Hide Questions.

[iceman25]

I have learnt over time, and in painful ways, not to hold on to any information too tightly for it can change on you while you were looking somewhere else. That being said, I would like your input on hide requirements for Ball Pythons.

From what I have read online and learnt from experienced breeders and keepers, these are very shy secretive creatures that live in rodent burrows. Therefore, by standards established by experience and observations, they require a minimum of two hides in their enclosure to feel secure.

If this is supposed to be the standard practice when keeping them, why is it that some people do not provide them with even a single one when housing them in plastic? I know that Mark & Jayne don't provide hides for their snakes because I read this on their website. Is this not bad practice?

I know that plastics are not as transparent as glass, and hence one could argue that a ball python does not require a hide in a rubbermaid or a sterilite. However, the fact is that the snakes can still see you and react to your movements from within the enclosure and therefore is capable of being "stressed" out.

Sometimes the enclosure is a really large plastic container that is located in a part of the house or room that gets a lot of traffic. How is this any better than a glass tank with no hides. I have seen the argument that plastics provide somewhat of a security barrier becuase of its opacity and hence one does not need any hides. I am not sure if I agree with this. Why not go all the way and make it fully secure by providing a hide or two? I have yet to see a bp refuse a properly set up hide!

Yet the fact remains that some breeders and keepers don't provide their snakes with one. This only leads me to ponder if they know something more about bp behavior than the rest of the community. Any and all comments welcome.

P.S I guess this was buggin me lately and I had to get it off my chest.

[Shelby]

Well, it does depend on the individual snake. I personally like hides for clear enclosures.. but dark racks, and boaphiles don't need them so much.. but it depends on the snake really! My big fat boas don't need them in my opinion.. they are not shy, and eat like pigs even though they have no hides. they have more room to stretch out though.

[iceman25]

don't need them so much.. but it depends on the snake really!

Lol, I can understand with a bolder snake like a boa or a large burm. But with a bp? The above quote is my point. Is it a gray area? I mean its either safe or its not right? Is there a "maybe probabaly possibly" involved when providing for the snake? If it depends on the snake, how would one know this for sure? Is it not better to provide a hide and be sure instead of guessing? Markus Jayne don't provide any hides, even for ones that may need it. Lol, do you see what I'm trying to say here? Akkkk, this issue is going to drive me ape poop for the next couple of days

[Shelby]

Well, I know Adam says he uses only one and not any (I think) for some of his adults you get to know which ones are more bold, and what ones are comfortable without a hide.

[iceman25]

So is it safe to assume that an older bp which is more comfortable around humans does not require a hide? Is this a good enough reason to not provide them with one? I have had several older ones that were really comfortable around strangers, but would still use their hides most of the time. The question is, are we taking something away from them by not providing them with a hide or hides even though they have become well adjusted to the household.

[Shelby]

I don't really know with BPs. I have a lot more experience with other species.. many of which cease to use their hides at a certain point.

[iceman25]

I have a lot more experience with other species.. many of which cease to use their hides at a certain point.

Yah, I know what you mean. I have yet to see a large Retic or an Afrock tightly squished up in a hide

[Shelby]

hehe.. nope.