wet boxes?

[dr del]

Hi again,


I just read in another thread that some people only introduce wet boxes when their snakes are shedding and wondered what everyone opinion was on this?

The reason I ask is I have always had a wet box available to all my snakes ( and lizards) 24/7 and they frequently use them even when not in shed - the cornsnakes especially seem to enjoy them and both of them will occasionally "dig" in the loose damp peat. This seems more prevalent after I change the peat however but it's not uncommon to look in the tank and see a nose pop out with a little pile of peat on the end of it.


dr del

[tigerlily]

Whenever I hear 'wet', it makes me nervous. I'm glad you clarified that it's only damp.

I did offer a humid hide (aka wet hide) when I used tanks, but I no longer need them since they've moved to the racks.

[recycling goddess]

same here. some times i even miss that a snake is blue... and i just find the shed - perfect in one piece in the enclosure.

[dr del]

Hi again,


So you don't find there is any advantage of letting the snake pick its own humidity?

I notice that when mine are in shed they do not spend all their time in the "damp box" (does that cause less anxiety tigerlily? ) but still move around the tank.

I realise this will be mostly to do with thermoregulation but they still did it when I tried multiple damp boxes (which I still provide for gravid females in case they are feeling fussy) though not to the same extent.

On the subject of racks do you still need to provide hide boxes inside the tubs or does the whole tub become a hide?


dr del

[Kizerk]

my snakes havent shedded yet,i use a paper towel as substrate, and it holds humitity pretty well, but if i see that they're having trouble shedding, i'll probably make them a humid hide

[tigerlily]

I don't know whether it would cause more or less anxiety. I really am still a big newb when it comes to this stuff. I can answer the more common problems and can share my experiences as well. I would think that the shed process is a stressful time for them, but as long as they shed then all is well. Even if you have to soak and help the shed off once in a while, then you're doing good.