Rack system - hide or no hide?

[Brie]

Pretty simple question... but I've been reading alot of different answers.

So I've got this new rack I built and trying to figure out if the babies need hides or not. The rack completely enclosed on three sides so it should give them a nice secure feeling.

If yes to use hides... one or two? warm or cool side?


Opinions?

[iCandiBallPythons]

For me it depends on the individual animal, if they are strong feeders and show no signs of insecurity or stress then i dont use hides. If they are a picky eater or seem very shy then i will put a hide in to help them feel more secure. For the most part I dont use them in my collection except for babies or new arrivals.

[steveboos]

Yeah exactly what Malcolm said, Just depends on the individual animal. Me personally if i can fit a hide in there and they use it, it stays.

So now out of 7 snakes, all but one have a hide, she will get a hide when in the CB-70 though, i feel that if they use it, leave it. Sometimes ball pythons wont need it or use it, then just take it out. But don't deprive them of it just cause your lazy to clean them or don't like the way it looks.

[iCandiBallPythons]

Something I forgot to mention is I use paper towels or unprinted newspaper for substrate, so most of the time if they want to they will go under the paper.

[Brie]

Well they currently have two hides each... but will be moving everyone but Dixie and the two quarantined babies to the new rack this weekend.

Do you find many people that are too lazy to clean/disinfect their hides? It takes like 15 -30 minutes... depending on how many you have to do.

[Brie]

Something I forgot to mention is I use paper towels or unprinted newspaper for substrate, so most of the time if they want to they will go under the paper.

I'm still not sure what substrate I'll use. I'm currently trying out a reptibark/eco earth combo which has been great for the humidity/nice in the display tanks but difficult to spot clean. I'll probably go back to aspen.... as humidity shouldn't be such an issue in the rack *I hope*

[Adam Chandler]

I keep a ReptileBasics hide on the warm side of my CB-70's so my BP's have a little extra security if they desire. I use Aspens in all my racks.

[ameh78]

out of 4 - two no hides - one has a hide and one prefers to make his own hide and goes under the newspaper

[iCandiBallPythons]

I'm still not sure what substrate I'll use. I'm currently trying out a reptibark/eco earth combo which has been great for the humidity/nice in the display tanks but difficult to spot clean. I'll probably go back to aspen.... as humidity shouldn't be such an issue in the rack *I hope*

What size bins are you using?

[Brie]

Orginally I bought all 34 qt tubs which Zohan and Gizmo should both do fine in those since they are currently in 20 gal long tanks. They are way too big for Cyngen and Kindle as they both are less than 100 grams. So last night I picked up some shoe box size tubs to use for them.