Housing Advice Please :)

DeadlyDesires · 03-17-14, 07:56 PM

Do any of ya'll have any preference on hides for your snakes? someone mentioned that they feel it can make them more aggressive? any input on that? just curious, i know some use hides and some dont im interested to know others opinions.

Jim Smith · 03-17-14, 08:21 PM

Since I only keep Honduran milk snakes, I may not be the best person to answer this question, but I can't imagine keeping my snakes without offering them a choice of hides to use. I would think not providing them with hides would cause them to stress out quite a bit more, perhaps even shortening their life span.

DeadlyDesires · 03-17-14, 08:32 PM

ok, i always offer them to my snakes but im looking to rack systems so dunno if they can fit hides lol.

Terranaut · 03-17-14, 10:23 PM

Some of my snakes love hides and some prefer to sit on them over in them. It depends on the species. My ball, gopher and king snake use their hides but my carpets and boas do not.

Mikoh4792 · 03-17-14, 10:37 PM

I'd rather have an agressive snake that can hide when it wants, than a placid snake that is stressed from not being able to hide when it wants.

I use these plastic hides from reptilebasics. Very easy to clean

Reptile Hide Boxes from Reptile Basics

shaunyboy · 03-17-14, 11:03 PM

hides make the snake feel more secure,so they're less stressed,imo also less likely to be defensive biters

imo they like nice snug tight fitting hides,where their body touches,all the sides and inside of the roof,all at the same time

my Carpets all go into their hides for roughly 7 days before and 7 days after they shed

i personally would NOT have an enclosure that did not have hides,they are beneficial to the snake

i don't like to see an open tank where the snake has no where to hide itself away,should it feel like doing so

i also make sure there's plenty branches at various heights,to allow them optimum choices to thermoregulate

i also make sure there's plenty fake silk leaved plants,again so they can hide when they feel like it

a snake needs choices a tank without adequate hiding places,without them it can sometimes stress a snake out,causing nervous defensive biting

cheers shaun

shaunyboy · 03-17-14, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadlyDesires

ok, i always offer them to my snakes but im looking to rack systems so dunno if they can fit hides lol.

imo you should be able to find hides that will fit in a rack system mate

also i'm NOT being cheeky but.....

you should ALWAYS use enclosures that suits the SNAKES needs,not the humans needs,better still find enclosures that suit both needs human and snake

cheers shaun

DeadlyDesires · 03-17-14, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

imo you should be able to find hides that will fit in a rack system mate

also i'm NOT being cheeky but.....

you should ALWAYS use enclosures that suits the SNAKES needs,not the humans needs,better still find enclosures that suit both needs human and snake

cheers shaun

im not saying im going to take their hides away.. all my snakes have somewhere to hide, im just asking because ive seen some people with rack systems that dont have hides because the whole tub is one big hide so thats why im asking.

Mikoh4792 · 03-17-14, 11:42 PM

tubs act as hides because they are small, short and dark.

It's always good to have big enclosures with hides that are small, short and dark.

DeadlyDesires · 03-17-14, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

tubs act as hides because they are small, short and dark.

It's always good to have big enclosures with hides that are small, short and dark.

so you dont like racks?

Mikoh4792 · 03-17-14, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadlyDesires

so you dont like racks?

I like racks for babies before they are sold off, and also maybe for grow out enclosures(up to a year old for carpet pythons).

But I was mainly responding to your comment about racks not having hides because they act as hides themselves. If you get a rack that provides ample space for whatever snake you will be housing, I'd imagine you'd still need to provide hides.

You only need to omit hides when racks are very small. It depends on how big the rack is in relation to the snake.

For example

This tub is small, so I guess it can act as a hide itself.

But this tub is obviously meant for a smaller snake, so there is a lot of cover and hiding spots.

in other words, a 4x2 tub is the same as a 4x2 wooden enclosure. If it provides a good amount of space, hiding places are necessary for security.

DeadlyDesires · 03-18-14, 12:00 AM

oh ok,thanks for clearing that up,im merely asking these questions b/c not everything you see/hear is right, and i wanna do it right

Mikoh4792 · 03-18-14, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadlyDesires

oh ok,thanks for clearing that up,im merely asking these questions b/c not everything you see/hear is right, and i wanna do it right

No problem. However it's only my opinion. You won't kill your snake by keeping it in a small enclosure/tub, but I'd like to think keepers are willing to provide more for the animals under their care.

DeadlyDesires · 03-18-14, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

No problem. However it's only my opinion. You won't kill your snake by keeping it in a small enclosure/tub, but I'd like to think keepers are willing to provide more for the animals under their care.

yup i def understand, i would like to get something that they would be comfortable in and i like the look of the racks better than cages everywhere and they are cheaper than the boaphiles

Terranaut · 03-18-14, 01:05 AM

I also think that just providing enough room to survive is not the same as enough room to thrive. More is more. I also like to be able to look at my snakes when I am in the same room and not have to pull out a drawer to have a peek. I will admit I hate racks but I also may have different expectations from my snakes and at the same time the smallertubs will not harm them in any way. I personally would get cages over racks but that's just my opinion.