Multi-species housing...

[adamanteus]

We kind of side-tracked your thread here, Kyle. Sorry about that!
Back to the point, no problem with housing multiple species if their size and requirements are the same. But no real benefit from the snakes' point of view.
I guess it's a matter of personal choice. I keep all my species separate, but for no specific reason. I'm sure other people house all females of mixed species and all males of mixed species together. Whatever works for you, I guess.

[achoth]

What about housing an african house snake with a garter? I was told that they would eat each other if I housed them together. I've been afraid to even take them out together ever since I heard that. Is it true?

[brandon0133]

i had my corn snakes and garters and green snake in the same tank for awhile now,,,no problems

[brandon0133]

ive had my red tal boas in with my ball pythons also,,,no problems

[adamanteus]

Originally Posted by brandon0133

ive had my red tal boas in with my ball pythons also,,,no problems

See, although I previously stated there isn't a problem with multi species housing, you must remember that those species must have similar environmental requirements. Boas, from South American rain forest and Royal (Ball) Pythons from the African savannah have rather different needs. I would be careful about which species you choose to house together.

[tikichick]

Originally Posted by achoth

What about housing an african house snake with a garter? I was told that they would eat each other if I housed them together. I've been afraid to even take them out together ever since I heard that. Is it true?

Personally, I wouldn't chance it. They could get along just fine until one day you come home to find there's been an unfortunate accident.

Also, if one perceives the other to be a threat, it could cause stress that you may or may not notice until it's health is affected.

[jompiej]

I have 0.1 thamnophis atratus atratus and 0.0.1 Nerodia fasciata together, going great!

[brandon0133]

well the red tail is tiny,,like 1 1/2 ft long,,and the ball pythons are all around 3-4 ft,,,the red tail hangs out alone most of the time,,i did put a baby ball python about the same exsact size as the little red tail and the red tail and baby ball sleep together and hang out together all day long

[Sputnik]

I have to say I felt a little queazy at the thought of mixing corns and garters. I'm glad it's working for you, but I personally wouldn't want to chance it.
Like James my garters are mostly separated by subspecies too, though I kept the babies together and only put them into different tanks as some of them grew much faster and larger than others. My conncinus are quite big now, while the tetratanea are still very tiny. They have the company of one parientalis. I don't want them to cross breed and so will make sure they housed separately when they'd be old enough.

I would disagree with the non-social theory though. My garters always seem to interact in one way or another. They follow each other, dance together, wait for the cats by resting their heads on the door ledge then moving round comicly while the cats jump up and down, not being able to get them. Sometimes, I swear I can even hear them laughing at the daft cats!

[hissy100]

Originally Posted by adamanteus

I don't see a problem with multi-species housing if, as Stefan says, the requirements are the same and the snakes are of similar size. Although personally I never do it, I couldn't really say why, I just don't. All my species and sub-species are housed separately from each other.

I don't think it's true to say Garters are very social, or even at all social. They brumate en-masse and form breeding aggregations, but then they lead solitary lives, as other snakes do.

Wrong, i have a pack (I don't kno what the right word for a group of snakes is) of T. Ordinoides in my garden about 7 or so, and their always basking together in the spring