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Last Login: 2/13/2010 9:41:25 AM
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Many people have different opinions on what size of tank is right for keeping two ball pythons. Some say 40 gallons, some say 30 and some say 20. Others say that ball pythons shouldnt be kept together at all. I know a person who keeps 5 ball pythons (2 males and 3 females) in a 200 gallon tank. What is you're opinion?
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| Since ball pythons can reach 4ft, then they should be in a cage that allows them to stretch out comfortably and move freely. A 4ft foot snake should be in a 4ft long or bigger cage. Since you plan on keeping two together, I would go for a 5ft or larger. Some will say thats overkill, but I'm sick of seeing snakes crammed into cages that are too small. Keeping an adult ball in a 2ft long 20 gallon is cruel. Consider separate enclosures. Snakes can be kept together successfully, but it really does not benefit the snake in any way. Here are some potential problems; 1) Snakes are not social and will view another snake as competition for food, hides and basking spots. There is a possibility that one or both could become stressed and not eat. 2) They would have to be separated at feeding time or you could run the risk of both snakes grabbing the same prey item and one possibly swallowing the other. This could happen if there is no supervision. It has happened. 3) Snakes that are not snake eaters have been known to canabalize each other when kept together. The odds are pretty slim that it will happen if they are both well fed, but there is a remote chance. 4) It's harder to monitor health. If one snake is sick or has internal parasites, then both will be affected. Before you put two snakes together have a fecal exam done for each one to eliminate the possibility of sharing parasites.
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Pretty much what rat snake said...all i have to add on is that I am avidly against keeping snakes together in one cage unless they are breeding. People seem to think it's ok for something like a ball python because they don't eat snakes naturally but they have been known (along with corns and other supposedly peaceful snakes) to eat their cage mates even if both are well fed. (i'm not going to post the gorey pictures again as i have done so in at least 3 other threads here)
Not only that but they will fight if they decide theres not enough room for the two of them. A store I have worked at in the past (that i left because i disagree with how they keep things) keep large numbers of ball pythons or RTB's in one cage that is not nearly big enough. At one point there was 27 ball pythons in one large cage...yes it was a large cage....but no where near large enough for that number of snakes. The other employees and myself where constantly breaking up fights and mending to wounds of injured snakes but couldn't do anything to separate them because thats how the manager wanted it....
Clearly this is entirely different than keeping only two together but it has greatly fueled my position on the subject.....
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| I have always been told do not house more then one in a cage except for breeding. I personally have 1 snake per cage do to the risks involved in putting more then one in a cage. Like other have said you cannot tell which one went to the bathroom if one would regurgitate its food you would not know who did it. One gets sick they all get sick and so on you get the picture I hope. If you are going to house more then one together bigger is better and make sure there are a lot of hides for them to chose from
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You could take the risk of putting them toghether, but I wouldn't do it (reasons why are above). But my Bio teacher has kept his ball pythons in the same 50 gal. tank for like 15 years and has never had problems with them. It all depends on what one snake has on the other.
Steve
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