Do both of my hides need to be identical?

[Zlo98]

I am setting up my glass terrarium before I go to get my ball python in the next week or so. When I went to get all the stuff for the set-up, the pet shop only had one of each type of hide so my question is do both of my hides need to be the same or can I have two different looking hides?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

If you provide two it helps, otherwise the snake might chose security over thermoregulating.

[Mustang5]

No most of my tanks have different hides and they work just fine.

[Zlo98]

Alright thanks! The one I have right now is admittedly a bit big for the size snake I am looking to get. I have read about people using newspaper to make it fit their snake better. Is that a safe thing to do?

[ballpythonsrock2]

I am setting up my glass terrarium before I go to get my ball python in the next week or so. When I went to get all the stuff for the set-up, the pet shop only had one of each type of hide so my question is do both of my hides need to be the same or can I have two different looking hides?

I don't think you would have to have 2 identical but I think it is better. That way the snake won't pick it's favorite hide over the need for the right temp. You have 2 the same it will pick according to temp. or cleanliness. My hides are plenty big for my snake. It has plenty room and doesn't mind a bit. I bought dishwashing plastic tubs at Family Dollar and have them in a 40 gal. I cut the doors way off center, my snake hides on the side away from the door. I have eco-earth which is soft. She digs down and makes herself a little nest like. She has room to pull in her mice/rat and swallow them. She wraps them up inside sometimes. In their natural habitat they sometimes go into huge termite mounds. But I think they don't sit in the middle of it. They probably hunker down in one of the corners and waits for an animal to stroll by. Or do like my girl and sit and wait to greet them at the door, with a big smile. and say come on in.

[DVirginiana]

I wouldn't say they need to be identical, but the same size is a good idea. If one is purple and the other is green or a slightly different design that probably won't make any difference, but if one is much larger than the other the snake may gravitate to the more secure feeling hide rather than thermoregulating.

An older snake might not mind having extra space in their hide, but for a baby that you don't have eating yet there's a lot less time to figure out whether they're okay with that or not and get them calm and eating. I'd personally use sphagnum moss to make hides more secure instead of paper just because it's got a more natural texture to it.

[Capps14e]

One trick I like to use when I have a hide a little on the large side is balling up paper towels/tissues and putting them in the hide. This creates a more snug feeling and sense of security. Just a cheap alternative if you're unable to afford or acquire sphagnum moss for some reason.

[JoshSloane]

No, they don't need to be identical at all. As long as they are of appropriate size, and allow the snake to feel safe when in different thermal gradients in the cage you are fine. I have had snakes who wont even use their premium hides, and would rather be under a piece of paper towel, haha.

In the wild these snakes would wedge themselves into unused burrows, under tree stumps and basically anything they can find to feel snug. Definitely no uniformity in nature. Hides can be anything you want as long as they are correctly sized and easily cleanable. The snake isn't going to care if they look different.

[tbowman]

If you provide two it helps, otherwise the snake might chose security over thermoregulating.

This.

[JoshSloane]

This.

The OP already stated in the first post that they were getting multiple hides...