olive fight

[jjryan]

went in to check my reptile this morning and found my two olive python rapped around each other I don't know if the male or female started the fight but the male was losing I had to get my wife to come hold the females head because after 10 min of fighting to get her off him I was getting nowhere they both ended up with bite marks on their head and neck. I have split them up and they look to be fine now. after 4+ years of living together and no problems I don't know what happened. has anyone had a problem like this.

 

[lexy1]

Bummer i think youll find you have two males....

 

[nonamesleft]

Makes you wonder what happens when you aren’t around or if you hadn’t of walked in. It actually reminds me of a story I read on here a few years ago...


http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/general-reptile-discussion-42/2x-10-olives-vs-98118/

 

[Senator358]

Just another reason not to keep snakes together...

 

[turtle]

One of them must of startled the other and may of thought it was prey.

 

[Ramsayi]

Apparently this doesn't happen if you are an experienced keeper.Perhaps you could try it again in a few more years?

 

[junglepython2]

My adult olive pair (male and female) will try and kill each other if introduced outside breeding season.

 

[turtle]

My adult olive pair (male and female) will try and kill each other if introduced outside breeding season.

Thats really interesting. Is this normal for Olive behaviour? Perhaps some other experienced Olive breeders could comment.

Dan

 

[kittycat17]

My Coastals get grumpy when there seperated (male and female pair).... Cute but annoying at cleaning time


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jjryan]

Apparently this doesn't happen if you are an experienced keeper.Perhaps you could try it again in a few more years?

as i stated i have had this pair together for years no prombles the only time they are not together is feeding time
so when you say .Perhaps you could try it again in a few more years? what do you mean.



what do you mean

 

[Snowman]

Apparently this doesn't happen if you are an experienced keeper.Perhaps you could try it again in a few more years?

as i stated i have had this pair together for years no prombles the only time they are not together is feeding time
so when you say .Perhaps you could try it again in a few more years? what do you mean.



what do you mean

I think you missed the fact that he wrote that in sarcastica font

 

[Darlyn]

Familiarity breeds contempt?

 

[longqi]

Any snake that often is found in water will be an opportunistic feeder
I have never co habited olives for that reason

 

[2.3casper]

But Do olives make good pets, or do they bite a lot

 

[-Peter]

But Do olives make good pets, or do they bite a lot

yes.

 

[Pythoninfinite]

All the suggested reasons are just supposition. So many keepers say "Oh, but they've been together for years and there's never been a problem..." when something like this happens, for no reason that's apparent to us. If you make cohabiting your larger snakes a habit, it's only a matter of time...

Jamie

 

[GBWhite]

Apart from a few species that are considered "specialist feeders" all other snakes are opportunistic feeders whether they live around water or not.

Despite whether people agree or not keepers have a responsibility for the welfare of their charges and placing any animal in danger of being killed or injured is irresponsible. This includes housing snakes together.

 

[hugsta]

You will probably see more of this as more and more keepers start housing animals together. It is why we keep and house our animals separately. If you can't afford a second enclosure for your animal, don't buy one until you can.

 

[Woma_Wild]

I would never house 2 snakes together however, when the public see reptile parks/ animal parks housing pythons together, owners will naturally think that if they can do it, so can I.
there is one near my place that have several pythons plus lizards in the one enclosure .

 

[bigguy]

Snakes, particulary pythons are solitary animals and only ever come together at breeding season. They do not require company or get lonely as so many inexperienced keepers believe. Having 2 snakes in one enclosure, no matter what the species is putting them at risk.

This topic has been bought up so many times. And every time we warn people not to do it, many come forwarded stating they have had theirs together for years and never have a problem. Take this latest incident. A pair of Olives living together for 4 years without a problem and suddenly a fight to the death. You were lucky you found them in time or you could have lost both.

I have been in this game longer than most on this site, and I can truthfully tell you over the last 50 years I have heard of easily 1000 disasters occurring where 1, or even both snakes were killed living together. For people who claim to love reptiles I can not fathom why they would put their animals at risk by housing together. You may get away with it but many don't.