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Seperating snakes that seem happy together?

M

Mumkins

New member
So, I've read that it may not be the best idea to keep snakes together. We brought two home, I'm assuming born at the same time and put them in a 35 gallon together. They've been together for 2 months now. They seem happy. Sometimes alone, sometimes curled together. They eat well. They are about 18" now. We feed them out of the tank and seperatly. I read that they can stress easy. I also read it's not the best to keep them together, but sperating can stress.

So, WWYD? Do I leave them or seperate them?
 
Likewise, I'd separate them. Pea-brained reptiles don't know for "happy".

One's "curled together" is another's "competing for the proper temperature".

regards,
jazz
 
Snakes don't cuddle, they compete for the same area each wants to be in. The snake won't miss its friend, though it may be slightly stressed at first by just changing accomodations. Snakes don't have the capacity to make friends or miss each other or fall in love or anything.

Nanci
 
I would also serparate them.

Also, with the snakes in the same viv, if one of them regurgitates (which can be very serious, especially for a young snake) you will not be able to determine which snake did it.
 
Most likely they aren't "happy" together because, contrary to what most of us probably like to believe, snakes are incapable of felling "happiness" in the same way we do. They are individualized animals that live solitary lives only meeting to mate, and then going their separate ways again. Most likely, we should keep them in this same fashion. The "togetherness" you're seeing them displaying is like Jazz said, they are competing for the proper temperature. All keeping together is going to do is stress them out, and create many problems most people don't stress enough BESIDES cannibalism. I know that some members have been willing to share their problems with this type of husbandry.

On top of these reasons, it makes it easier to track each individual's progress and tell when some snakes aren't responding in a healthy manner. It makes it easier to track defication, shedding, and several other key husbandry items that could be clear signs of sickness.

IMO I would separate them asap. Its easy, safe, and a more common practice in snake keeping. :)
 
I think it's pretty easy to fall into the trap of giving snakes emotions they don't have. It's human nature to look for social pattern's. heck, I do it for fun (thinking my snakes are interested in my phone conversations when they poke their heads out, or talking to the toaster)

FinFang lived with his sister for a year before I got him. While he is not afraid of people in anyway, other snakes make him go nuts. This includes launching himself off a two foot high enclosure onto a table (gave me a heart attack), body slamming his viv at the sight of my larger snake (and I mean, just bolting from one side to the other and frantically trying to get out). Nothing else has ever set him off. I find his extreme reaction weird.

I don't think snakes need, or even want eachother. I know people have done it in the past, but there are risks. I think the risk of not seeing stress in your animals is the greatest one, having your snakes live a miserable life sharing a room for 20 years. And since they do fine on their own, I'd say go the road that leads to 100% happy, healthy snakes.

35 gallons is a nice size for one snake, when they grow up (if you keep them together) you'd have to buy a larger viv anyway. Might as well just get another 35gal (or so) now and give them their own rooms.
: D

good luck!
 
I always keep then per 2. Exept in 1 case of a male who won't accept any other in his 'territory'. I think you should have some level of experience (I don't know where you are) to be able to do that safely. It does have some disadvantages as already mentioned above. It can be done however. Ofcource same sex. Male-female is not a good idea.
 
Mumkins said:
So, I've read that it may not be the best idea to keep snakes together. We brought two home, I'm assuming born at the same time and put them in a 35 gallon together. They've been together for 2 months now. They seem happy. Sometimes alone, sometimes curled together. They eat well. They are about 18" now. We feed them out of the tank and seperatly. I read that they can stress easy. I also read it's not the best to keep them together, but sperating can stress.

So, WWYD? Do I leave them or seperate them?
Click to expand...

Since i'm always against the grain on this, I'll post things you should find out about or be aware of...

1. Sex of the snakes (as far as I've heard (only from this board)) Snakes will make at early ages than they "ready" if they are in the same cage during mating season ( Mine have been together since they were babies and started mating 2-3 years ago) ......

2. Are they both clean? disease free? many people talk about making sure a snake is disease free before you stick it with another snake (it would seem its too late for that since they have been together for 2 months already

3. always feed them in separate feeding areas (Not in their cage) A trick for me, was taking them out of cage and putting them into a tub of water to encourage them to crap, then wiping them off and putting them into their feed cage .... then letting them sit their for awhile and then dropping in the food

4. Going back the to sexing part.... I would do research on whither on not males can live with other males without a problem and vice versa. I for one can tell you males can live with females, but be prepared for eggs a plenty if you try that and always make sure you keep your female well feed before and after she lays a clutch (meaning make sure she is eating the right way to keep her healthy)

5. MOST IMPORTANT.... USE COMMON SENSE
 
I would just politely like to add my vote here that it's never a good idea to keep them together. I base that on all the reasons already mentioned.
 
A friend of mine had 2 rat snakes housed together for six months before one of them ate the other.

Just because they are together doesn't mean their happy. If everything you read says not to do it then it's probably from experience.

Agreed?:shrugs:
 
MO said:
A friend of mine had 2 rat snakes housed together for six months before one of them ate the other.

Just because they are together doesn't mean their happy. If everything you read says not to do it then it's probably from experience.

Agreed?:shrugs:
Click to expand...
Well... not really. Sometimes people, like you, will relate experiences that didn't happen to them. That doesn't diminish the importance of these experiences. I cohabbed, never experienced cannibalism, but experienced a number of other problems that made me decide to give up the practice.
 
True, but if multiple peolpe tell me that it's a bad idea to house multiple snakes together then I'm not going to do it. My 2 baby snakes were housed together for 4 days and everyday my fellow reptile freak friends, and articles from books and websites. told me it was a bad idea so I got a second viv on that 4th night.

And your going to tell me that you wouldn't listen if you had heard been given all the precautions. Maybe I like my snakes more, but seeing that your a mod on this site I highly doubt it.

How can you disagree with me? I will agree full heartedly with you that I'm new with corns for that is the reason I am at this forum.

No disrespect intended.
 
MO said:
True, but if multiple peolpe tell me that it's a bad idea to house multiple snakes together then I'm not going to do it. My 2 baby snakes were housed together for 4 days and everyday my fellow reptile freak friends, and articles from books and websites. told me it was a bad idea so I got a second viv on that 4th night.

And your going to tell me that you wouldn't listen if you had heard been given all the precautions. Maybe I like my snakes more, but seeing that your a mod on this site I highly doubt it.

How can you disagree with me? I will agree full heartedly with you that I'm new with corns for that is the reason I am at this forum.

No disrespect intended.
Click to expand...
No, no, no. I agree with you in almost every respect! Sorry if I wasn't clear. The only thing I disagreed with was this statement:
If everything you read says not to do it then it's probably from experience.
Click to expand...
All I meant was that you'll read a lot of opinions on cohab here from people who have NEVER cohabb'd corns. Most of these people have read or heard genuine accounts of problems associated with cohabbing, but they've never actually experienced these problems first-hand. Like I said, this fact doesn't diminish their opinions. But some of us have done it, and have experienced problems, and we discourage the practice. All I'm really saying is that if you don't believe those who are relating second-hand experiences, then believe those of us who have real experience! I'm on YOUR side of this topic.
 
HaisseM said:
Since i'm always against the grain on this, I'll post things you should find out about or be aware of...

1. Sex of the snakes (as far as I've heard (only from this board)) Snakes will make at early ages than they "ready" if they are in the same cage during mating season ( Mine have been together since they were babies and started mating 2-3 years ago) ......

2. Are they both clean? disease free? many people talk about making sure a snake is disease free before you stick it with another snake (it would seem its too late for that since they have been together for 2 months already

3. always feed them in separate feeding areas (Not in their cage) A trick for me, was taking them out of cage and putting them into a tub of water to encourage them to crap, then wiping them off and putting them into their feed cage .... then letting them sit their for awhile and then dropping in the food

4. Going back the to sexing part.... I would do research on whither on not males can live with other males without a problem and vice versa. I for one can tell you males can live with females, but be prepared for eggs a plenty if you try that and always make sure you keep your female well feed before and after she lays a clutch (meaning make sure she is eating the right way to keep her healthy)

5. MOST IMPORTANT.... USE COMMON SENSE
Click to expand...

I agree with all your points except the water. Why do you want to put them in a tub of water so the crap extra quickly?

Oh to add something i forgot last time. Ofcource, the cage must also be big enough for 2 snakes to get out of each others way. I solved this with plenty of hides in the same temp gradient. I even added some extra 'floor' space with some planks.
I see people co-hab in rack systems that are to small for even 1 snake. With just some newspaper and a waterbowl.

Just to add a counterweight for this forums 1 idea fitts all policy ;) Just read everyone's points and then decide for yourself what you want. It can be done as long as you keep the points in mind several people have noted here.

Just be sure to have a backup cage in case something goes wrong ;)
 
Double het said:
I agree with all your points except the water. Why do you want to put them in a tub of water so the crap extra quickly?
Click to expand...

To be honest, I don't do that part any more, but when I first started it was part of my regiment. My thinking behind it was to like you said make them crap a little quicker, but you have to remember this was like a week after they had last eaten so it wasn't their first crap. It would be their second and wanted to make sure their system was cleared out, but it was probably not needed


Double het said:
Oh to add something i forgot last time. Ofcource, the cage must also be big enough for 2 snakes to get out of each others way. I solved this with plenty of hides in the same temp gradient. I even added some extra 'floor' space with some planks.
I see people co-hab in rack systems that are to small for even 1 snake. With just some newspaper and a waterbowl.

Just to add a counterweight for this forums 1 idea fitts all policy ;) Just read everyone's points and then decide for yourself what you want. It can be done as long as you keep the points in mind several people have noted here.

Just be sure to have a backup cage in case something goes wrong ;)
Click to expand...
 
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