Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know the conventional answer to this is "no" and that very well might be the only logical answer. However, with this particular pairing, I think there are some reasons that it might work:

Both are native to the same area. Here in WV we can find corns and black rats living nearby, so I assume temperature and humidity are the same.

They both require a similar size enclosure (I was told a 20 gallon, but I'd keep them in a 40 breeder just to be sure)

Don't know if this is true, but I heard that some rat snakes and corns can be bred together. They both have "elaphe" in their name.

Cannibalism may be an issue, but I've NEVER experienced it with multiple corns in the same cage, so if it does happen, it would be on the side of the rat snake, and I dont know if they eat other snakes or not.

Disease may be an issue, but if all snakes are bought from breeders then it wouldnt be too much of a problem.

Territory may be an issue. Corn snakes don't seem to be territorial, but rat snakes might. Any ideas?

--Past experience with cohabitation (no breeding)--
I've had mixed success, with my failures in the early years.
Corns/corns in same tank: Success

Corns/rough greens: Success. Who knew that the pairing would work?

Adult Corn/juvenile spotted python: Failure. Stupid stupid stupid. I was younger then and didn't know how to look at the internet for help. The python tried to eat the adult corn snake, so I moved him. Both are alive and healthy, with the corn living with some other corns and the python in his own cage.

My experience is that the blanket "no" response isn't always true. If there are valid reasons why these two shouldnt be housed together, please let me know, but if the two species are similar enough to share, then let me know that, too. Thanks!

OK, you know the conventional answer. On top of that: The black rat will get bigger than the corn. Size alone suggests that they will each be best off in their own cage.

My advice: Do NOT mix them. That said: Their basic requirements are the same although the black rat may tolerate a slightly wider range of temps. They have bred and produced "mutt" ratsnakes which will be essentially worthless to the honest breeder/seller.

I have 2 corns that live together in a 55 gallon. All my other snakes (mostly ratsnakes) are in their own cage. I found some great 50 gallon sterilites for my big ratsnakes. Again, the adult size of most of these snakes (black rat especially) is such that space is an issue. If you don't have room for multiple cages, don't cram multiple snakes into your available space. Fewer animals in proper setup is what you should be shooting for. My opinion. Duffy

The below link is some good information to read. I thought I'd save Draybar from having to post it again. I wouldn't recommend putting two corns together, let alone a black rat & corn. Besides the risk factor, it seems twice the trouble/headache, then to just get a second enclosure. I wouldn't want to take each out and separate during feeding. I wouldn't want to try and figure out which one is the sick snake that puked a rodent up. I would't want to think I saved space, when in reality that triple sized cage I now have,wasted space. And I just wouldn't want to put my snakes under any more stress then I have to. Corns can, and have the potential to eat other corns. Also, I believe I read where John Cherry has said that he once had a customer lose a Ball Python to a corn. You could keep both toghether and may never have a problem. But why risk it?
Steve
Link

>>You've obviously made up your mind, why ask?
There are NO GOOD REASONS to put them together.
There are GOOD REASONS NOT TO put them together.
Your choice has already been made.
Good luck
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

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Thats rather rude. While I do believe that the dangers of housing corns together are negligible, it was mentioned that the size difference between the BRS and the corns warrants a new cage. I find that I agree with that. I can't have the rat snake thinking that the corns are food, after all.

Draybar wasn't being rude at all. Theres a topic below that said what you needed to know and that was for 2 corn snakes, so obviously the answer was no. And you answered your question SEVERAL times and still asked which is mind boggling to me... What won't make the black rat think the corn is food??? Similiar size? No probably not. I don't have any records of this and I shouldn't be saying anything but try it for yourself Gotta try for yourself right????

>>Thats rather rude. While I do believe that the dangers of housing corns together are negligible, it was mentioned that the size difference between the BRS and the corns warrants a new cage. I find that I agree with that. I can't have the rat snake thinking that the corns are food, after all.

Sorry if you felt my response was rude but fro every question or drawback you seemed to answer your own question.

Let me give you this answer...I know it is not rude or condesending.

Everyone makes their own decisions but I just thought I would offer my opinion and a few things to think about.

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 each individual snake and wants to try co-habitation, it 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 egg-bound. 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” changes. 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
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

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