[General Care] How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

[NitenIchiRyu]

Hi, a new host has been welcomed! A 18 months old hypo female, her name is Venere (soooo beautiful!) and Athena has now become Artemide... I had to do it, she hunts like a pro. I'm so proud of them, they are the most fascinating animals I ever owned. Anyway, I have read on the boa care guide that they shouldn't have any problem but you never know, they're all different after all... Any suggestions? Thank you!

Ps: Artemide is a 6 months old base morph boa constrictor, veeeery tame and healty. ^^

[Pandorasdad]

Re: How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

The only reason you should ever house two boas together is if you're breeding them. Otherwise you need a separate enclosure for each animal. These are not social creatures.

[Kung Fu Joe]

Re: How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

Even if you separate them for feeding you run the risk of mistaken identity bites and possibly constriction. Not to mention competition for space, transmission of disease, etc. It's not a good idea.

[NitenIchiRyu]

Re: How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

Thanks, experts' opinions are always welcome. I heard it's very complicated to take all the necessary precautions but not harmful for the animals, even if they really don't need it... now I'm worried. :I If needed anyway I'll find the space for a very large second enclosure even if I have to take the bed out of the house and sleep in their hides... (which is tempting me, as their terrarium is the house's best room for sure)
So, besides jokes... I guess sellers do it just because it's temporary and to save money on housing, correct?
Can you make me an example of a territorial, dominant behaviour? I want to intervene at the very first signs.

The first reaction was quite good I guess, actually... Artemide came out of her hide to study what was introduced in her... Olympus. They spent some time basking together in relaxed position on the warm side, then Venere returned into the water (she was in the bowl when I took her, she's probably going to shed soon), Artemide is still there.
When I handled Venere she was much more calm than before, she's 1 and a half years old and therefore I think the house switch was harder for her to stand. She was very defensive, always running for a hide. I handled her just once since I took her home, I'll let her take confidence with the enclosure for some days before making the week of in/out sessions that worked so well with her "cousin".
Artemide, as always, just had to shake her tail to be more doglike... she's unbelievable, even the people I handle her with made me notice she really looks for me all the time, she feels safe in my hands. <3 I don't know if it's respect, fear, friendship, love or what... but there IS something. ^^

Bad quality and I don't want to disturb her, sorry.

[lexiilish]

Re: How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

You need to separate them asap. Never house to snakes together. As they said only time these snakes should be put together is for breeding. "Basking together" is actually competing for heat, the other is in the water trying to get away from the other most likely. That is a stressful situation and should not be done. They don't even live together in the wild, they only come together to breed and they have thousands of miles to get away from one another, in captivity they're forced to live in a small area together because the human wants them to.

[lexiilish]

Re: How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

Two* autocorrect.

[jere000]

Re: How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

You need to separate them immediately, often people mistake the dominance struggle as "cuddling" in boas when housed together.Basically one boa will rest on top of the other etc to prove it's dominance.It may seem harmless, but it is actually very stressful for one or both boas.Plus one of the other many feeding mishaps that could happen, you need to separate them to feed which puts you at risk and the animal when you have to handle it to put him back in the enclosure after feeding.As well as having two animals in feed mode in one cage for a day or two which is dangerous.Additionally if one snake falls ill they both do.

[NitenIchiRyu]

Re: How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

Wow, I really didn't think they could suffer that much... Venere was in the water in the store too, but yes, when they were basking together she was laying a bit on top of Artemide, which in fact today seems a little bit more shy... time for a new enclosure I guess. Moreover the second time I handled Venere she showed me her beautiful mouth...! Well I know they are no chihuahua but this is not exactly what I expected after 2 days ^^" Let's hope she's just still a bit stressed, I'll leave her alone for some weeks now. Thank you, I was really messing things up!!!!!! Sorry if I didn't listen to the first advise, I just wanted a practical example.

[zamora]

Re: How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

Separate them, make sure your temps and humidity are correct and then leave them alone for a couple of weeks except to spot clean and refill water bowls. Let them de-stress and I think you will find that some if not all of your difficulties are solved. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Noelle7206]

Re: How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

Snakes are so low-key that it's very difficult to point to specific behaviors that tell you there's a problem: the stress of them sharing a cage can result in one or both becoming ill, as stress affects their immune

system just as it does ours. Feeding time is especially dangerous, as they stay ready to pounce...and with their keen sense of smell, that tiny bit of rodent-scent on their roommate could result in a bite/constriction

nightmare for all, as snakes really rely on their sense of smell much more than on vision to identify dinner. When 2 snakes share a cage, the dominant one will get the spot of preferred temperature, meaning the other

will not. They have no way to "tell" you this, but just consider their behavior in the wild as justification for the space they need: you won't find them shacking up in the wild...only to breed.

[NitenIchiRyu]

Re: How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

Well, Artemide sent her back in the bowl, even if she's just a baby... and what a baby, the goddess of hunt. *.* yeah, let's save poor Venus.... ^^

[Pandorasdad]

Re: How can I understand if my two boas stay well together?

Yeah, a lot of people mistake competing for resources for "cuddling." But these are not social creatures. They don't cuddle with each other. In the wild, they stay away from each other unless it's breeding season.

You snakes will thrive in separate enclosures with the proper temps and humidity!