Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I may be getting either one or two. They are around 8 months old, captive bred. These will be my first snakes, so a few simple questions, if you don't mind. Firstly, what is recomanded, keeping them together or seperate. From what I understand they will tolorate each other but do better alone. Are they solitary in the wild? Secondly, what is the difference between males and females, both physical and personality-wise. I have tried reaserching this, but apperently, there is a lot of controversy. I won't be breeding them, so if two, they will be same-sexed.
I plan on keeping them in a 54 gallon rubbermaid container. As for heating, I suppose an under tank heating pad would be most appropriate, but would the container be able to withstand the direct heat. I'm worried it would burn/melt. What do people commonly use for heating plastic haitats other than adjusting room temperature, as I cannot do that.
And as for feeding, (I posted a seperate message just before detailing my situation) could anyone give me some brief pointers regarding mainly the size of the rat, the age of the snake and the time before feedings.
Anything else I have failed to mention, pleasedo so for me. Thank you.

Heating pads or undertank heaters can be used to heat plastic containers. It is best to get a theromstate to regulate the heat from the heating pads (this will deffinitely help prevent the pads from overheating and melting the containers and possibly severely burning your snake, or setting your house on fire).

You can use a human heating pad that has several heat settings (ie high, medium, low). I would set on the low setting (medium at the highest, never use the high setting) this should give you a hot enough warm spot for the python. If you need a higher setting than low, I deffinitely recommend getting a thermostate or rheostate to regulate it.

HOuse yuor snakes separately, especially if you don't want to breed (normally pythons won't breed if htey are not properly cooled..well, they may copulate but both need the cooling period to stimulate proper egg and sperm production). IT is best to house separately as this prevents any stress on the snakes, makes it easier to monitor regular bowel movements, snakes from fighting, etc. Also, it is more tricker to feed snakes when they are housed together. You have to feed outside the cage and separately but even then, they may strike at eachother as they catch prey scent on their cage mate.

Size of rat to feed should be about the same size (or a bit smaller) than the thickest girth of your snake (girth of rat = or less than girth of snake). remember the fur of the rat will make it look thicker than it actually is, so matching girth to girth is probably best, this way you do know the rat will be a bit smaller due to fur.

As these snakes are not full grown, feed once every 5-7 days. After they are about 2-3 years old, cut back to once every 10-15 days. You can feed once every 10 days now, though it will take longer for them to reach adult size.