Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i got a western fox and an albino corn from a friend as a gift. they included a twenty gallon tank three hides substrate and water bowl. they kept the snakes together and said they were fine. yesterday i was feeding them fuzzies and pinkies. they are about 20 inches long or longer. niether of them ever bit me before and yesterday the fox did. the only thing i can think is that he smell the pinkie and bit me by mistake. also the corn wouldnt eat (it is about time for him to shed) and the fox took his food and i couldnt get it in time. then the fox actually bit the corn in the side. so then i put the corn in a different tank (ten gallon was all i hade) and i am a little worried. does any body know why this could of happened.

Yes, we know why. Snakes get into a kind of feeding mode, where they attack whatever smells like food. So, that's the reason the snake bit you, and that's the reason it bit the other snake. These are some of the same reasons why most people will tell you not to house them together. Some people will claim the corn isn't eating from the stress of being housed with the other snake. I don't know whether any of these things is actually true. I just happen to be of the opinion that it's just a good idea to keep snakes separate. That being said, lots of people will give you a laundry list of other reasons not to keep them together. I'm not going to do that. I'll just say that at the very least you should feed them in separate enclosures, and that things will be easier for you in the long run if you separate them permanently. Good luck.

Always separate them to feed. You've already seen the possible problem. Worst case is that one will kill the other. Snakes are creatures of instinct and if one decides that the other is threatening to steal "his" dinner, you could have a fatality.

If the Corn continues to refuse feeds, house them separately as well.

you were advised by several people to separate them. Now you see at least one reason why. There ARE several other reasons to separate them, but one of the most important ones is that they CAN kill each other. You will want to keep an eye on the bite wound of the corn and take him to the vet if it gets infected.
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sue

COHABITATION
MY OPINION

I feel it is best to keep snakes separate.
I know a lot of people keep multiple snakes together without problems and it can obviously be done without being detrimental to the snakes. I just feel the possible drawbacks need to be expressed.
When a person gets the experience and knowledge of their individual snakes and wants to try cohabitation, that is up to them. They just need to be careful and able to read the subtle signs of their snakes.
There can be definite drawbacks.
If one snake becomes sick there is a very good likelihood the other/others will get sick as well.
It may also take a while (usually too long) to determine which one is the sick one.
If one regurgitates its food you won't know which one unless you happen to get lucky and see it.
If one has a problem stool you won't know which one. Once again one may have a problem but by the time you figure out which one the other/others could end up with the same problem.
Although this is only a slight possibility, it is still a possibility and has been know to happen, one snake could eat the other. The smell of a prey item could trigger one snake to eat the other. Or simple hunger accompanied by a ready food source.
Although uncommon, it has happened and is a possibility.
Another possibility is unwanted pregnancy. A female might get pregnant and you may not have the knowledge, desire or ability to incubate the eggs or raise the hatchlings. With hatchlings comes the responsibility to raise them or find them homes.
A lot of people rationalize by saying, "I will just put two males or two females together". That can work but mistakes can easily be made, especially with hatchlings. You could easily end up with a male and female.
There is also a chance of a female breeding too young or too small and becoming eggbound. Although uncommon, it IS a possibility and can happen.
With multiple snakes in an enclosure you stand the chance of loosing all of them if there happens to be an avenue of escape. Instead of losing one you could loose two or more depending on how many you decide to place together.
One or both of the snakes could be stressed by the presence of the other. Stress can cause a drop in appetite and lead to other health problems as well.
People will put multiple snakes in an enclosure and ask why one isn't eating.
When they are told it is probably due to stress caused by the other snake, the response is almost always the same "they like each other, they are always under the same hide together". Well this probably just means "that" hide or area of the tank has the optimum conditions they are looking for.
Snakes do not LIKE each other or ENJOY each other’s company.
There is no capacity for snakes to "like" or "enjoy".
I have kept multiple snakes together without problems but have made a choice to keep them separate. There is NO clear argument on why you SHOULD keep them together but there ARE clear arguments as to why you SHOULD NOT.
So, in my opinion, although people do it successfully I just don't think it is worth the risk.
If you decide to keep multiple snakes together, watch closely for any signs of appetite loss, regurgitation or any kind of "personality" change. These could all be signs of stress.
You would also want to feed them in separate containers and give them an hour or so before putting them back together.
My 2 cents
And I am seriously against putting different species such as fox snakes and corns together. Absolutely no reason to do this.
It obviously doesn't work now does it?
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes
Available

You need to keep a 4-6 foot kingsnake in there to referee.Or maybe even 2 of them.The more the better I always say...Paul

That way people could continually see why multiple snakes shouldn't be housed together!

Yes, it CAN be done, IF you do this, this, this, this, and that...but what about the new person who asks, "Can I keep my two snakes together?" Usually you just get someone saying, "Oh I've done it for years with no problems...go ahead!"

Where are all of you folks now? Those of you who have told this person (or a couple of dozen other new people) that it's FINE to keep juvenile snakes together...why don't you all post when there's a problem in doing so?!?!?!?

Sorry for the rant, folks...this just burns me!
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Darin Chappell
Hillbilly Herps
PO Box 254
Rogersville, MO 65742

The people who keep multiple snakes in the same tank never do reply to these messages.Im glad someone else noticed.It's just that time of the year for lost worms and snake fighting posts.
I really like the ratsnake forum,alot less disturbing..lol..Paul