Where to put hole in hide?

[ThuSandman]

I've noticed that some have put the 'doorway' in their hides in the top so our friends can crawl in and out through the top instead of a hole in the side of the hide. Any pros/cons? Good/Bad for that? Do yours seem to like the holes in either one place or another?? Just got some new ones since Eddie has outgrown his first set.... wondering if I should keep his doors on the side or try putting them in the top for a change for the better???

[JLC]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that it's purely the keeper's choice.

[Spaniard]

I like the hole to be off center like the ones here...

http://www.reptilebasics.com/Hide-Boxes-p-1-c-282.html

I don't know what my snake thinks about them but I think it gives them a little added privacy.

[ThuSandman]

Well... the pots already had a rather large 'vented' hole on the bottoms.... so I cut it out and put the hole in the center top. Put one in there while Eddie was in the other. He came out..... looked around.... went over to it and I swear it looked like a kid on a set of monkey bars!! He was in and out, on top raising up, half in... looping back.... just playing it looked like. I put the other one in there and he went back and forth, 'playing' on them!! Now he is settled in one and will every once in a while 'peep' out as seen in the picture. I think he loves his new more spacious rooms!!!

[Kaorte]

Haha that is so cute!

[Mr. Constrictor]

I've used both so this is my opinion. I like the top opening if your a live feeder because the live pray tends to run in to the opening of a side hole hide if the snake doesn't get em fast enuff. One thing I dont like about a top opening is that the size of my biggest girl in her rack she doesn't have enuff hight to get into the top. Other wise theres no real differance. hope this make sence and helps.

[Abby_The_Python]

I read in a book that so they can be touching all sides of the hide at the same time.

It was hard to understand how they worded it, but I ended up putting the hole on the top of the hide.

I like that way best & they are much happier I can tell...to bad they dont make those yellow caves we all have with an opening on top rather then the side. The yellow caves are classic though, would be a cool option though.

[Mindibun]

Just a word to the wise regarding the entrances to hides. Make sure that the hole is large enough to accomodate the width of their body, doubled over. Both of mine like to go half way in and then turn around before their back end has entered the hide. It resulted in one getting completely stuck once. (Well, on more than one occasion really since they are constantly doing it while they're out. I had one get stuck in the loops of a binder just yesterday. Had to take everything out and pop it open.) Anyway, in order to avoid that situation, I started cutting the holes to my hide in the shape of a half hexagon. That is to say that the bottom of the hole is quite wide, and then narrows slightly as it goes up. By doing it this way, I can ensure that the bottom of the hole is wide enough for them to double over, and at the same time I am not making such a large hole that they do not feel secure.

Just some food for thought. I'm sure it depends on your own snake's habits.

[Muze]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that it's purely the keeper's choice.

I'm going to have to agree. I have most with holes on top, and a few with holes on the sides. It takes the new snakes longer to figure out it's a hide when the hole is on top, but that's the only difference I've noticed.