Keeping Multiple Snakes Together
Keeping multiple snakes in one cage is never a good idea except for breeding purposes. There are a lot of people out there that may tell you that they have had success in keeping two snakes together and the snakes were happy. Although nothing terrible happened, that does not mean the snakes were “happy.” There are a few major points to consider before keeping two or more snakes in the same enclosure.
First, there is ALWAYS a possibility of cannibalism. With the exception of a few species, it’s not a normal behavior for most snakes to eat other snakes. However, it does happen. I’ve heard so many stories of pet owners coming home and finding one of their snakes missing and the other with a funny bulge in it’s belly. It’s impossible to sit the cage on your desk and force yourself to keep one eye on email and online bingo and another on the snakes inside the cage, twenty-four hours a day: eventually, something may happen, and if they’re kept together, it’s a risk the owner takes. The owners are always shocked because the snakes had been living “happily” together for months, even years. Then all of a sudden one, or both snakes, are dead. You can’t predict it, and you won’t be there to stop it if it happens.
Another reason to house snakes individually is that they are solitary animals. For most species of snakes, they only get together to mate. Then they move on as soon as the deed is done. They don’t like being around other animals, even if they are the same species. It makes them nervous and stresses them out. You must realize that you are forcing this animal to live in captivity. It does not have a choice. It can’t tell you that it doesn’t like it’s roommate. All it can do is accept the conditions you are forcing upon it. Try to make those conditions as comfortable as possible for it. The only reason you have to keep more than one snake in a cage is for your own convenience, or your inaccurate perception that your pet needs a friend. It doesn’t need, nor want any friends.
The last major reason to not keep 2 snakes in an enclosure is that if one gets sick. They both get sick. So if you lose one, you lose both. Not fun.
So please remember that you are doing your animals a great disservice by forcing them to live with other snakes in the same cage. It’s not a comfortable or healthy environment for your pets.
If you can think of any other reasons to keep snakes individually, then please leave a comment below.
7 Comments
Thanks Krafty. It’s good to know I’m helping people take better care of their pets. Good luck!
Thank you so much! I was told at the pet store that I could safely house my cornsnakes together, I’m so glad I read this before I did!!
I bought 2 baby corn snakes at a pet store about 3 years ago and I was told that they would be fine together- that corn snakes are “social” and won’t eat each other. [I was however told that the king snake I was looking at would have to be solitary as they would definitely eat other snakes.] I have had these two snakes together since they were the size of earthworms and they are now in a 40 gallon tank together and about 3-4 feet long each. I have been looking for a larger tank so they have more room to move but I’ve also thought about just getting a second tank. They have done so well together that I’m affraid if I separate them- that might stress them more… but you’re saying that it’s really better for them to be alone? I guess I’m interested in your advice for this situation.
Hi Lisa,
In most cases corn snakes will “tolerate” each other when forced to have a room mate, but it’s still not a good idea. Have you ever seen 2 snakes wandering around in the wild like buddies? It doesn’t happen. They only get together to mate, then they go their separate ways. If you get a second cage for your snakes, then they certainly will not miss each other at all. The one that gets moved into the new cage might be a little stressed at first because of the move, but will quickly settle in and be much happier by itself. I definitely suggest getting a second cage, but if you really must keep them in the same cage, you need to have 4 hides, 2 on the warm side, and 2 on the cold side. Good luck!
Hi, I actually have baby boas, and breeding pairs of boas, and they seem to prefer being together. I see them curl up together with three or four in a bunch, but these are babies. My pairs seem to stay together also, and only separate after mating. When mating is over, they stay intertwined. Should I separate them?
Hi Leigh,
Newborns seem to be more tolerant of being together for a while, but they shouldn’t be kept together permanently. I suggest investing in a rack system so you can separate them. As for the adults, I absolutely recommend separating them after they are done mating, especially for the mother’s sake. It will stress her out having another snake with her while she is pregnant. As I’ve said before, just because snakes tolerate each other after being forced to live together, does not mean that they enjoy it. They are simply tolerating it because they have no choice. Good luck!
Mike
I am an amateur snake owner, with only having my little A&W Muffin {rootbeer} for a few months now but I find your advice the most helpful and you cover more areas than the “general” yahoo answers and other search engine answers.
Thankyou SO Much!
Your Writings here are DEFINETLY put to good use.
~Krafty