Height of hide important?

[MadTurtle]

So I bought a plastic flower pot, cut a hole in it and sanded the edges.. My concern is if it's to "High" .. The width will be fine , should be pretty snug.. I am just worried about how tall it is.. Should I be? It's about 5-6 inches in height.. I also was just going to go with 1 hide instead of 2.. Should it go on the cooler end?

[redshepherd]

Ideally, it should be a low hide, but it depends on the individual snake. Some ball pythons won't be fine with it and won't feel secure to eat, but some will still eat.

If you just have one hide, I put it at the warm end. Ideally also should have two hides though.

[Arcticae]

It could well be a problem, I went through a couple of different hides when I got my BP (wasn't sure what size he'd be, I ordered him online) and he definitely prefers a low hide that has extra room around his sides to a high-ceiling hide that hugs him tightly otherwise. They feel safest when it's touching as much of their body as possible.

It's also advisable to go with two identical hides if you are using a vivarium/tank enclosure (many people seem to get away fine with one hide- or even none- in a rack setup, I have a viv but I guess the racks are pretty secluded by themselves), one hot and one cool.

Otherwise a shy snake can sacrifice thermoregulation in favour of security, which isn't good for them especially when digesting food- they'll need the higher temperature at this time and really don't like to bask in the open.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

It is you want a BP hide to fit him like a shell does a turtle.

Need to be tight and snug.

[Oxylepy]

If your snake has to burrow slightly to fit, it could be good. I use aspen in tubs, if they eat they don't get hides, if they need hides they get a flower pot base and have to burrow in the aspen to get in it

[MadTurtle]

I know he's about 300 grams and I've been driving myself crazy trying to figure out what size to get him.. The plastic pot I have is 7 inches in diameter.. I could cut it down even more( to about 5 1/2 inches wide) which would make it not as tall either.. (down to about 3 inches)I just don't know how long he is since He won't be shipped to me until next week .. To me, it seems like I could cut it down and be fine..

[Arcticae]

Have you thought of using the saucers that are supposed to go underneath the flowerpots instead, turned upside down and with an entrance cut? You'd get a much better height and they are available in as much size variety as the pots themselves.

[redshepherd]

Do you know about reptilebasics hides? These sizes work very well for ball pythons

http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

[MadTurtle]

I looked into those red but with shipping it would be around $25 for 2 hides😕.. I cut the pot down to about 2 and a half inches high and about 5 and a half inches wide... I'm hoping it works.. I am gonna grab a few more and make a few a little larger just to have in case they are too small.. The ones I have now look small but from what I'm hearing they should be.. At 300 grams I think once he curls up it should be a pretty snug fit.. I'm also going to put one at both ends so he has two

[Oxylepy]

If you have bedding in there just throw a dinner plate in upside down