cant stand hide boxes

[snakedude56]

For some reason my 3 year old male ball python simply refuses to use any and every type of hide box i put in his cage for him. he is a well established eater and pooper but instead of going in his hide boxes he hides behind them. ive tryed overturned flower pots of various sizes, boxes of all shapes and sizes, and i have some half logs in there now. I know half logs make bad hides but i covered the openings of each side with thick construction paper and cut a whole in one so he can get in and out. his temps are 94 hot side and 80-82 cool side. do u guys have any suggestions as to what i could do? all my other balls use there hides expcept him. im quite confused

[Sputnik]

Mine are housed in racks, none of them are given a hide. Juvies, yearlings, adults.... none of them and they all eat just fine.

If in aquariums or something similar they are probably a good idea, but in racks they are a waste of time IMO.

I think hides just keep them shy IMO, none of mine are shy because they see me everyday they have got used to human contact! But there is a big diff between rack housing and open housing like with aquariums etc. Having said that, do whatever works for you and your animal/s

[mr~python]

with aquariums and wooden enclosures or other enclosure with a lot of open space 2 hidess are definitely needed. in racks they probably aren't NEEDED but its still a good idea. i give mine a hide that they can use if they ever feel insecure for any reason. my big male doesnt use it all the time but he uses it often and my female is always in hers.

make sure the hides are nice and tight, snakedude. if they're really open then the snake might nor even bother because they're not making him feel anymore secure.

[snakedude56]

there definitely nice and tight but not too tight. i was just curious cus my others all use theirs. thanks for the quick responses

[SPJ]

My BP are kept in racks and only 2 do not use hides.

The others all use them. Each animal is an individual. Some use hides and some don't.