risk though, the vivarium is just too cool for one snake and I don't have an equivalent home for the other. In any case, lets hope that they can stick to fish, frogs, and other goodies...