Your Reptile and Amphibian Resource and Information Site

Back to Boa Constrictors Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area  

Boa Constrictors Forum

Kidd   Bciaddict   Tav13   SugarFox03   Kidd   AGoldReptiles   Fairy Frog Mother   Fairy Frog Mother   Silenceafable  
 Member  Message

 #2073655


Kidd
View Profile

 Housing two red tails

Can u house two smaller red tails in the same tank or encosure
09/19/09  08:18am

 #2073664


Bciaddict
View Profile



   Message To: Kidd   In reference to Message Id: 2073655


 Housing two red tails

It’s not a good idea for many reasons...

FairyFrogMother is good at explaining why. Hopefully she’ll chime in here.

Amie
09/19/09  09:35am

 #2073838


Tav13
View Profile



   Message To: Bciaddict   In reference to Message Id: 2073664


 Housing two red tails

The only sensible reason of housing ANY snakes together is strictly for breeding purposes and then they should be seperated after copulation is completed. Disease, feeding and other issues are a risk. Also snakes are solitary and don’t need companions.
But yeah, unless you are pairing up for breeding there are only negative aspects of housing more than 1 animal together. Take care.
09/19/09  05:38pm

 #2073950


SugarFox03
View Profile



   Message To: Kidd   In reference to Message Id: 2073655


 Housing two red tails

Depending on the length of time and the size of the snake, it may not be an issue if only for a short period of time. Example: if you purchased two sibling red tail hatchlings at a show and planned to house them together for say, 6 months until you moved them each into their own enclosure - I see nothing wrong with that. Some people may flame, whatever. They are the same age, same species and from the same place. Risk of disease is slim, in this case. I would recommend splitting them up for feeding, perhaps removing one from the enclosure and feeding in a rubbermaid container. Would I house two snakes like that forever? Absolutely not. I also wouldn’t house two snakes together of different ages/sizes and/or from different sources, at least until a 6 week quarantine is done on both. Please don’t get me wrong, I don’t recommend you do this. If you have the capability of housing them separately, than that’s absolutely the best thing for them. But if you just so happen to find yourself with two baby red tails and only one suitable enclosure - a short time together will more than likely be just fine.



09/19/09  10:59pm

 #2073990


Kidd
View Profile



   Message To: SugarFox03   In reference to Message Id: 2073950


 Housing two red tails

Thank you. You said what i need to hear I have bought 2 babies from a breeder and only have one place for them for the time.....working on other encosure
09/20/09  01:00am

 #2074069


AGoldReptiles
View Profile



   Message To: Kidd   In reference to Message Id: 2073990


 Housing two red tails

I’m gonna have to disagree! While you may get away with housing two snakes in the same enclosure for 6 years or maybe only 6 hrs. IF you have an incident you will learn the HARD way why its recommended to have one snake per enclosure. Disease is only one factor. They can and will eat one another, They can and will compete for the "best" spots in the enclosure causing stress to the other cage mate. Are you experienced enough to tell when one snake is stressing the other? You can set up baby boas in tubs (sterilite) for very cheap. There are a multitude of issues that can arise from housing 2 snakes in one enclosure and those very same issues are removed by housing them individually. In the end there your snakes to do what you want, just remember there may be consequences to your decisions.

Happy Herping
Anthony
09/20/09  10:49am

 #2074284


Fairy Frog Mother
View Profile



   Message To: AGoldReptiles   In reference to Message Id: 2074069


 Housing two red tails

Quote:

Example: if you purchased two sibling red tail hatchlings at a show and planned to house them together for say, 6 months until you moved them each into their own enclosure - I see nothing wrong with that.



Yeah. I was told the same thing by my breeder and others, and had heard arguments that you should never house together, and you know what... I caught my male going and trying to EAT MY FEMALE- his sibling from the same clutch...after feeding them in separate enclosures. Also, he totally was dominating, competed for the warmest spots, subtly bullying her out of the best warmth and hides. She became a picky eater. Once I separated em (pretty much the day he tried to eat her was the evening before I got a nice new enclosure) she had absolutely no issues eating and was a lot more calm.

So yeah...go ahead. Keep em in the same tank if that’s the answer you wanted, and the one you’re gonna listen to...mabey you will only need the one enclosure after all. Hopefully they will be fine...but do you really want to take that chance?
09/20/09  08:35pm

 #2074446


Fairy Frog Mother
View Profile



   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2074284


 Housing two red tails



Here is a picture of my guys when they were a year old. They look all kinds of cute and cuddly. Their humidity is good, you can tell by the shine on their newly shed skins, they are warm and alert and active. He is the picture of protective over his slightly smaller sister...yes?

No. You would think that, but really, she was laying all warm right outside the hide, he was inside it. He began to curl around her to try to get that warm spot, right under the lamp. He also thought I had food for him, and was coming over to get it first.

So, I’m not just getting up on another of my soapboxes, and the intent is not at all to make anyone feel bad for doing it. Clearly, I have experienced it first hand. I am so glad I didnt walk away that day instead of sitting, fascinated by them for over 45 minutes- or I would only have one snake if he didnt get sick from eating too large a meal.

Snakes are really awesome, but very instinctual creatures. They have little tiny brains for the size of their body. If they wrap under your arm or sit in your lap, its not because they LOVE YOU and want some sugar, but because they are cold. (though we can certainly love them!) If they bite you it isn’t because they are being mean, its because this huge creature is trying to grab them...possibly to be EATEN...and if they cant slither away and hide, only other recourse is to BITE. (Or, you may smell like food. Prey drive and hunger can stimulate feeding response- as much as baked goods and deli’s in grocery stores entice us to buy more food than we really need or intended to get "cause it looked good")

They do feel pain, and get cold, and show signs of fear and stress. Perhaps they do love too in their own way- we can not really tell and humanity cant measure it really, except in theoretical terms...however...their instinct to survive supersedes all else.



09/21/09  09:29am

 #2074905


Silenceafable
View Profile



   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2074446


 Housing two red tails

15qt tub - $4
water dish - $2
plastic bowls for hides - $2
heat tape - $5

for less that $15 you can properly house a baby boa. incidents can, do, and will happen.



09/22/09  09:09am


Back to Boa Constrictors Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area