Reptile & Amphibian Forums

To start, thanks for any replies.

I have a 3 foot jungle carpet and a 2 foot coastal carpet. I know that people don't recommend keeping snakes of different types in the same enclosure. But, it is believed that there is very little difference between a coastal and a jungle, besides the obvious - colour. They both come from an area known as the Atheron Tables in Queensland. They both have the exact same temperature/humidity requirements.

So, I was wanting to keep the two together in a 4x2x2' enclosure (i will upgrade in enclosure size as necessary). Both are very docile snakes, with neither ever having even struck at me. They have lived beside each other, for two months, in 18"x9" click clack containers. They seem very curious with each other. They are both excellent feeders. There will be 3 hide boxes supplied for each. Typically, the coastal is a non-arboreal. The jungle is more arboreally enclined. I have everything set up perfectly.

I have 2 problems.

1. I have never introduced 2 snakes to each other. How does the whole situation normally work? Is there a possibility of them becomming violent? If so, how high a possibility? I am scared i will introduce them and they will just curl into an angry, attacking ball together.

2. The size difference. Whilst there isn't a whole lot of difference in length, the girth of the jungle is 1.5 times that of the coastal. I am worried that, if they will 'get along' fine, and live together, that something might happen by accident - like the jungle suffocating the coastal.

Moreover, if i merely introduce the two, in my hands, with 1 person holding each snake, is the jungle likely to try and attack/eat the coastal? I know this may sound stupid, but i'd rather not take any risks.

And, does anybody have any opinions on whether or not my snakes may/may not be able to live together? Why/Why not?

All responses are greatly appreciated.

Please help me... i want my snakes to get along

Cheers.

Aaron.

here's what i do. i act as though the one snake is the "husband" (if you will) and the other snake of the same type is the "mother in law". considering the relationship between the majority of husbands and mother in laws, i choose not to put any of my snakes together. better safe than sorry.

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0.0.1 Colombian Redtail Boa
1.1.1 Sumatran Blood Pythons
1.0 Black Blood Python
1.0 Dumeril's Boa
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python

Carpets can get dominant real easy, and the smaller will go off feed. Will Leary talked about that in his carpet article in Reptiles mag, and I saw it in my IJ pair. Female (larger) actually stuck and coiled the smaller snake, which then refused to eat for a month. It's still half the size of the female. now that they're breeding size, things might be different. I still don't keep more than one snake in the same cage unless breeding. Too much food hassles.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
0.1 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)

dont get to excited and i know this the least of your worries but how did you make the writing move down the bottom ?

good luck with your snakes