Ball python cannibalism

[JenHarrison]

I know one of the main reasons not to house ball pythons together is cannibalism...does anyone have a pic I can use as an example? Someone doesn't believe me that it happens and the only cannibalism pic I can find is of a BCI that ate a ball python that was almost identical in size.

[TheAudOne]

I had never heard of this, I know stress is the main concern..sheesh. I also want to see this now.

[Sapphire7]

Here is the site that I believe will tell and show you what you need. I'd look at it all. But the one with the boa eating the Bp is in the middle of the page;



http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...l%3Den%26lr%3D

I for one think if your snake is well fed and is not hungry it will not eat. Hence not eating another snake.

[Adam_Wysocki]

I for one think if your snake is well fed and is not hungry it will not eat. Hence not eating another snake.

Cannibalism in boids by all accounts is stress related and has nothing to do with hunger.

-adam

[lillyorchid]

Here you go!




Please please please, especially if you keep young snakes, keep them solo.

I Should really say, that its only a bad thing in the captive environment, when its being done through keeper error.. snakes eating snakes that is.. technically, snakes who eat OTHER SPECIES of snakes are of practicing ophiophagy, and not cannibalism.

Many snakes in the wild, from non venomous like King Snakes, to hots like the Coral Snake, have snakes in their natural diet... and many many more species take reptiles generally...and of course this is a totally natural and non-remarkable situation.. however.. keeping them captive within 4 walls controlled by a human.. is a different ball game.. whilst we keep them in captivity, we must be responsible for them!

[bchapman]

im sad now

[Sapphire7]

Here you go!

wow! The Bp that ate the other snake was smaller too! Crazy!

Cannibalism in boids by all accounts is stress related and has nothing to do with hunger.

-adam

But is there actual proof that says snakes will eat others if they are stressed out? Im not doubting you and will never attempt to house my snakes together. But at the petstore you cannot deny the snakes are not stressed. They are underfed and dehydrated, all shoved in one small tank and have only one half log all compete and shove themselves in there and only fed once a week on small mice.

[JLC]

But is there actual proof that says snakes will eat others if they are stressed out? Im not doubting you and will never attempt to house my snakes together. But at the petstore you cannot deny the snakes are not stressed. They are underfed and dehydrated, all shoved in one small tank and have only one half log all compete and shove themselves in there and only fed once a week on small mice.

True, that one can't deny the conditions of bp's housed in pet stores. But I'll bet ya its equally true that pet stores don't document cases of cannibalism, either. As a general consumer, we have no way of knowing how many of those baby snakes get eaten by a cage mate. The employees certainly aren't going to tell us! I don't doubt that it's somewhat rare, but I would bet it happens more than most folks think.

[RockSolid]

Here's a thread from the other day where a member of this site had a close call.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ighlight=owner

It's nothing like the picture, but just some more proof that housing two BP's together can be risky.

BTW, what happened to the pink writing?

[Sapphire7]

True, that one can't deny the conditions of bp's housed in pet stores. But I'll bet ya its equally true that pet stores don't document cases of cannibalism, either. As a general consumer, we have no way of knowing how many of those baby snakes get eaten by a cage mate. The employees certainly aren't going to tell us! I don't doubt that it's somewhat rare, but I would bet it happens more than most folks think.

That may be a reason why pet store snakes seem to go fast when no one is buying! But for the last 2 wks the same old poor dehrydrated snakes are there I even try telling the "reptile man" that 30-40% humidity is way too low especailly having a tank at the constant temp of 85-90 degrees!!! But no one seems to take the person who has owned healthy snakes almost all her life and who is always buying from them into consideration that she actually knows what she is talking about!