Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am relatively new at keeping ball pythons, and read as much as possible about them. One thing that seems to be a constant topic of disagreement, at least from people from whom I've received information, is whether you can house more than one ball in the same tank, i.e. two (M&F) in a six foot long enclosure. I welcome any and all opinions, and particularly information with some substantive basis (scientific, experience, etc> Thanks

this is one of those touchy subjects. some will swear that it is bad because they are solitary animals in the wild. i think it is more like a case-by-case basis. i have two 04 female siblings that have always been together. there are NO ill effects deminstrated by them. they have never missed a meal, and are in optimum health. they are fed in a seperate container one at a time. as long as there are amply hides on both sides of cage for both then there shouldnt be a problem. in fact, i have tried to seperate them. when i did that they were actually depressed (yes i beleive you can read their emotions with time). i dont know that i would introduce "new" snakes to each other. this is just my experience. i dont claim to be an expert. hope this helps....

Deal

Very well put - siblings or at least two hatchlings especially females that are raised together PROPERLY should have no problems. However with mixed sexes or both males there can be issues.
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Tosha

"One of these days i am going to wake up..look around...and realize my place looks more like "Ace Venturas"s than my own." Coldthumb

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul "JP"
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.1 lizard rescued from vicious feline

I have a M/F pair that have shared the same tank for the past 12 years at least. I think as long as the temps and humidity are kept properly, there are enough hides (hot and cold sides) for both snakes, and fed seperately there shouldn't be a problem. Individual snakes will react to a situation differently. Common sense says if there seems to be a problem, i.e. one or the other becoming stressed or any of the other things that may go wrong, then seperate them. Point being, be aware of what's happening with them and correct where necessary. Hope this helps.

Quig

Absolutely - I have a freind that also has house a M/F pair for several years without incident - however (here is my flip side story) a couple of months ago I received a pair of snakes brother/sister that had been housed together - after they arrived I quarantined them together (they were both just over 400 grams) they fed great seemed to be doing quite well until about two weeks into quarantine when I found the male pesting the female - by pestering I'm talking all over her - By the time I prepared another tub to move him into I came back and found them hooked up! I separated them the male was later sold but now I'm having problems getting the female to eat. This doesn't seem too bad - she'll probably start eating again soon enough - but aside from the stress there is always the possiblity of a female not being big enough to breed and becoming egg bound. Always figure it's best to err on the side of caution.
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Tosha

"One of these days i am going to wake up..look around...and realize my place looks more like "Ace Venturas"s than my own." Coldthumb

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul "JP"
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.1 lizard rescued from vicious feline

Yeah, guys do have that testosterone thang to be watchful of And them both being that small would be cause for concern.

Quig

I post on ReptileForum also and they posted some pics of possible consequences of housing two snakes together...any comments?
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