Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys I am new here. I have a male ball python; he is about 2 feet long. Two days ego I boat a young red tail boa (still eats pinkies) Right now they are both in a 65galon tank. So far they have no problems being with each other. Do you know if I will have problems down the line ones the red tail boa becomes bigger then the ball python ?

Ofcource I will feed them seperetly and they have 2 hiding spots. And some one also mentioned to me that its just posiable to maybe breed them together, is there any throuth to that ? Please answer my quastions, thank you all!

You should never house two snakes of seperate species together. Aside from different ambient needs these snakes require, the snakes may also carry different bacterials that can cause harm to each other. They should be housed separately.
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Tosha

3.7.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.1.0 Siberian Husky (Kita)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
5.4.2 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

Local pet store called Animal House (in Florida) had 3 different python spicies and 1 boa spicies in the same tank. All of those snakes seemed to get along fine.

Even though petstores act like they know what they are doing, most HAVE NO CLUE. The above poster summed it up for you and I agree with him. There are many reasons NOT to house snakes together, and there are more when your talking about keeping two different species together.
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www.NEWReptiles.com

I meant to say "I agree with HER"
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www.NEWReptiles.com

>>I meant to say "I agree with HER"
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>>www.NEWReptiles.com
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Tosha

3.7.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.1.0 Siberian Husky (Kita)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
5.4.2 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

Pet stores are in the buisness to sell animals, they house them together to save on room and clean up time and they don't really care if they end up selling a sick snake to someone. I can't tell you how many times I've talked to the guy working the reptile department at the local pet shops and they haven't a clue about the reptiles they are working with.

Just because the local pet store does it does not mean its right. Do you want to take that chance with your snakes, they should be kept separate.

Also since you just got one, it should be going through a quaranteen period so you can watch for stress, not eating, mites, etc.
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Tosha

3.7.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.1.0 Siberian Husky (Kita)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
5.4.2 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

First of all, I want to say that I agree with you: pet stores are not the place to get your information (nor, generally, healthy animals). I just wanted to say, though, that I own a small local pet store, and that I personally am not "in buisiness to make money". I am doing it to educate. I don't want this to be an ad, so I won't mention the name of the store. I just wanted to say that I know a few other people in my boat who are trying really hard to change what pet stores are known for. Honestly, no matter how good or knowledgable we are, there will always be people who disagree slightly on one issue or another, but we advise what works best for us.

So, what's my point? Just, I think, that if you asked me "are pet stores knowledgable about reptiles?", I would say, "no, they are horrible", Even though I own a store which is the opposite. So, please, give the little guys a chance, and teach all who are open to learning.

Thanks,
nate.

Nate, it wasn't my intention to belittle ALL pet shops. I know of a couple that try hard to take care of their animals, but in trith most don't really care. My appologies.

Quig

I know, but I wonder how many other people know. We (again, myself included) tend to make blanket statements that newbies either take as law, or ignore. My experience in the store is that either people don't realize that there is a problem with pet stores (such as petco, or in my area "scamps", or they come in to my store assuming that we are crap. anyway, thank you for that validation. I guess I am a bit sensitive.

thanks again.
nate.

Nate - You are correct, there are pet shops that do care about the animals and their customers. They are few and far between and the ones I have frequented over the years, sadly, have not been able to stay in business or they've changed hands and the "new management" didn't hold as high standards. It's sad. For me it's pretty easy to tell by just looking around the stores who are the good guys and the bad guys. I applaude you for your efforts, I'm sure it seems like an uphill battle.
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Tosha

3.7.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.1.0 Siberian Husky (Kita)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
5.4.2 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

There is a GREAT reptile store in Rhode Island. It's called Regal Reptiles. If anyone lives in or near there, you should check them out. I've gotten both of my BP's from them and they seem to take very good care of tehir animals, PLUS they REALLY do know what they are talking about! I'm not trying to campaign them for presidency of reptiles, but they certainly are (in my opinion) one of the few and far between pet stores that care.

Circusfan

For health reasons, it is not a good idea. Boas can harbor IBD (a disease I am not about to describe, but info can be found all over the Net.) It is usually fatal to pythons.
When keeping any reptile with another in the same cage, disease and infections are constantly a threat. If one snake gets sick (parasites, etc.) then both need to be treated, thus doubling your vet bill. If one snake has runny feces, you have no way of knowing who the guilty party is.
Not to mention, feeding would be dicey. One snake could bite the other thinking it is food; even if they're fed in seperate containers, the feeding response could be triggered simply by the other snake moving.
Not a good idea! Any herp-keeper worth his salts will not combine species; and not combine individuals unless they have been quarantined and then used for breeding.
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2.1 Ball pythons
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator
0.1 albino Cranwell's horned frog
1.0 bearded dragon
1.0 Tiger salamander
1.1 breeding Clawed frogs
1.0 black kittycat
3.1 Oscar cichlids
0.1 Paint horse mare

I hope you understand, everybody here is concerned for the health and wellfare of both these snakes. It's just not sensible to keep them together. If you must, such as no place to put it temporarily, then it should be OK for a short while. If the boa was kept with other snakes in the pet shop there is no telling what might be wrong, if anything, with it. As was posted before, pet store empooyees really only want to sell , sell, sell. Once it's sold it's not their problem. If you'll notice there's rarely sufficient lighting or heat for their reptlies. I've been concidering buying a savana and a nile monitor from the place I frequent because they both look seriously underfed. Am just not sure I have the room for the size the nile will reach in the future. Seperate them please.

I just realized in your message what I was trying to say above (please see my above post for the body). My point above is that 99% of pet stores fall into the category of what you are saying about them. However, beyond the fact that they also have 99% of pet business, and offer horrible information that when I correct it, it makes me look like a liar, the stigma that they create, you all perpetuate. I just wanted to say that you guys (and myself included, I guess) actually hurt the business of we few little guys who try by lumping us into that group. And by hurting our business among those caring enough to research on this site, you guarantee that the uninformed continue going to Petco, and the informed don't give us a try. I'm sorry for this rant, but I have owned and run this store for quite awhile and continue to take not one red cent from it. We really do try, and we still get badmouthed. I know I am not alone.

Thanks for your patience and letting me vent. I still maintain that "petstores" suck, but I wanted to make a distinction.

nate.

side note---I am no redtail expert but if it is mice pinkies I think they would be too small of a meal for the snake. Considering balls don't even start out eating those. If it is a rat pink then that should be ok for awhile.
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

For health reasons, it is not a good idea. Boas can harbor IBD (a disease I am not about to describe, but info can be found all over the Net.) It is usually fatal to pythons.
When keeping any reptile with another in the same cage, disease and infections are constantly a threat. If one snake gets sick (parasites, etc.) then both need to be treated, thus doubling your vet bill. If one snake has runny feces, you have no way of knowing who the guilty party is.
Not to mention, feeding would be dicey. One snake could bite the other thinking it is food; even if they're fed in seperate containers, the feeding response could be triggered simply by the other snake moving.
Not a good idea! Any herp-keeper worth his salts will not combine species; and not combine individuals unless they have been quarantined and then used for breeding.
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2.1 Ball pythons
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator
0.1 albino Cranwell's horned frog
1.0 bearded dragon
1.0 Tiger salamander
1.1 breeding Clawed frogs
1.0 black kittycat
3.1 Oscar cichlids
0.1 Paint horse mare

Alright, tnx every one. I will see if I can get another 65gal tank. If not They will stay together for now.

If they are both babies which they seem to be (mouse pinkies) there is no need for a huge tank right off the bat. A baby ball will be fine in a 10 gal tank for atleast 4-6 months.
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www.NEWReptiles.com

The definition of a species is that they cannot interbreed with other species. So can two species of snake breed together?...no. There are exceptions, like the angola and ball mix which is still contraversial, but most likely they will not produce viable offspring. Exceptions aside, there is no way that Boas and pythons will ever interbreed.

But if I'm wrong, I'd be the first in line to buy a boathon or pythoa...hehehe

Okay. Now I'm confused. Milksnakes and Kingsnakes are crossed all the time. And I've also heard of additional Cornsnake crosses. Am I missing something?

Chris =/
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"You ever heard of those? They're called parents. We have parents who love us. You don't 'cause you're a little orphan." -- Roy O'Bannon

The crosses between Milk and Kingsnakes are both Lampropeltis, are they not?

I don't know. Are they?

Chris
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"You ever heard of those? They're called parents. We have parents who love us. You don't 'cause you're a little orphan." -- Roy O'Bannon

Milksnake is triangulum. Kingsnake is getulus. However the common genus is Lampropeltis.

I love GOOGLE.

Chris
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"You ever heard of those? They're called parents. We have parents who love us. You don't 'cause you're a little orphan." -- Roy O'Bannon

lampropeltis is the genus
getula and triangulum are the species

In fact, I believe I have heard of hybrids beyond the generic level, let alone the specific level. The old standby of "species means cant cross with others" does not seem to apply anymore. In fact, I believe that this is the reason that the cornsnake was recently reclassified to make it closer to kings and milks than to the old world colubrids with which they have not crossed.

Confused yet?
me too.
nate.

If you know of anyone who has successfully crossed an egglaying snake with a livebearing snake, producing live, healthy young, please publish their name(s) - it will be a world first!!

Well the definition of a species is always that one species cannot interbreed with another species and produce viable and fertile offspring. The definition always holds, the breakdown comes in how we decided what is a separate species and what is just two breeds within the same species. Remember that all of the names we have given snakes are just that...names. Would a ball by any other name still be so sweet?? But really, more than once people have designated organisms to be two different species, only to find out later that actually they are the same species, but a different breed or race within the species.

On another note...If it was possible, I'd be breeding...oh say a pastel mojave male with a 8' boa and collect my 25 live offspring.

Nobody would need more that a couple of females...that would be fun

Hope everyone is having better luck than me with breeding this year...I think my male is retarded...but he isn't a spider...lol

Two populations are different species if they WILL NOT interbreed under NATURAL CONDITIONS. Actual biological incompatibility is not required. Closely related species in captivity will frequently interbreed, and can even produce fertile offspring.

It seems that your point is that taxonomy has yet to be perfected, and so that a corn snake and a king snake are really the same species since they can interbreed, but that taxonomy has them incorrectly classified. Currently, they arent even the same genus. While I agree that taxonomy is not quite right yet, as I don't believe that we have done genetic tests on even a fraction of species and rather classify due to physical characteristics, I have trouble believing that a corn and a king, or a blood and a ball are the same species. It seems to be symantics, really, but it sure causes a stir, doesn't it? But to adress the original question, no, I don't believe that a live bearing boa and an egg laying python will ever interbreed.

thanks,
nate.