Boas & Balls

[EmsFather]

We just bought a ball python for my daughter. It's really young and active. It seems like it is not aggressive and when it feels the slightest bit threatened, rolls up into a little ball. It's really cute. My question is if it is okay for the time being to house the ball and the boa together for a few weeks? The boa is a little bigger but not by much. I know not to feed them together since it could result in a tragedy. I just want to know if they can co-exist. So far the boa just seems annoyed at the vitality the ball has. Any suggestions? Please respond as soon as possible.

Bob
Boas still rule....LOL

[Jonathan_Brady]

well bob, to be honest, it's a bad idea.
for one, you haven't quarantined the animals so if one has a disease (and hopefully if there is one, it's not a fatal disease) that is transferable, they both now have it.  second, when white people have explored the world, they have killed more people by spreading diseases for which they have built up an immunity to than by any other means.  that is relevant because snakes from africa (ball python) may just be a carrier to a certain disease and it's natural immunity to it allows it to live a healthy life totally unaffected.  but once it meets up with a snake from south america (boa) which has never been in contact with the disease, the boa will get sick and possibly die.  same thing if you switch the order in that scenario.  you could kill the ball by introducing it to the boa.  also, you have to worry about stress.  one or both may stop feeding because of the stress of being placed together.
damage may already be done or, no damage will be done at all.  but i would recommend separating them now.  better to be safe than sorry.
good luck,
jonathan brady

[EmsFather]

Thank you for the advice. Today I separated the snakes. They were not together for a long period of time. I hope that in the few hours they were "roomies" that neither was put in any danger. I fed Bobo (the boa) today and he ate immediately. I also tried to feed the Ball in his new tank but he has yet to eat. Is there anything I should do to prevent anything from getting either animal sick or is separating them so quickly good enough? Please advise and thank you for a very quick reply.

Best regards,
Bob

[Jonathan_Brady]

well, i don't know much about airborne viruses, but just putting them in tanks side by side may not be enough. also, if either has mites, then the side by side separation isn't enough. but, if either has an airborne virus or mites, they both probably do now because they have been put together in the same tank.
IF one of the snakes is sick or has something transferable, i don't think there is any way to know (other than waiting) to find out if something has been transferred. based on the odds, everything should be ok. just keep a close eye on them is really all i can tell you. maybe other more knowledgable board members can help you out a little more.
good luck,
jonathan

[EmsFather]

The two snakes are now in different parts of the home. The boa is such a cool snake, just hanging out on his rock all day. He is a mellow fellow with the best attitude I ever saw. The ball is a maniac. He's always looking to come out and leaps at the side of the cage non stop. He's shy and very scared outside his tank but is a hyper guy. I think I will put some valium in his next mouse. LOL Hopefully as he gets use to us he will calm down. Thanks again for your help Senor Brady!

Bob

[Jonathan_Brady]

you're welcome senor bob! b27.gif
from my limited experience with balls (only had one), she is10x more active than any of my boas. she was all over the place all the time! only time she sat still was during the day when she slept and just after a meal or just before a shed. other than that, non-stop! good luck with you new one! hope you enjoy your new python as much as you enjoy your boa!
later!
jonathan

[Doug]

HI,
 I 've had a few BP's, and they are much more sensitive
snake than Boa's . You may wish to subscribe to a BP forum.
 They should be left alone for a week , and  not be handled much the day or two before feeding. The first couple months can be tricky. Condition  s19.gif the animal to feed in a feed box, this makes feeding easier.
  Instinctively they are supposed to be going on a winter fast soon. This has been suppresed by captive breeding and light stimulation (lenght of daylight). I ve had BP's that would feed  year round and a couple that would'nt from Oct to june don't fret over feeding BP's , have fasted for almost a year and had no side effects other than lossing some of their weight
 My favorite BP web page  is cwm15.gif
read to care sheets pay attention to feeding and skin problems.
http://www.ballpython.com/
 Although BP's are snakes they are very unique and different animals from Boa's personaility and habitat and needs.Prefer to be reclusive when young, They also tend to be active little escape artist, very nocturnal ( Late Pm Feeders) and tricky to convet to thawed food.. Most rat bit snakes are BP"S from  feeding errors with live note :A bp once bitten will hide when shown food items .
 I v e had bad shed's with BP's, and really scary case
of Blister disease during that learnng curve .
  Good luck   Bp's are a bit different form Boa's but i love them Jungle Bp's and the High gold one's
Mine all eat fresh thawed frozen rats in a feed box, and tend to feed more frequently than Boa's.
 Good luck   Doug
excellent source of hardware and books shipped to your door ups ground in a couple days.
most items are about 30-40% cheeper than pet stores
http://www.bigappleherp.com/bigappleherp.storefront/
also a great Book for new Bp's owner's
http://www.bookhq.com/img/b/1882770285.jpg
The Ball Python Manual
by Philippe De Vosjoli, Barkers,Phillipe Devosjoli,Roger Klingenberg,David Barker,Tracy Barker
Edition:n/a Pages:78 Book Format:Softcover ISBN:1882770285
Date Published:07/1996 Publisher:BowTie Press
Retail Price: $ 8.50  

here's a shortcut to order one if you like they are about twice as much at the pet stores. PS I have this book and it saved My Bp's life more than once
http://www.askjeeves.com/main/metaAnswer.asp?t=ai&s=a&MetaEngine=directhit&en=te&eo=2&o=0&frames=True&url=http%3A%2F%2Fask%2Edirecthit%2Ecom%2Ffcgi%2Dbin%2Fredirurl%2Efcg%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebookhq%2Ecom%2Fcompare%2F1882770285%2Ehtml%26qry%3Dthe%2Bball%2Bpython%2Bmanual%26rnk%3D6%26cz%3D93c205e6fe5dfffe%26src%3DDH%5FASK%5FSRCH%26uid%3D0aed22f25372849d3%26sid%3D13e1a7e4f5500f9d3%26u%3D&ac=1&adcat=auto&pt=Book%3A+The+Ball+Python+Manual+by+Philippe+De+Vosjoli%2C+Barkers%2CPhillipe+Devosjoli%2CRoger+Klingenberg%2C&dm=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebookhq%2Ecom%2Fcompare%2F1882770285%2Ehtml&io=5&qid=FA80C8358BA85747865175D3D60F3030&back=ask%3Dthe%2Bball%2Bpython%2Bmanual%26o%3D0%26x%3D19%26y%3D19&ask=the+ball+python+manual&dt=021005080909&amt=
 Many animals come from very different environments its up to us to do our homework if we are going to try and keep them in a glass cage in an air-conditoned and heated home.. The cage  s3.gifis the number one problem for most reptiles in the home. Thats why them Boaphile cages are so great. b30.gif.  
  doug