Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

j-clark · I've settled in... Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 45

hi ive got a female corn snake and was thinking of getting her a partner (male) would this be OK to house them together? i was thinking of breeding them so there isn't a problem if they end up mating lol. shes in a 3ft long 2ft high and 2ft wide viv would i need to change to a bigger viv that's if i can house them together. thanks

Lynne · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:31 pm Post subject:

i personally wouldnt keep two corns or two any snakes together unless for breeding. or should i say while breeding. there is a chance of cannibalism, if one poohs weird, how do you know which one did it? etc etc.
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j-clark · I've settled in... Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 45

oh OK that's fair enough Very Happy

Lynne · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:00 pm Post subject:

thats just my opinion though. lots of people prob have kept them together, i just wouldnt.
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garysumpter · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 914

Seconded.
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Lynne · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:42 am Post subject:

plus there is the chance they would mate while the female is too young and doesnt carry enough weight. much better to keep them apart until mating time.
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Melt0s · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:35 am Post subject:

Lynne's On The Ball!

Lynne · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:40 am Post subject:

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ian14 · I'm new here... Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 15

I have kept corns for the past 20 years, and have never had any problems housing them together ONCE ADULT. I fully agree with keeping males and females apart until fully grown, as most species can breed at a relatively young age, stunting the growth and potentially adversely affecting the health of the female.
I house hatchlings individually, as this will make feeding easier and safer. Subadults are often housed together, but in same-sex groups only. Once fully grown and mature, they are housed in pairs, separated for feeding, and to allow the female to put weight back on after egg-laying. I have never had any problems with this.

In terms of cannibalism, Corns are not a cannibalistic species, nor are they naturally ophiophagous, and so highly unlikely to randomly eat another corn it is housed with. The problem comes when feeding, as with any species, that on a rare occasion, both animals will seize the same prey item, and one will simply keep swallowing, ingesting it's cage-mate!!

This is simply resolved by separating at feeding time, putting one in a separate box (I use large Contico's for this), and leaving apart for a short while after they have finished eating to avoid any potential "feeding frenzy" problems.

Greenphase · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:19 pm Post subject: Re: housing corns together