Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a red tail boa and a ball python in a cage together, is this ok and is it normal for them to be pals. I have had them in the cage together for about 6 months and never had a problem. and just for spite I will add that my red tail is 4 and a half feet and my ball is 15 inches. ball store bought, red tail givin to me by a friend who inherited it and didn't want it. so please give me all the opinions you want.

You should not keep ball pythons together much less a python AND a boa.

Ben

I agree,
Just do a search on the topic.You will find that any number of problems can and do occur.The main one that makes most of us here shudder is the fact that a Boa constrictor can harbor a disease called IBD and not show any ill effects of it.Yet a Ball will most certainly die sooner once they contract it.

Then there is the stress over who gets the heat source,the stress from who gets what "hide"the stress of feeding time,the stress of having a larger animal in a box with it(yes,i'm pulling for the bp,i'm biased,but the odds are in favor of the boa).Even if is another bp,it still creates stress.

Sorry for the rant...i did not really intend to.
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Charles Glaspie

hey the rant was fine. now I am just wondering why they are both eating fine and seem to be happy. now yes I want to get them there own cage I just have very little money right now.

Without this soundling like a rant --- Boas and Balls carry different bacterias which are benficial to them, but not to the other species, prolong exposure to these bacterias can cause the other species to get sick. Also if you have two males, when they reach sexual maturity they could become aggressive to one another, if you have a male and female, you may have other issues you'll have to deal with at sexual maturity. At the very least you need to take into consideration that cannabalism in snakes, tho rare in balls and boas does occur. Its not worth taking the chance. And please don't take this the wrong way but if you cannot afford to properly house two snakes, why did you purchase two snakes? At the very least you can pick up a sterilite, heat pad, a hide and a water bowl for about $20 for your ball.
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Tosha

8.15.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
1.0.0 Angolan Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.3 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

hey I only bought the ball then I wasn't gonna watch a beautiful red tail just die or be killed becouse someone didn't want a snake. so I took it in. I now know that I need another cage so i will get one. the opinions I have gotten from here is why I came a trust what is said.