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Cohabitation

TaraRose

New member
Alright, so I know a lot of you have some very strong feelings about this. Let me start off by saying that, in case you missed my other posts, I have just adopted two corn snakes. They are approx 2 years old and have been together their entire lives. I have been doing a lot of research regarding cohabitation, and have heard conflicting info. So I have mixed emotions about this.

I don't have the room or the money for another tank, so I am considering finding one of the snakes another home. This would be my only real option if I were to seperate them. I feel bad, though, bouncing them around. I want to minimize the stress on them, so if this is what I decide to do I'd like some opinions on what would be the best way to do it. I already have someone interested (the lady who does my nails has a 6 or 7 year old daughter who really wants a snake), so finding a home for them isnt really an issue. So what do you suggest? Since they just ate yesterday, how much time should I allow before moving them??

Also, are they going to miss eachother? What if I seperate them and they get depressed and won't eat?? I am really stressing out about this decision...
 
Well, you shouldn't cohabitate. Just accept that and embrace it. Now if you cannot house two of the separately then you should find a new home for one of them. They will not miss each other and will be better off by themselves.
 
Snakes lack the deep, cognitive reeasoning skills that allow for emotions lke depression and "missing" each other. That won't be an issue.

I really don't think they should be in the same enclosure. It is not healthy for the snakes. I know that they have lived their whole lives together, but quite siumply snakes are insticively solitary in nature, and should only be housed together when mating.

If you have someone interested who is willing and able to provide one of the snakes with a good, proper home, I would recommend letting them have one. Both of the snakes will be safer and more secure living in sperate enclosures, and you can feel better knowing that you did the right thing.

This is merely my opinion, and you should take it as such. Do with it what you will.
 
If you are going to rehome one, then the other may go into a decline, but one or the other may go into a decline just by virtue of the stress they've been under. It's hard to ascribe a stress-induced hunger strike to feelings of loss in an animal that's solitary. (I've definitely seen it in guinea pigs--but they're herd animals.)

Anyway, do a search on "non-feeders" or "not eating" to get a sense of what will work to coax them back into eating. But remember, snakes can go a fairly long time without food before they decide to get back on the bandwagon.

And you might tell the new owner that their snake may go through something similar.
In terms of when to move, I can't offer any advice, but I do know that we picked up our snake two days after he had eaten.

Thanks for taking these guys on. You'll do great.

SaulsMom
 
i know cohabitation isnt the best choice for snakes, and almost everyone will tell you not to do it. but we have to take into consideration that the chance of success isnt 0%, and probably far from it. two years with no real problems sounds good to me, as long as you know how to care for them and take special precautions due to the fact that they are, in fact, in the same enclosure. just my opinion and it will prolly get flamed
 
2 vivs don't really take up all that much more space than 1. Just "stack" them. I use a wire shelving unit and have 4 20L tanks in one 3 ft wide shelving unit.
 
Also, if they are 2 years old and male-female, then unplanned breeding hasn't been an issue yet.

It will be an issue in the next several months, and if the female is too small she could become egg-bound and die.
 
I wouldn't suggest it but they have lived together for two years. I think cohabitation has to deal with the individual snake themselves because these two haven't had issues and other ones might. Of course it isn't recommended but as long as they are feeding fine and not showing any signs of aggression towards each other I would say hold onto them if you wish. Also about giving them to a kid, I wouldnt suggest that. Considering the time and effort it takes to make sure they are handled safely, fed properly and maintained I dont think a 7 year old has the patience to take it slowly.
 
TaraRose said:
I don't have the room or the money for another tank, so I am considering finding one of the snakes another home.

Correct me if I'm wrong but ......it's not all that much extra money or room to have another cage for a snake! You can stack them on top of each other. and how much is another UTH, thermometers, aspen, used tank, water bowel.
I would try to keep both of them.
Good Luck :)
 
Rocky Raccoon said:
It could be another 100 easily, thats kinda expensive dude.

That cost will be peanuts if Tara has a male & female and end up with hatchlings that won't eat or a female that is egg-bound that needs to go to a vet's or ends up dead because they can't afford to take it to the vet. Even if the babies are healthy, she's going to need a set-up for the eggs to hatch them out and another cage for the babies that she's obviously not ready to support.

Pets are a luxury and aren't cheap. Do right by them. Either put them in separate cages or find a home for one.
 
Obviously, there are a ton of different opinions on the subject.

My opinion is that your main concern right now needs to be the health and safety of those 2 snakes. You stated before that they are male and female, and that they are 2 years old. That means that if they are not sexually mature at the moment, they will be soon enough. There is a high risk of illness and death to the female and any hatchlings in the conditions that are present currently.

Since these snakes have been together their whole lives, there is obviously little to no issues regarding aggression or cohabitation, at the moment. However, given the circumstances surrounding the inevitable breeding attempts of a male and female in the same enclosure, I think that is where your concern should be placed. And considering that NOTHING good can come from these two snakes breeding in this situation, it is my opinion that you should do whatever you can to prevent that situation from happening.

If you haven't the room or the financial means to house the snakes seperately, you certainly haven't the room or the financial means to house the snakes and any resultant hatchlings and/or accompanying vet bills from an unexpected mating.

Obviously, everyone here has an opinion. It is up to you to decide what is most appropriate for the snakes as regards their health and well being. Even if you really, really, REALLY want to keep both snakes, that decision should be made with ONLY the best interests of the snakes in mind.

just my $.02...
 
TaraRose said:
Also, are they going to miss eachother? What if I seperate them and they get depressed and won't eat?? I am really stressing out about this decision...

They are not going to miss each other. They will not get depressed if you separate them. Snakes don't experience the complex emotions like missing and depression.

Quite the contrary, they will probably be relieved to have their own spaces. Snakes are solitary creatures and neither want nor need company.

Since you have determined that they are male and female, let me assure you, they will breed, and most likely too young. If that happens, you will either have unwanted babies which you are unprepared for, or you could have an eggbound female who will need to be taken to the vet and will most likely die anyway.

I know you really care about the snakes. Show it by doing what is best for them. That means separate them. If you are unwilling to fork over the cash for a new enclosure (which will undoubtedly cost much less than a wad of vet bills), find someone who is.

Meanwhile, read this: Cohabitation. I think it says it all.
 
Also, are they going to miss eachother? What if I seperate them and they get depressed and won't eat?? I am really stressing out about this decision...

Not like they are going to slash up anytime soon... :crazy02: I would not cohabitat them.. To much stress involved for them two..
:cool: :cool:

Regards.. Tim of T and J
 
Let me say that I appreciate all of your opinions, and obviously there is good reason to seperate them. I wish you could all see my apartment..I hardly have room for the one tank, let alone getting another one. So my only option really would be to find another home for one of them. If I decide to do this, would it be better to just do it and get it over with? Or should I wait and let them settle in before moving one of them again?? And then there is finding a home..how they heck do you find a home for a snake?? And how do I know they are going to be well taken care of when I barely know how to do it myself??

PS..I would like to clear up that I was only told that they are male and female, and that was just a guess. I have no idea how to sex them...
 
TaraRose said:
So my only option really would be to find another home for one of them.

I think that's the best idea.

TaraRose said:
If I decide to do this, would it be better to just do it and get it over with? Or should I wait and let them settle in before moving one of them again??

I've moved horses all around the country. Convential wisdom in that arena is just get it done efficiently. Settle in here, then move, then settle again; that could go on forever. Think of it as one big move with a layover.

TaraRose said:
And then there is finding a home..how they heck do you find a home for a snake?? And how do I know they are going to be well taken care of when I barely know how to do it myself??

I thought you had found a home with someone (quite young) who lived nearby. That option seems attractive because you can check up on the snake and educate the kid at the same time. I thought you said in the other thread that you're in school to become a vet tech. There's no bulletin board near any of your classes? No teacher you can talk to? Find a local vet and ask them if they would put up a notice asking for help in adopting out a snake.

Thank about the other animals you have. How did you end up with them? How did you find this group? Same thing.

I think you're overthinking this part of the problem.

Separate them, move one on to another home, and enjoy the one you keep. Be decisive and you'll be fine.
:)

SaulsMom
 
TaraRose said:
PS..I would like to clear up that I was only told that they are male and female, and that was just a guess. I have no idea how to sex them...
whether it is boy/girl, boy/boy or girl/girl....it would be in your best interest to seperate them. there are some well respected breeders that house them together at times and have had no problems. usually it is while the snakes are hatchlings and then again, they have been doing it awhile and it is their choice.
i would like to mention though, why could you not just buy an inexpensive plastic tub/tote to house one of them in until you scrape up enough money?
:shrugs: now granted you won't be able to see one of them all the time like one in a fish tank/viv but that way you could keep them both and possibly in the future when you are ready, you will have a pair to breed together. just a though, good luck.
 
Thanks for the advice ;) I am actually graduated from school now..I got these snakes from my teacher, and she did have them advertised there with no luck. The person that is currently interested is wanting the snake for her 7 year old, and I thought a few people mentioned that may not be a good idea??

Speaking of this group, I am in Spokane, Washington. If there is anyone in the area who might be interested or know someone who is here is my email: [email protected]
 
I think you trying to do the right thing by thinking of your snakes health.
But it saddens me that you don't have the room for both, I bet if I saw your apt I could figure a way to make you a secure shelf to hold a tank but....
To find a new home???.....Find as local Herb society or just post here. The word will get around.
Good luck with your effort
 
If you can't find a place for the other snake, let me know. We can figure out a way to get it shipped to me. I'll pay the shipping costs for an over-night FedEx delivery and any shipping supplies you might need to get the job done, such as a sturdy box and heat pads, etc. I'm sure some of the breeders on board here will help us figure out a way to ship it safely from Washington to California.

I have never shipped nor recieved a live animal before, but I know it can be done. I'm sure that between the folks at FedEx and the breeders here that ship regularly, we could get it done.

Obviously, it would be better if you found someone near you that wanted it. But as a last resort, I will pay all shipping costs and take it.

Let me know...
 
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