Anyone housing Maccies together in one enclosure?

Hi there
For anyone who houses more than one Maccie together in one enclosure - I have three hatchies together and when I feed them I keep them separate overnight at least to avoid them mistaking each other for food, but this does mean having to set up three separate temporary homes so I was wondering how long is really necessary before I return them to the same enclosure?
Thanks
Sheri

[spottedpython]

they should be alright to return into the enclosure after they have all finshed there meal or meals

[earthmother]

Please correct me if this is incorrect.
I've heard not to put Maculosas together if they are mismatched in size. They can be cannibalistic?

Em

[spottedpython]

earthmother i have too heard that i read on an overseas post once that a spotted python ate a corn snake

Hi Em

I have heard they are one breed that will live happily together Now I'm confused
But my three are all the same size, at least - they are six months (male) and seven months (two females) old.
Can anyone else confirm if Maccies are cannabalistic?

Sheri

Isn't Bigguy a Maccie expert? If so I might PM him for more info.

[Splitmore]

Sheralyn,
Hatchling maccies(and most pythons for that matter) will definately eat each other, regardless of whether they have just been fed or not.
I've had hatchlings housed together for months without problems then come out one morning to find one has eaten the other. Quite often it can be fatal to both snakes so I would definately make the effort to house them seperately.Once they are adults you could possibly get away with housing them together but again you'll need to seperate them at feeding time.I don't reguarly house any of my snakes together,much easier to prevent any problems than try and seperate two adults intent on eating each other.

Ok, thanks everyone ....seems the way to go is separate homes all round!

[earthmother]

Sad story Split. What a shock. Is this more common in maccies or only happens with maccies?
I'd still PM bigguy if it's 1 of his specialties. And it can't do any harm to have all the information possible.

Em x

[Splitmore]

Em,
Unfortunately it's just one of the problems with hatching,housing and establishing large numbers of hatchlings,there is always going to be a few babies that for whatever reason don't survive.
It is definately more common with the childrens python group but I have had it happen with carpets and olives as well.
In saying that out of a couple of hundred babies each season I only ever lose three or four to cannibalism.
Regards,
Splitmore

[Artie]

I too was always under the impression; maccies can be housed in pairs or trios toghther, with out any problem. Have read so, I think in in more than on book, and have done it myself, also heard of others on APS doing it.
I’m not saying, cannibalism is out off the question, but I couldn’t imagine it to be more common than with other snakes.
I would have thought it to be more to the contrary.
Obviously you had different first hand experience Splitmore.

I used to feed separately and return both straight after.
They weren’t exactly hatchies though, (eight month old)

But if in doubt, or going by your experience, I guess better save than sorry and house separately.

Interesting to hear Bigguys input on the subject.

I did PM Bigguy and his response is below.....

Sheri,

The short answer is seperate them.

The long answer. Keeping any hatchling pythons together is a receipe for disaster. Any species housed together as hatchlings could end up with one or two deaths due to canablism. Often the one eating dies as well.

It only happens every now or then, some people may get away with housing them together, wereas others kill each other. Why take the risk when its so easy to seperate.

My mate ****** bred over 100 Spotteds this season, and due to lack of room he housed them in groups of 2 or 3's. He lost 9 to canablism.

Hope this helps

BigGuy

Thanks to all for the input.
Sheri

[snakehunter]

I have always wondered this myself, separating during feeding stops them eating the same food item, but wouldnt the snakes smell of the mouse on their bodies where they constricted it, and hence when the snakes are put back together they may eat each other?
Are adults of the same size ok to keep together?

Hi Snakehunter
That's exactly why I used to keep them apart overnight or longer after feeding them - I was worried about the smell on them causing another to think there was more dinner on offer. They were always snuggled up together - it's hard to believe they could turn nasty when you see them together....but I guess not worth the risk!
Sheri

[Artie]

At the moment, I’m keeping two 4-month-old Bredlis together, in a 3ft enclosure with 4 hides, two of them right next to each other on top of a heat-mat.
They also have a basking site (heat-lamp), so there is plenty places to choose from.
But after feeding them, they both pick the same hide, (one of the two that are right next to each other) to cuddle up, and they barley even fit.
Not saying it is necessarily right and everybody should do it, but it just goes to show.