are corns comuneral????????????

lampropeltis · #1 (**permalink**) 04-07-2007, 05:41 PM

are corns comuneral and can be kept in a large group
or is there restrictions? 1 male ect

obviously they need to be the same size ish

JBJcool · #2 (**permalink**) 04-07-2007, 05:45 PM

Well most people dont normally keep them together and this post is bound to start an argument

Fangio · #3 (**permalink**) 04-07-2007, 05:52 PM

I've kept them together on a couple of occasions with no issues. I have a friend with 2 vivs containing a pair each in and a fairly big viv with 4 in....again NO ISSUES with feeding.

I gave my one recently to another friend to keep with his female and they get on fine with no feeding\fighting issues. They're not aggressive snakes and I've never heard of any cannabalistic tendancies as some here will tell you they have.

People who tell you not to are usually the ones who haven't tried.

*waits for fallout*

Athravan · #4 (**permalink**) 04-07-2007, 05:54 PM

Brief post as it's all been said before, but

Corns can be cannibalistic, especially as youngsters. This is rare. I have never heard of anyone who's adults have eaten another snake.

Corns will breed prolifically. If you have females in with males, if the females are too young, they can be damaged by premature breeding. Egg binding can kill, for example. Young corns can be permanently stunted by breeding too early... a male can be fertile from 18 months.. most females aren't ready until close to 3 years, but a very minimum of 2.

Males can "mock fight", this is not usually aggressive but does involve chasing, and it has been reported that males have raped other males.. which I'm sure you can imagine is not that fun!

Some other things to consider is that disease can be spread, quarantine should be kept, and of course corns should always be fed seperate, many accidents can happen if fed together.

In short, corns are not communal by nature. It is not natural for them to live in "packs", however, many thousands of corns are kept in groups in captivity ... it has risks, it has drawbacks, it has advantages - most of the advantages are on our side, ie. it's easier for the keeper, takes less space etc.. not better for the snake, but it can be done.. the risks and consequences are yours to take

I keep adult females together, but would never keep youngsters in the same tank or tub for an extended period of time.