Multiple Snakes per enclosure-comment

[Sweetseraph]

You say young adult corns, can I ask how old they were? Cannibalism among hatchlings is well-known, but in older snakes hardly ever heard of. (except maybe when not seperated for feeding and when two snakes start at different ends of one prey-item).
Or if it does happen, people maybe don't tell?
It might be good to have a first hand account of adult corn cannibalism if that was the case.

You don't need to go too far back to find a case of this. A long time breeder on this forum lost 2 (or was it 3) of his snakes this year because he left them overnight for breeding. Unfortunately I don't remember the name, but I'm sure someone else will.

 

[starsevol]

You don't need to go too far back to find a case of this. A long time breeder on this forum lost 2 (or was it 3) of his snakes this year because he left them overnight for breeding. Unfortunately I don't remember the name, but I'm sure someone else will.

I am pretty sure it was Dragonboy. He left an adult pair together for breeding, just the same as we all do. And one killed the other.

 

[Sweetseraph]

So yes, it does benefit me more than the snakes in haveing them in the same habitat. however...though there ARE more benefits for the owner, I still cant say that I disagree with keeping more then one per cage. I honestly, sincearly, would not of put more then 1 snake per cage, if i sincearly, thought it would be too risky. and no one on here is saying that it has not been done sucsessfuly before. It can be done and has been proven.

You're young, this is your first snake and you love them and want more, for that we can't fault you. But you are not listening if you don't think there are risks. There are NO benefits to the snake and many risks. Anyone who does think it can be done will tell you it should NOT be done by someone who doesn't know what they're doing and should only be attempted by someone who has many years experience with snakes. Just because someone can keep several snakes in one enclosure alive for a period of time doesn't mean it it successful and doesn't prove it can be done. Corn snakes live for 20 years, give or take. Can anyone say they have kept several corns in one enclosure for 20 years? If you keep a goldfish alive in a bowl for 6 months, a year, even 6 years with no problems, was that a success if they should have lived 20 years?

The reptile specialty store I go to said that it would be okay to house them together, and they do it all the time. ANNNND they did say " If i was just out there to try to make money off of you and rip you off, i would tell you that you cant have more then 1 cornsnake in a cage together" The store I go to is not there to take your money, they sell reptiles because they enjoy it and want others to enjoy it as well. yes, they make a profit off you, like any other buisnes, but there an honest buisness.

As I just stated, this is your first snake and you are very inexperienced. With all due respect, you wouldn't know if this is a good reptile store or not. If they know you aren't allowed more cages, they can still make a sale by saying you can house them all in one.

http://www.stingersexotics.com/

What's this? They sell heat rocks. So much for loving reptiles.

 

[bsmith359]

Actually I have 3 snakes............but okay, judge me based on my age.

 

[WingedSweetheart]

Actually I have 3 snakes............but okay, judge me based on my age.

You aren't being judged by your age. You are being judged based on your inexperience.

I am 24 and got my first snake last year. I now have 4 snakes. Number of snakes does not equal experience. Number of years keeping snakes equals experience.

 

[KillerCami]

You aren't being judged by your age. You are being judged based on your inexperience.

I am 24 and got my first snake last year. I now have 4 snakes. Number of snakes does not equal experience. Number of years keeping snakes equals experience.

I agree. I have recently received many beautiful snakes. I did not take any chances with any of them. They all have their own roomy tubs with nice hides,aspen,water containers, and warm spots. I only got as many as I did after I got my dads approval though. I know many people who sneak corns into their parents house( many being friends of mine). Usually the scenarios do not end too well once the parents find out.( Because they usually do). I'm very young. I'm currently working for a local breeder and with his help and also people on this site I have made a safe and comfortable home for my babies. Don't take on more than you can handle. I'd rather wait to have more snakes than risk their safety. That is the honest risk you take when you co-hab. And even if the risk is small I personally wouldn't want to take it. :/
Just my opinion though. Read some of the other cohab threads and read their stories.

 

[Sweetseraph]

Actually I have 3 snakes............but okay, judge me based on my age.

No, I judged you based on what you said and made an allowance based on your age. But let's get back to the discussion at hand.

Would you consider the goldfish situation above a success?

 

[TripleT]

haha, people post pics of snakes co-habbing in the wild all the time in the Natural History/Field Observation forum so they willingly do it in the wild obviously.
Not saying it's a good idea for your pets though...

 

[Shiari]

haha, people post pics of snakes co-habbing in the wild all the time in the Natural History/Field Observation forum so they willingly do it in the wild obviously.
Not saying it's a good idea for your pets though...

That's temporary and they have how many hundreds and thousands of square miles to roam through.... ?


As to the "if I was out to make a sale" comment from the store... Did you tell them you can't have more than the one tank? Because if so, they WERE out to make a sale. Couldn't get you to buy a whole set up, but buying something is better than buying nothing to them. And even if you didn't mention that... well, if one of your snakes dies, you might go back there to get another snake... and then another... and another and keep getting more snakes as they don't do well in your cohab.

Remember, if you shove 5 in there you're going to be giving 5 eventual ADULT corns ONLY 10 gallons per snake. As I said, you probably want at *least* a 200 gallon if you are dead set on cohabbing.

Have you talked about a rack set up? It takes up more vertical space, but less horizontal and if you kept the rack in your room it might be out of sight, out of mind for the others in your household.

 

[starsevol]

That's temporary and they have how many hundreds and thousands of square miles to roam through.... ?


As to the "if I was out to make a sale" comment from the store... Did you tell them you can't have more than the one tank? Because if so, they WERE out to make a sale. Couldn't get you to buy a whole set up, but buying something is better than buying nothing to them. And even if you didn't mention that... well, if one of your snakes dies, you might go back there to get another snake... and then another... and another and keep getting more snakes as they don't do well in your cohab.

Remember, if you shove 5 in there you're going to be giving 5 eventual ADULT corns ONLY 10 gallons per snake. As I said, you probably want at *least* a 200 gallon if you are dead set on cohabbing.

Have you talked about a rack set up? It takes up more vertical space, but less horizontal and if you kept the rack in your room it might be out of sight, out of mind for the others in your household.

From what I understand, his parents don't want him having more than one snake and this is how he gets around it.

 

[bsmith359]

well... my parents might let me set up a rack if i sell my 6 foot, 150 gallon reef tank..... I just dont have time to take care of it, you become a slave to it. thtas why I like snakes better, you can leave them and let them be for an extended period of time. it takes 2 seconds to give them new water...