Probably a stupid question?

[Alldone]

Can you house different species (same sex) together? Please excuse my ignorance if this seems like a dumber than dumb question, but I'm just learning

 

[Kristy_07]

Lots of controversy over this topic, MMum. Quick, go grab your flame-retardant blankey and hide!!

Kidding - lots of people house snakes together with success, and lots have tried and it has resulted in the death of either one or both snakes.

Many people will say why would you risk it for the sake of an extra enclosure? Others will point out that they have housed snakes, even of different species, together for long periods , feed them separately, and have no problems, and that the snakes even stress and refuse food when they're separated.

At the end of the day it's up to you if you want to take the risk.

Most people would agree at least that housing snakes of different sizes together wouldn't be a good idea. Good luck!

 

[shellfisch]

Personally, I wouldn't do it.
As Kristy has said, some people do it, and think there is nothing wrong with it. On the other hand, I have seen threads on here where very knowledgeable people have lost animals doing it.
To me, it is just not worth the worrying and the risk.

Michelle

xxMelissaxx has just linked the article I would have looked for if I wasn't at work.

 

[xxMelissaxx]

This question is asked quite a bit.

I found this article quite helpful: http://www.southernxreptiles.com/Article PDFs/q&a_species_together_lr.pdf

Personally, I wouldn't do it.

 

[Dipcdame]

Hi Martin's Mum, housing different species isn't really advised, I wouldn't do it myself.

 

[waruikazi]

It depends on the species in question. A great many you can and it is quite common practice.

 

[Alldone]

Lots of controversy over this topic, MMum. Quick, go grab your flame-retardant blankey and hide!!

Kidding - lots of people house snakes together with success, and lots have tried and it has resulted in the death of either one or both snakes.

Many people will say why would you risk it for the sake of an extra enclosure? Others will point out that they have housed snakes, even of different species, together for long periods , feed them separately, and have no problems, and that the snakes even stress and refuse food when they're separated.

At the end of the day it's up to you if you want to take the risk.

Most people would agree at least that housing snakes of different sizes together wouldn't be a good idea. Good luck!

Man I seem to start controversy wherever I go on here without even meaning to! hahaha
This was totally out of curiosity - I don't think it'd be something I'd attempt. I'm the person who if something bad is going to happen it happens to me, so I wouldn't chance it. I just thought they might like the company of another snake - I must be thinking like a mammal instead of putting my reptile cap on. :lol:

 

[Kristy_07]

Most people that keep them together seem to say that once the animals are sure of each other, spend most of their time curled up together, even if there are multiple hot and cold perches and hides to choose from. Which doesn't sound to me as though they DISLIKE each other's company? It can be hard to tell what a snake is feeling at times

 

[J-A-X]

Man I seem to start controversy wherever I go on here without even meaning to! hahaha
:lol:

No such thing as controversy here on APS, :shock:

just good ol' fashioned healthy debating...

I might consider housing a M & F of the same species together, but they would go in together from a hatchy,

other than that i wouldn't take the chance

 

[raaaa]

my mate had her jungle python housed with a costal and they were inseperable she was intolerable before hand but calmed down when with him when he died (completely unelated to her) she was clearly distressed till she put her darwin in with her. they feed in the same enclosure and all and she hasnt had an issue with either of them...

 

[xxMelissaxx]

my mate had her jungle python housed with a costal and they were inseperable she was intolerable before hand but calmed down when with him when he died (completely unelated to her) she was clearly distressed till she put her darwin in with her. they feed in the same enclosure and all and she hasnt had an issue with either of them...

I've heard a few stories like this actually.

I have no doubt that it can be done, and as waruikazi said, some species are generally okay together.

I think there is always an element of risk involved in housing two such animals together, exactly how remote that risk is is dependent on the individual animals, the enclosure, species etc.

I guess it just boils down to whether it is a risk you're willing to take, or not.

 

[jiemoulin]

We house two diamonds m & f with a coastal n they are best of friends we just remove the one male diamond in mating season or the coastal if we r breedimg the diamonds( learnt that the hard way as we were told th male was female til we found him bonking BOTH my girls n ended up wit two clutches wit no intentions of breedin, tho they were very sucessful witonly one dud egg n amazing hatchies) i also saw at the syd expodiamons n coastals together n the owner said they r fine together. The main thing with coinhabitance is to qurantine both snakes for slightly more than the average period to insure no outbreaks, i found that once split up they paced n nose rubbed non stop until reunited again. But they are perfectly fine n live curling up in a ball n sharing body heat its great( just make aure there is ample room for all of them heat n hides, we turned a cupbord and old mahogany cabinets into enclosures n that is ample for all 3 which r verybig adults now.

Its a personal preference, just for ur own comfort we hav housed them for over six years without one hiccup other than him being a hornbag lol

 

[M-Van86]

I probably wouldn't. Given there are species that have a reputation as being unable to co-habitat with members of their own species.

But then from what I've heard a key factor with co-habitating reps tends to be the relative size of the animals, if one is much bigger then the other then well disaster can ensue relatively easily, but if they're around the same size then it's not as much of an issue.

And of course the other thing is the personalities of the individuals, they're not all exactly alike.

 

[Snakeluvver2]

I think its more case of size of the snakes and the size of the enclosure.