I may aswell jus keep them in theyre seperate vivs for that point, just at the pet shop they keep about 5 together in a smallish viv and they honestly look fine, fat and healthy and dont seem to mind being in with eachother (and no, they dont sell quickly) thats why i was wondering just with the extra space, climbing space, maybe a small pool or something and of course free sex whenever they feel like it (providin they dont breed to often and are conditioned i know!) and yes would have space to keep babies IF could not find homes (though I know plenty of pet shops who would take the babies) and if need be would seperate for feeding? Was just a thought anyways
corn snake enclosure
- Thread starter catfish
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Pet stores usually hope that their stock sell quickly, so they justify the rationale for keeping them in unfavorable conditions.
I wouldn't really worry about breeding... most snakes are annual breeders.
I wouldn't really worry about breeding... most snakes are annual breeders.
I'm very familiar with this pet shop, I find them extremely good and responsible. They were selling guaranteed feeders ball pythons and told me if mine didn't feed to bring it back (after trying the usual things and letting it settle in of course). They only thing they arent up on, are the tarantulas, though they're good with the lizards, snakes and turtles. They breed their own corn snakes to get babies but sell adults too, so always have some in living together. They have so many they really dont expect to sell so quick. I think it may be a good idea. Interested to know what others think though. It HAS to be better than being in a tank only as long as yourself or a little bigger doesnt it? I'm not sure whether corn snakes enjoy company or put up with it, though surely there would be aggression if they were truly unhappy? Plus the large amount of space should help?
I wasn't really attacking the pet store. Some of the best pet stores I know take the best care of them, however they still try to save on space. I can understand why though, In the pet industry, not every building has the necessary space, but they still need to carry them to make money; they usually rely on how hot their sales are to reduce longterm stress as much as possible, and for the future owners to give them better care than they did.
My main concern is that if one of them regurgitate, you would need to treat both of them instead of treating them differently individually. Some people are fine with seperating them and trying again in a week or two, others panicked too much over it and give up on them. Obviously from your previous posts, you are not prone to panic -- so I see no reason why you should not keep them together.
Stress is kinda difficult to guage in reptiles. Aggression is a clear sign of stress, however health failure is more ambigious. Some aggression take years to build up. For instance, I always hear about it with Bearded Dragons and Leopard Geckos: "Oh, they have been together for ___ years, and this morning I woke up to a headless male/female."
I am just being the devil's advocate here. There have been people that keep them together with no problems, others don't want to take the risk. I am not a risk-taker with herptiles myself, unless I know for a fact it is benefitual as in regard to their health.
My main concern is that if one of them regurgitate, you would need to treat both of them instead of treating them differently individually. Some people are fine with seperating them and trying again in a week or two, others panicked too much over it and give up on them. Obviously from your previous posts, you are not prone to panic -- so I see no reason why you should not keep them together.
Stress is kinda difficult to guage in reptiles. Aggression is a clear sign of stress, however health failure is more ambigious. Some aggression take years to build up. For instance, I always hear about it with Bearded Dragons and Leopard Geckos: "Oh, they have been together for ___ years, and this morning I woke up to a headless male/female."
I am just being the devil's advocate here. There have been people that keep them together with no problems, others don't want to take the risk. I am not a risk-taker with herptiles myself, unless I know for a fact it is benefitual as in regard to their health.
Yeah I understand. I soppose if I really wanted to try it, I'd have to make sure there was plenty of hides, climbing spots, water pots, and generally keep a very good eye on them. And only keep multiple females to one male. It's not that I wanna save on space (It's abit late for that now lol!) I just thought that if they live together/in eachothers presence in the wild, it may be that more natural and better for them. Cheers for the input I'll defo be taking it in, and let you know how it goes 
Another sign of stress would be excessive attempts to escape wouldn't it? Especially in an enclosure that size? Just wanna make sure I've thought of everything
Eh, every herps constantly try to get out... or find the tighest spot to squeeze into. It is in their nature to do so.
However it is perfectly valid with inverts, if they do that, it is normally a sign of lack of food or being too hot.
However it is perfectly valid with inverts, if they do that, it is normally a sign of lack of food or being too hot.
You stayed up all night? They are constantly checking for weak spots etc. I can open up the cage to an enclosure, and if they are on the roam, they'll head straight for the exit, which i suppose they have learnt. When they are kept together, it is more of a tolerance thing. It isn't like you can't do it, but if you ever have a problem with one (for example, you find blood in their mess... which one is the ill snake?). That is the main reason I wouldn't keep them together, purely from a health point of view, but like I said, it's up to you really. On size, if you have a snake that is 3ft, I don't think it will make much difference to it if it has a 3ft enclosure or a 2ft enclosure, as they are usually moving around the perimeter and even at it's total length it is it is not moving without turning. If it's more than the snakes total length, then it's different. Personally I don't think its necessary, I let my snakes have a free roam around whenever i can to be honest. If i had a 9 ft diamond python, I'm not going to be about to make it a 18 ft enclosure, because I think it would be a total waste of space, and is just easy to see because the scales are larger, but i would apply the same logic to a corn. I know people who keep adults in 2x2s and they are perfectly happy. Of course it also depends on the snake, we all know how variable they are in size due to, morphs/selective breeding, sex and individual make up. I think there is at least a 3' room of variance in them, even though extremes at each end may be uncommon.
Yeah Davo, I do stay up most nights, as I can never sleep at night, guess that would make me nocturnal! Never seent hem trying to escape. Seen them have a ponder around the viv.. but that is natural.. no trying to break free (though I admit they did try in smaller enclosures). I can't let a corn snake free roam in my house.. it would be silly lol.. I'd lose it within a second. If it was an 9 foot boa, or 12 ft python.. things may be different, which is why I would need a bigger viv for them. Except for handling, and feeding I don't soppose they get much excersise lol. Thanks for ya input. It's defo one consider about the health thing.
