multiple boas per cage

[Floyd]

I am debating on rather or not, if I should consider putting multiple boas in one tank. I have never had any issues with these snakes being in one sack for transporting so I would assume it would be ok if they all stayed in the same cage as well... I have observed their behavior many times while out of their cages together and they all seem to be fine with one another. Could this cause a problem? I do know that these particular animals are very healthy ei...vet check, feedings regular, poops regular etc... but other than the thought that if one gets sick they all get sick...could this be something that would be more of a disadvantage than an advantage? Has anyone ever tried this and if so, have you ever had any issues?

Tks,
Floyd

[kasper22]

I've seen in many places people say that it can be stressful on the snakes to share and inclosure. I'm starting to agree with them. I have a few babies that are sharing a home and i've had a problem in both cages. In both cages the smaller of the two boas always seems to be unhealthy.

[Steve_M.]

keeping multiple snakes in one cage is definitly not recomended but while I no longer do it when I first started keeping snakes I kept 2 boa's a burmese pyton and a ball python all in one cage and never had a problem I beleive I was just lucky

[megillg]

can you keep a boa and a ball python in the same tank?

[Red]

It is never recamended to put any two snakes in the same cage at the same time... but they have to breed somhow.. but What I say is go a by the snake basis.. if it look's as though one is being unhealthy then take it out stuff like that... as far as if one get's sick the other will to this is true.. but to treat two snakes it cost's about the same... I say the major dissavantage is if 1 snake gets a bad thing and die's the other will probley as well... Well that is my .02
Eric aka...Red

[NavyHM]

Never keep boas and pythons together. Ever!
I made that mistake a few years ago and I payed heavily(death of 2 boas and 2 pythons from IBD)
Plus remember, what ever problems one snake has, its roommate will also aquire.

[slkrik00]

sorry to hear about your loss navy

I do not think it is a good idea to keep 2 snakes in the smae enclose for long periods of time. Snakes are natually antisocial with exception of the breeding season and the mass hibernation of some species.

[Red]

I have to dissagree with that last statment... They find several snake huddled in one place alot... not just durring breeding season or hibernation... From what I understand they can not explane it other then may-be they just like the company... since they are cold blooded they are not huddling for warmth or anything like that just laying in the same din.. Now I don't know about boas but lot's of snake seem to gravitate towards each other...
eric aka...Red

My understanding has always been that snakes are solitary animals. The only time (that I am aware of) that snakes actually seek out others of their kind, is for breeding. That is not to say that they will chase other snakes off. Just because a few snakes are sitting together in one place does not mean they "like the company". I think more likely is that the spot they are all sitting in just suits their needs (good hiding spot, or escaping the heat of the day, etc)

These are just opinions, but I don't really think that a snake has the mental capacity to "enjoy" the company of another. I think that they just don't feel threatened. On the other hand, I have seen where more than one snake is kept in a single cage, and one of the snakes will not eat. However, give that same snake it's own enclosure, the appetite magically returns after a week or so. This is just a blanket statement, and of course, there are exceptions.

Then agian, I may just be as dumb as a box of rocks. I leave it for others to deceide if they want to listen to what I have to say.

[Red]

Well you are pobley right about the hidi places...  just happens to be in the same place at the same time...  There probley are not a hole lot of really good hiding places in the wild...  That somthing else is not already in...  lol
Ya I have to say I have not seen any type of bad efects on the two boas I keep in the same cage at the same time always..
Now I have limited experence with snakes...  I only have four and only two are the same kind of snake...
Well any ways I have two boas that I housed together for a year...  before I found out that it probley is not the best idea...  Which I agree with just so you know...
so I took these two snake out and put them in two different cages and put them right next to each other for heat conservation... and all they did was lay right next to each other and the big one stoped eating...  I thought this was because he was sick may-be or somthing phical...  so to the vet I went...
he said the snake was in perfect helth and seemed to be nice and fat so just let it not eat for awhile and see what happens...  
Well about 6 weeks after that I was cleaning the larger of the two cages (glass)  and it was a lil' wet and I droped it and brock it... (450$ That cost me)  So back in with the other boa he whent...  The next day they where both using the same hidi and do to this day...  they are both the kind of snake that is on the cool side for the most part... and when seperated they would sit on the hot side of the cage for no other reason then to be close to each other...
The next feeding was a sucsess and they have lived together ever since...
Now I know this is a fluke but somthing to think about...  
Well have a good one
Eric aka...Red