CO~MINGLING TIPS AND TRICKS
Please come back and read this section in the future as I try to cover all the bases. Organanizing my thoughts is a process that takes a while.
With all the negativity I have recently discovered, in the reptile world, on mixing species, I had to ask myself how did I come to view it as acceptable? The answer is simple. No one told me I couldn't. Wasn't mentioned at the pet stores I visited. It wasn't mentioned in care sheets I looked up. I didn't "hang out" out with any reptile keepers nor enter forums ~ not sure if I knew that forums existed!
First think species. Then think similarities followed by differences. No, that's wrong. Think differences first and then similarities. The differences can be more important. A tree climber can live well with a ground dweller. A wall walker can live well with either because they are not occupying the same space. Can one end of the environment be drier or rockier or more densely covered, less lighting needed? Some species prefer more privacy than others.
Then think similarities: relative size at introduction and when grown. Activity levels, levels of fear at movement. (Try not to place to flighty lizards together, one will feed off the other.) Think placement in the room quieter corners for the flighty ones. More cover is needed. Places providing "security" ~ can it make a quick dive for cover from the basking spot. Placing a calming influence helps alleviate the flight response. Kelly and his pet skink ~ Bink, are the perfect examples of that. Though the size difference I would never recommend. Kel had a gentle giant disposition from day one and the skink was not the first roommate Kel had. . Introductions at the same size as juveniles is also advisable. But I dont recommend doing it with very young lizards, under 6 months. You may not be able to have the time to correct a problem before it is too late. Nor do I recommend trying it with an older lizard who has never shared his space.
There is a constant supply of food in many of the vivariums. In the "apartment complex" there is always a bowl of meal worms and one of veggies. Crickets are thrown in and sometimes a couple are still walking around after 3 days. One of the reasons that I keep the veggies in there is to keep the crickets fed. Otherwise I might let it go a couple of days before refilling. Another food related point which might be very important is that I have never fed anyone anything larger than a superworm.
Am I shortening their lives by my casual attitude of keeping them? I am not going to say no. I can't be sure as no one around here has died of old age. Girlfriend (the water dragon), Kuani and Kel only lived in the average life span of 7 years or so for the beardies, 7 or so for Girlfriend which is short, for a water dragon. I am fairly certain I lost Girlfriend over egg binding. These were 3 of the 4, I began with and the only 3 I have had to try to make that determination. Health and hardiness have to be huge factors in this environment we have. Things are always evolving here : new hospital occupants, the Uro's new digs, the Red Eyed tree frog disaster, and a paralized frog...since I began this web site project a little under 8 weeks ago.
We are now into November and there have been some passings. I am losing my first wave of little pets. I most recently lost a rainbow skink. He came here at full length about 4 years ago. (If I had known I was going to be doing a project of this sort I might have kept better records of each.) This species life span is known to be in the 3 to 5 year period. My hedgie also passed this week. Expected lifespan of a hedgie is 4 to 5 years. He was definately in his grandpa years but wasn't overly long lived. 4.5 years I'd say. My grandson lost the sister hedgie to mine 3 months ago. I lost my first little brown anole. Same age approximately, give or take a year. Earlier this week I also lost my female emerald swift. Literally. She flew the coop from my oh so talented DIY. addition to the 120 gallon. I lost a male about 2.5 years ago and have never found a sign of him.
I do believe wholeheartedly that there needs to be MULTIPLE basking spots provided. MULTIPLE places to hide. TONS of cover, branches, rocks, levels to the environment. Compromises on the ultimate environmental conditions and micro environments more suitable to each. I also believe that the more natural surroundings make the combinations I have here more adaptable and they are disturbed less by outside hands. I rarely take the animals out of their environments even when changing environments around.
Then you also have to remember that each is an individual and while there are general care sheets on species. That does not mean that yours will fit perfectly into the slots they have indicated. Even in a shy species you may find yours to be extra bold. In a species known for their docility yours may be the aggressive one. Or more dangerous....yours may be the one with eyes bigger than his belly!
For these reasons there has to be a contingency plan in place. You have to be ready with a spare space to place one in as the situation can go bad...after you have had them for a year, in the same space. I have found that the only real weapon we have in our arsenal to keep our buddies healthy is our power of observation followed by our willingness to adjust. Never stop being aware of the interactions in your vivariums. Take the time to see what is working in their houses and what needs to be adjusted to accomodate the reptile. Build and learn; one step at a time.
My "hospital" space is beside my computer. I have ordinary dial up service which gives me lots of time to glance over at my neighbour. The tank kept here is a 3 ft and it would also work for a problem with the 3 smaller parrots as well. If I am concerned about anyone they are placed in here. Right now, it is Java, the Mali, who didn't have a great brumation. Who is not as heavy as he was. My Java expects to be catered to, and prefers to be hand fed. We are having a minor battle over his expectations of my subservience. I have to also state that this arrangement isn't working well for Java, who I believe is finding the space too close to "civilization" and I am considering moving him to a place he has more distance from the daily goings on. I am considering the back window...which for Java may be the perfect place for the summer and help to keep his home heated with more ease. Java's new house.
There are pros and cons to every style of husbandry both for the keeper and reptile. Some of the pros to keeping natualistic vivs would include: the ability to provide more exercise for the reptile, the ability to provide choice to the reptile for body temp control, a heightened sense of security flowing water provides the ability to regulate their own hydration needs. (who knows better than they what they require). **I personally stress that you can never underestimate the power of feeling safe and secure in keeping your reptile healthy. Many of these pros are what I believe are the reasons that cohabitation works here.
http://lllreptile.com/info/library/care-and-husbandry-articles/-/multiple-species-habitats/
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=2599
http://www.reptileexpert.co.uk/IsItSafeToMixReptileSpecies.html