Growth Issue!!

I brought 2 snake's about 4 week ago and my qustion is, my caroliner has gained roughly 2-3 inch in length since i got her and considerably grown in girth too. BUT....my snowy has not grown at all in length or girth, they are both being fed every 5 days and to the instructions on the feed chart on this site as to the amount. Also this past week my snowy ( was the most chilled of both) has become a little snappy and nervous and she was a brilliant snake to handle..on the other hand my caroliner (which was the most most awkward and nervous snake) has become the most chilled out snake to handle.

Any idea's at all anybody or this just me worrying to much about my snake's lol, i appreciate your time for answering.

First question are they in the same tank or in different tanks?

They are in the same tank at the moment, i've been told about the dangers of this ( i didnt know as these are my first snakes and the pet shop said i could have them like that) this is being resolved this week i can assure you.

I know this is probably a little graphic but the snowy has just done a poop and instead of the normal looking black poop its nearly white, really pale and it does'nt look like poop it looks like intestines.....

I know that sounds strange but it's true, looks like white sausages all joined up.

Well my guess is that snowy is stressed out and until you house them separately the situation will not change.you need to allow them to fell safe secure and not threatened and when that happens your snakes will flourish..

Well, it's quite probable that all of these problems are caused by stress which was directly caused by putting two solitary animals in the same tank.

Next time, when you get an animal, research it before you buy it.

This might prevent you from committing more animal cruelty.

no need to be so harsh live and learn we are here to help to encourage no discourage.I would no encourage co habitation but I tell ya I have caught hundreds of Gardner snakes living in colonies so easy with the animal cruelty coment not called for..

That sounds like the beginnings of exactly what my two cohabbed corns did... only with *my* snow, it progressed into non-feeding for 6 weeks, and then on again, off again feeds for ages. She was the calmer of the two (she and Liam) as babies, but is now my most nervous and neurotic snake.

The size difference between them now is huge, too.

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showpost.php?p=970222&postcount=75

ok well here is what I would suggest, get a sterilite shoe box from walmart, a small ceramic water dish(cat food dish or plastic one will work too) also from walmaft. This is cheap and and a good alternative to buying another tank set up. Then you need to get some flexwat heat tape, check out www.thebeanfarm.com they have it again not very expensive, get a table top lamp dimmer, walmart or hardware store approx $10. By an infrared temp gun. By the time you get every thing you need you will not have spent much.

Line the bottom of the tub with paper towel so you can monitor for regurgitation or to monitor the poops. Make sure to drill air holes in the tub and that the tub you get has a secure locking lid(that's why I suggested sterelite). Set up the heat tape plug it into the lamp dimmer, plug lamp dimmer into the wall. slide the dimmer so that it is on about 1/4, wait about 1.5 hours temp check with gun. Remember only 1/3 of your container should be sitting on the heat tape.

You want the temp to be approx 85 on the warm side. Once you can get the temp stabilized place the snow in this set up. It is likely that it is feeling stress living with the other snake. I am not going to jump down your throat for cohabbing, I personally do not agree with it for all the risks it posses and because I lost two snakes as a result of it, so it is not a chance I will ever take again.

What you are seeing in the poop can be a few things, partially undigested food matter, parasites or normal "hatchling" type poop. If the snow is very small just around hatchling size they often have a watery stringy type poop, not very well formed, but seeing as how you have already seen signs of stress I would move it out.

Then once you have it on it's own watch it's behaviour, it's feeding and pooping if things improve then likely it was stressed. Cohabbing can stress snakes enough to reduce their immune system and make it hard for them to digest or fight of illness, as well it can give natural bacteria(the bad ones they carry) or parasites a chance to flourish and overload the gut.

Hope this helps.

Stars get a grip...maybe Tango sprite's research was at the pet store like mine was a first, talking with the "reptile expert" they had there...so why not think before you speak!!

There is no need for your cruel ignorance...Tango came on here for help...Tango was honest and said they were cohabbed before they learned it was not the best thing...and is now asking for help....instead of being rude how about helping out...teaching how to fix the situation on a tight budget.....becuase usually tight budgets are what stop those who wish to change the situation from doing it becuase they do not know they can do it cheaply.

In they future maybe try some consideration not condemnation!!

Thank you all so much for your help, i will give all your tips a go and see what develops. I will keep you all posted ....

OH and stars i did do the research, i researched everything that i could think of but the pet store i purchased them from had about 5 tanks all having 4+ adults together in each tank...if they looked ok housed together in the store then why would it have raised my suspicion on housing. I did'nt research it because they said it was fine and like i said they had tanks with adults in and they was fine..and if i was cruel to animal's why the hell would i be on this site asking for help so they don't come to harm!!

I sure hope you had better manered people helping when YOU was a beginner and still learning!!


Thanks so much everyone else for the great advice.

Don't waste your breath, Tango. Glad to know that you're well informed now. Funny...I took my sons to the local reptile show today. They had ten ball pythons in a tank and they were all squirming against each other. My seven year old gave that vendor a piece of his mind! LOL! It was funny coming from a 7 year old who didn't realize who he was talking to, but yeah, you don't need it when you're trying to get information. Glad your questions were answered, and good luck with your babies!

LOL! i can imagine the look on the vendor's face yes well informed thanks to the HELPFULL people on this site..first thing tomorrow im seperating them and going to give the pet store a peace of my mind after selling me an animal under false information, if i had known what i know now i would not have purchased 2...they (in theory) are liable for neglegence knowing these 2 snake's were going to be housed together because i specifically asked if it would be ok.

But unfortunately they will not care or do anything about it...at least not likely to ...most pet stores that practice and preach that kind of husbandry are either ignorant of their mistakes or do not care. It is a select few that will listen when informed of their errors and then do anything about it. Although I wish you luck and hope you can change something for the better!

As a fish breeder, it's a continuous fight against the fish stores that sell goldfish for bowls, bettas in cups, bala sharks for ten gallons, etc...the list goes on and on. You've learned a hard lesson...don't always trust the information from the pet stores. Glad you found us and were able to receive the proper information before any harm could come to your animals. You're NOT cruel to your animals, as evidenced by your willingness to listen to advice from members. Glad to have you with us!

I wonder then if one had eaten the other because of the information i was given they would have given me a refund lol i would not go to a pet store for another snake, i think i will go to a respectable breeder who knows what they are on about.. They will be happy tomorrow as i will buy another viv and all the trimmings.

And again, i can't thank you all enough its quiet possible you have all saved the life of a gorgeous snake

No actually you have quite possibly saved they live of your snake all we did was give your our opinions and knowledge from experience...it is you who made the decision to listen, learn and act upon it. Good on ya!

Asbit said:

ok well here is what I would suggest, <great advice snipped> Hope this helps.

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What a great summary of how to solve the problem. I tried to rep you but it won't let me so I just had to jump in here & say this.

Stars said:

This might prevent you from committing more animal cruelty.

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Well THAT is hyperbole if I ever heard it. Jesus. Dude already said he was taking care of it, and stressing an animal out a bit hardly qualifies as cruelty.

Stars just lacks tact,lol Maybe its age...or maybe not but (s)he could work on wording advice in a way that your average human would want to be receptive too

That kind of response would be reasonable if it was the same person, doing the same thing, on purpose knowing what the results would be.
Tango, if every pet owner was like you, (finding help, listening to the advice yadda yadda) there would be a lot more happy animals in the world. cheers!
Asbit, that advice was so down to earth, and perfect. Much better than a blanket condemnation! Rep you!