I'm looking for a little advice in this area, since I'm new to this hobby, and am
receiving 4 of these amazing creatures at once. Jumping in a little head first I know, but after 2 1/2 years of research AKA I found a deal I simply
couldn't pass up 1K for pure Aru locality from a veteran breeder with 20+ years experience. I'm going to ask for feeding pictures of the snakes just
to make sure they're eating, no fast one's on me...hopefully. Just to clarify no I haven't read Greg Maxwells books, it's on its way. It will
be thoroughly gone through before I receive the snakes. Breeder was willing to hold the snakes feeding them and all until I feel comfortable to have them
shipped to me. And yes I will have the setups (two ten gallons aquariums divided by peg board) running for at least a week to make sure my Repti Temps are
working properly. I'm toying with the idea actually hooking up a humidifier (human kind) and using hoses to each of the cages set on timers . Don't
want to drown the snakes after all. I had brazilian rainbow boa's who never had problems shedding but it was a constant battle. This is going to sound
like an amateur but hell might as well introduce myself by throughly embarassing myself. What's the harm in housing babies together? Alot of photo's
I've seen of babies show them together in a sibling photo. Is this fine for a while or do they have to be seperated immediately before they start eyeing
each other as dinner? Has anyone experimented with this?
My favorite out of the group.... Happy Herping - Bryan
                        
 -  - ks's the green tree Python Forum - chondro forum - moreliapythons.com - ssnakess.com - chondroweb.nl - constrictors.unlimited gtp forum - -  - MVF Chatroom 
|
Housing - Together
| Author | Comment | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 bkhuff1s |
Housing - Together |
Lead | ||
|
Posts: 1 (07/18/08 07:52:52) |
|
|||
|
bkhuff1s |
||||
|
Posts: 2 (07/18/08 07:57:25) |
Oh yeah any advice you'd like to nail throw at me would be appreciated!
|
|||
|
bsharrah |
||||
|
Posts: 270 (07/18/08 08:30:08)
|
Never house babies together. They will eat each other.
Bart |
|||
|
bkhuff1s |
||||
|
Posts: 4 (07/18/08 08:32:36) |
I was kinda figuring that's what it would be, just thought I'd ask.
|
|||
|
Andrew A1 |
||||
|
Posts: 1085 (07/18/08 09:03:09)
|
Yes, babies will eat each other - one very expensive meal. Chondros, as a general rule, should not be housed together. Some people do this and are successful,
but in starting out, you would be much, much better off keeping them separate. Here are just some of the reasons:
- Feeding - Cannibalism - Combating - when they get older, especially if you have two males - Disease prevention - spreading - Stress - they are solitary animals Good luck. Andrew 
|
|||
|
Auston Horst |
||||
|
Posts: 216 (07/18/08 09:09:32)
|
Now there's a sight that you would never want to come home and see...
-Killer Morelia Keeper-
|
|||
|
Kim Burge |
||||
|
Posts: 285 (07/18/08 09:09:58)
|
There are various excellent reasons not to house chondros together, including the possibility of eating or injuring each other from a food response. If one
gets sick you have a higher likelihood of having to treat multiple snakes. Sometime it can be difficult to figure out which one is sick. You can't always
know whose defecation is whose. What if one eats a lot faster than the other? If one is a good feeder and the other isn't it can be difficult at feeding
time. Chondros stress easily and housing them together causes increased stressed. I wouldn't do it as it's just not worth the risk.
I would highly recommend going with separate rubbermaid-type containers for neonates. No, they aren't great for viewing purposes but neonates usually need a little more security. Take a look at the inexpensive plans on Greg's web site for more information: Caging Babies Glass is terrible as an insulator and trying to hold heat and humidity in a divided 10 gal aquarium for two neonates is going to be a pain. A small rack with pull out plastic cages would be great as well. My recommendation is do not skimp on the cages thinking to save money. I wouldn't bother with the humidifier as you'll need to check on them daily and adding water or misting isn't an issue. I keep my babies (under a year of age) pretty moist a good portion of the time as they can dehydrate very quickly. Good luck! We'd love to see more pictures when you get them. |
|||
|
chondrome |
Don't do it | |||
|
Posts: 509 (10/13/05 12:16:40)
|
Just remember if one eats the other they usually both die, you lose 2!
Take Kims advice, rubbermaid-type containers will do the trick when young thru pre-adult and save you money also. Save up for the adult cages and do it right and display them. Good luck, Larry |
|||
|
bkhuff1s |
||||
|
Posts: 5 (07/18/08 09:32:27) |
Wow to the picture Andrew. Pictures speak more than words. That's for sure. Well I wanted a glass cage so I could view the animals better because I
didn't want to have to disturb then to get a good view. I'm considering modifying Gregs instructions for my own uses. Meaning either placing the tub on
it's side an area out of the lid and replacing that part with plexiglass or getting a more vertical plastic tub and do the same to the side. What do you
guys think? Anyone done that? I believe I remember hearing something to that affect a few years back on kingsnake...
|
|||
|
Keith Hamlin.chondroforum |
||||
|
Posts: 43 (07/18/08 09:33:23) |
I lost a black mexican king snake that way once. I put it into the wrong shoe box which just so happened to contain another black mexican king snake. I put two
and two together when I saw the empty shoebox that I thought I put it in and the mexican kingsnake that had a noticeable meal in its tummy even though I did
not feed it.....or did I.
I will never make that mistake again. Keith Hamlin |
|||
|
Keith Thompson |
||||
|
Posts: 329 (07/18/08 11:18:26)
|
Here's my recommendation for a beginner: Look at people who are successful and emulate them. Their system might not be the best system - but it is a system that works. After you have gained experience with the species, then begin to modify their techniques to better suit your own likes and dislikes and experiences. Some of those modifications will work and some won't. But at the point you have experience under your belt, they are far less likely to end in disaster. Eventually you will learn tips that the rest of us can utilize and improve our own husbandry techniques. |
|||
|
RCulver |
||||
|
Posts: 1403 (07/18/08 11:28:33)
|
Here's my 0.02 on this subject: Given the fact that they are babies, I'd bag the aquarium set up that you initially described and go for a simple rack
system. Do not scrimp on your set ups and a rack system (imo) is a very economical yet fundamentally sound way to go. Also, be forewarned that Aru neonates can
be (and usually) are "the most" difficult to get feeding (and established). So my point here is, "a deal is only a deal if one can benefit from
it". Purchasing a group of 4 chondros at a "deal price" can be a great deal, or it can be the beginnings of a nightmare.
Richy |
|||
|
bkhuff1s |
||||
|
Posts: 9 (07/18/08 11:34:52) |
Thanks for all of the great answers. I will not be housing them in aquariums, but plastic box of sorts.
|
|||
|
bkhuff1s |
||||
|
Posts: 10 (07/18/08 11:36:36) |
Individually BTW
|
|||
|
Colorado Riverboy |
||||
|
Posts: 657 (10/13/19 11:16:41)
|
Ditto what Rich said, go ahead and buy a rack if you're going to have 4 neos, it WILL save you money in the long run. Especially once the addiction sets in
and you end up with a dozen babies, or your first clutch. I made the mistake of buying chondros before quality caging and have been playing catch-up ever
since.
Jason Stevens
www.coloradochondros.com |
|||
|
Casey Clarke.chondroforum |
||||
|
Posts: 23 (07/18/08 13:56:48) |
Never house neonates together. You're only asking for trouble. Your four could quickly end up three and well you get the picture.
As far as your setup, ditch the tank. They're worthless for maintaining heat and humidity unless you've got them in a climate controlled herp room. As already mentioned, get yourself a simple rack setup with a few tubs. They're cheap, easy to maintain, and the younsters feel secure in them. Nothing's better for housing neonates. You can keep them in this setup for at least a year or more. Though your humidifier setup sounds snazzy, it's just a bunch of extra work that's not needed. Go down to your local big box store and purchase a simple spray bottle for a couple bucks. Give them a quick spray once a day and you'll be fine. I'd also ditch the Repti-Temps and invest in a good proportional thermostat such as a SpyderRobotics Herpstat or a Helix Controls DBS1000. Getting setup right the first time will save you a lot of headaches down the road. |
|||
|
taphillip |
||||
|
Posts: 303 (07/18/08 19:55:50)
|
As for reading material...not to stir the pot as I so enjoy doing...
You would be much better served by reading this manual and following the advice given there rather than the other... http://www.signalherp.com/products.htm Good luck on the little ones. Cheers! Terry |
|||
