Some frog species can poison other reptiles if caged together.
Many reptile owners attempt to keep different species of animals together in the same enclosed space for a variety of reasons. While community-style enclosures can work quite well for animals such as fish, different species of reptiles are not as compatible in the same enclosed space. However, there are a few factors to consider in order to determine which kinds of reptiles can be caged together.
Climates
The most important factor when considering putting two different species of reptiles into the same cage is the climate from which both species originate. A desert species, such as a bearded dragon, cannot be kept in the same cage as a tropical species, such as a panther chameleon. Both species require contrasting humidity and temperatures, and this cannot be obtained in the same cage without killing one of the species.
The book "Rhacodactylus: The Complete Guide to Their Selection and Care" by Philippe de Vosjoli provides an example of two reptiles that have been caged together successfully, the crested gecko and the pink-tongued skink. Both species share climate and other requirements.
Enclosure Size
While many different species of reptiles may encounter one another in the wild, in captivity they are entrapped in a small, enclosed space and cannot escape one another. If more than one species are to be caged together, the cage should be large enough to provide enough space for the animals to hide from one another if necessary. Some zoos keep larger reptiles such as iguanas and tortoises together but provide ample space for both species to roam as well as large branches for the iguanas to perch on, while the tortoises stay on the ground. A similar mix of arboreal and terrestrial species can be considered when choosing species to cage together, although it is difficult to replicate such a large, zoo-size enclosure in a home or apartment.
Predation
Another issue with caging separate species together is one of the species killing or eating the other. For example, many snake species eat other snakes, frogs and lizards as part of their natural diet, and this would put other reptile species at risk of being eaten if they were kept in the same cage. The king snake, for example, eats other snakes and has been known in captivity to eat cage mates.
Bacteria and Poisons
Each species of reptile possesses its own natural bacteria and this bacteria can be harmful to other species of reptiles. Other species, such as fire-bellied toads and tomato frogs, are toxic to other species of amphibians and some reptiles. Certain species of poison dart frogs may be compatible with one another and frogs from the same environments, such as North America, can be compatible with one another, but collecting native species and even just keeping them as pets can be illegal in most states.
Dietary Needs
The dietary needs of species must be taken into consideration. For example, the feeding response of come snakes can be strong enough that when one prey item is introduced to the cage, each snake strikes and injury results. In insectivorous species, larger insects may be needed for larger reptiles and smaller insects for smaller reptiles. While an owner could feed a mix of small and large insects, the larger insects may prey on the smaller reptiles. Therefore, the reptiles would have to have very similar dietary needs to be housed together. This could include smaller species of geckos and lizards that eat the same-size prey, such as large crickets.
Necessity
Aside from breeding, there are few reasons as to why it would be necessary to house two reptiles of the same species together, let alone two reptiles of different species. One of the most commonly cited reasons is "company," or that when two different reptiles are kept together, they tend to be found "snuggled" next to each other so the automatic assumption is that they enjoy being together.
Reptiles are solitary animals and don't live in packs or groups, with the exception of some species that can be found in large dens for breeding reasons. Reptiles lack the brain capacity to feel "lonely," and the reason some keepers may find their reptiles next to or on top of each other is because one is attracted to the other one's warmth. There are far too many problems that can occur when keeping reptiles of different species together, while there are very few reasons in support of attempting it.
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