What do you use for hides

[akaangela]

I hav been looking for the best hide for my BP's. At first I used a Mac and cheese box (please don't laugh). Then I upgraded them to a cardboard box with a door cut in the side. I just got two new BP's and they are much bigger than my other two. The female is 580g and she is getting one of the cardbard box hide (which is always moves around). The other male, 1590g I used a UPS cardboard box with a large door on it. Everyone except the male moves thire hids all the time. Is this on purpose or just because they are rubbing or going over it? The male I think dosent move his because itis wedged in a corrner and very hard to move. My first girl, Gracie, was moved from her cage (a 55gallon) to a 20 gallon long and seems to be out of her hide most of the time, dosethis mean she is stressed. My first male is still very small, 200g approx, I moved him to a 10 gallon as he seemed a bit stressed and I was hopeing that the smaller tank would make him feel more safe, will this be ok for him for a while? He is so small he only fills up half of a mack and cheese box and that is what I am useing for his hide as he seems to like it better. The two new ones came from the same place andthey each have half of the 55 gallon (but I am seriously looking for a larger tank for them as it gives them the space of a 20g long each but it is much taller). Am I over killing the space they need? Is a 20 long ok for one adult ball? Thanks and sorry this is so long.

 

[Beeker]

When i used to have snakes we just used cat litter pans and flipped them upside down and cut an opening/door in the front of it. My snakes like them a lot and they were easy to move/clean.

kyle

 

[MGReptiles]

I use the kitty pans as well for my bigger snakes and then Ill use plastic or clay pot bottoms for the smaller animals.... Cheap and easy.. And hey I have used some cereal boxes in my day..lol

 

[Glenn Bartley]

I have used lots of things, but not a cardboard box of any type since I was about 12 - and that was a long time ago when not so much was known about snake care.

Nowadays I use many things for hideboxes but all have some similar traits:

1.They are all fairly heavy (be careful if using a glass bottomed tank - don't drop a heavy hide) or fit snuggly into an enclosure, this so they cannot be moved about as the snake crawls in the enclosure. A lightweight hide made from a cardboard box is almost guaranteed to be pushed around as the snake crawls throughout the enclosure.

2. They are all easy to clean. Cardboard boxes of any sort, even wax covered ones, are prone to becoming soiled and holding moisture. This breeds unwanted bacteria, fungus and molds - not good things to share your snakes home.

3. They are inexpensive. I do not buy hide boxes at the pet shop because they usually charge astronomical prices for a piece of plastic that should cost less than half the price. I often use flower pots, either terra cota or heavy plastic. I do have some black plastic hides made for snakes, I wond them at a herp society meeting. They are ok but a bit on the light weight side.

4. It is pretty dark inside each hide I use. This may seem like a silly thing to have to say but, I am often amazed by how many people use hides with holes the size of the entrance to the Holland Tunnel. I try to use a hole that is barely large enough to allow the snake entry after a good sized meal.

5. The size of the hide I use is sufficient to pack in no more than about three or four snakes of the size and type for which I am using any particular hide. It is this size with either a single snake or a pair.

5. With BPs I try to use 2 hides, one with a hoile in the top and the other with a hole in its side. Two hides probably help to reduce stress in BPs and other snakes, one at the cool end and one at the warm end.