Attached to one hide box

Kaity · 12-20-12, 01:49 PM

My 3 y.o. male bci is very attached to one particular hide. Instead of using one on the hot end and one on the cool end, he noses the one from the hot end to the other side of his enclosure if he wants to hide and cool off. He also revolted when I removed it and replaced it with a different one (it had some fecal matter on the bottom). He tipped over his water bowl every night until I trimmed the poopy ends off the shoebox and put it back in. Is he weird? Do your boas do this? Do I have to keep buying adidas shoes forever?

SpOoKy · 12-20-12, 01:50 PM

lol, could just be the size and shape of it that is making him more comfortable.

EmbraceCalamity · 12-20-12, 01:52 PM

That's interesting. Is one larger than the other?

~Maggot

**Aaron_S** · 12-20-12, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaity

My 3 y.o. male bci is very attached to one particular hide. Instead of using one on the hot end and one on the cool end, he noses the one from the hot end to the other side of his enclosure if he wants to hide and cool off. He also revolted when I removed it and replaced it with a different one (it had some fecal matter on the bottom). He tipped over his water bowl every night until I trimmed the poopy ends off the shoebox and put it back in. Is he weird? Do your boas do this? Do I have to keep buying adidas shoes forever?

Take videos of these actions. First signs of snakes having the mental capabilities of thought.

I would recommend having two hides of similar size. One on each end. If one becomes soiled. Give him another one. He'll warm up to in a day or two when he realizes it won't harm him.

They don't revolt or have those kind of feelings. He'll tip the water anyway.

dinosaurdammit · 12-20-12, 02:18 PM

My female boa Athena is obsessed with this one particular half log, though she cannot fit in it (it raises it up 4 inches off the ground when she coils) she seems to panic when I remove it. It came from her previous owner and I often wonder if it /somehow/ retained his scent or maybe its just her "comfort object".

Jerry Rice, my male is obsessed with this fishbowl that is turned on its side. Its his haven, I dont know why but I wonder if snakes associate a specific hide with feeling safe? Similar to the way snakes trust some people but not others?

**Aaron_S** · 12-20-12, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

My female boa Athena is obsessed with this one particular half log, though she cannot fit in it (it raises it up 4 inches off the ground when she coils) she seems to panic when I remove it. It came from her previous owner and I often wonder if it /somehow/ retained his scent or maybe its just her "comfort object".

Jerry Rice, my male is obsessed with this fishbowl that is turned on its side. Its his haven, I dont know why but I wonder if snakes associate a specific hide with feeling safe? Similar to the way snakes trust some people but not others?

When snakes hide they feel most secure when they can feel something on all sides of them. No matter how small it may be to them it's most secure.

Lankyrob · 12-20-12, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaity

My 3 y.o. male bci is very attached to one particular hide. Instead of using one on the hot end and one on the cool end, he noses the one from the hot end to the other side of his enclosure if he wants to hide and cool off. He also revolted when I removed it and replaced it with a different one (it had some fecal matter on the bottom). He tipped over his water bowl every night until I trimmed the poopy ends off the shoebox and put it back in. Is he weird? Do your boas do this? Do I have to keep buying adidas shoes forever?

Are both hides exactly the same?

shaunyboy · 12-20-12, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

When snakes hide they feel most secure when they can feel something on all sides of them. No matter how small it may be to them it's most secure.

snakes will use the hide they feel most secure in,as Aaron says they like to be able to touch all the sides of a hide,this makes them feel secure

imo 2 identical hides like the one he preffers,would solve your issues

cheers shaun

Kaity · 12-20-12, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

snakes will use the hide they feel most secure in,as Aaron says they like to be able to touch all the sides of a hide,this makes them feel secure

imo 2 identical hides like the one he preffers,would solve your issues

cheers shaun

I think I'll just build a couple plywood/particleboard ones with the same dimensions as the shoebox he likes. I've never built anything, though; anyone know how to be sure the screws won't stick out?

EmbraceCalamity · 12-20-12, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaity

I think I'll just build a couple plywood/particleboard ones with the same dimensions as the shoebox he likes. I've never built anything, though; anyone know how to be sure the screws won't stick out?

Don't put them all the way through the wood.

If you're putting screws in, they should only be going into two pieces of wood where they won't be able to go all the way through anything. And make sure there's no splinters. That would be my primary concern.

~Maggot

Gungirl · 12-20-12, 05:10 PM

Why not just buy shoe boxes? you can get cardboard ones dirt cheep.

**Aaron_S** · 12-20-12, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaity

I think I'll just build a couple plywood/particleboard ones with the same dimensions as the shoebox he likes. I've never built anything, though; anyone know how to be sure the screws won't stick out?

I would recommend away from this. To my knowledge these woods are porous and who wants all that fecal matter just sticking in there? Gross.

Stick to cardboard so you can easily toss it if it's soiled.