let's get some thoughts going on this...

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Posted by bobl on April 25, 2003 at 14:13:10:

In Reply to: let's get some thoughts going on this... posted by dan felice on April 25, 2003 at 13:49:54:

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::I know we have all agreed (for the most part) that it is always best to house Dry�s separately. I also know there are a few of us (dannio is one I know for sure) who had good luck housing more than one together.

::I�m very big on LARGE cages for my adult Dry�s. I use 6�-7� cages for all my adults. After getting in a couple new adults recently, I temporarily decided to put 2 large adult females (these are yellowtails, FYI) together in one of the large cages until I found time to build a new cage. These snakes are very similar in size I have been separating them to feed. (one stays in the cage and the other gets put into a clean trash can to feed). They have been doing just fine, and neither has ever shown any aggression toward the other�honestly they don�t even seem to notice the other is there.

::Now�considering the SPACE requirements of these large cages, this situation couldn�t help but start the wheels turning just a bit here.

::I�m starting to think. MAYBE�if they are:

::- Adult snakes that are VERY close to the same size
::- Both females
::- Good feeders and not too prone to nerves

::�That they may be ok to house 2 snakes together long term if the cage is very spacious.

::I could certainly maintain a larger group of females in less space this way while still providing a lot of room for the snakes. They really don�t seem to mind one another. I just hope I�m not asking for trouble one day if one decides it�s very hungry.

::FYI�I�d NEVER consider or recommend even TRYING TEMPORARILY housing multiple males, mixed sexes (except during breeding), or snakes if dissimilar size�you are just asking for big trouble there. I would never try it with juvies either just because they are so nervous�

::Is anyone else doing this?
::Thoughts everyone ??
::

:
:dean, you hit every nail right on the head. given enough space, it can be done. i even feed them together w/ no problems. it helps [alot] if the animals are established and well fed. i never keep hatchlings or youngsters together though, just adults of similar size and have never had a problem. i watch until all food is gone however just to be sure. i've noticed that if one is in the middle of a meal, others avoid close contact w/ that particular snake as if they know better. later, they all return to the hide as one big family once again. i used to use multiple hides but found it was a waste of time as they tend to stay together as a group under one. this method really does free up valuable cage space and their interaction is interesting to watch. i used to house males together and they were fine......until september. then all hell broke loose. i still cage separate sexes together though w/ only one male per cage now and have no complaints.

I always thought that housing any Dry regardless of sex would result in cannibalism until I got to talking with Dan Felice.
Using his ideas I now keep trios (1.2) and pairs (1.1 and 0.2) of similar sized snakes together, never more than one male per enclosure. I always find them in the same hide box even though I provide 2 per enclosure. I also follow the same feeding procedures as Dan.
All of my babies and juvies are housed individually.
I think as long as they are well fed and have spacious enclosures there shouldn't be any problems.
Now I am talking about w.c. YT's being housed together that haven't eaten each other yet, one of which ate two large Tiger Rat Snakes while at the dealers shop.
If these snakes I have didn't eat each other by now I think they'll be fine. Knock on wood!
I find that my Kingsnakes are much more willing to eat another snake than my Cribos. If I hold two Kingsnakes in front of each other or if they see each other through the enclosures they react like Siamese Fighting fish!

Bobby

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