Tubs -- hides, or no hides?

I am planning on building a rack -- hopefully in the near future.

I was wondering what most of you do for hides. I have seen on here that some of you don't use them; some use one, and some use two. So, what do you use, and what is your reasoning?

Ideally, I would like it if I didn't have to use any. It seems if I had to put two in there for more 1200g male that there wouldn't be much room left in a 32 qt tub.

How about those that use one hide? It seems like that would be worse than no hides -- wouldn't the bp just hang in the one hide all the time, and sacrifice proper temp for security?

Thanks,

George

I have all my snakes in racks and I dont generally keep hides in there. There are a few balls that prefer them for the most part they hide under the news paper. I havent really seen any difference in feeding and they dont seem stressed to me. Just my opinion. I know a few guys who keep hides in there and some who dont. Maybe just a matter of what you want. But I personally dont like having a 32qt tub cluttered up with a hide. Just my thoughts

In My opinion it all depends from size of tub and sise of python. i'm buying right now 41qt rack from reptilebasic for my 1200+ gram YB female. i'm gonna put 1 hide for a comfort for her... but i the same rack i'm gonna keep around 600-700g male as well and for him i for sure gonna put 2 hides just because i know 41 qt tub is a little bit too much for snake this size :)

Is you rack enclosed so that all but one side of the tub is covered up? If so, the rack almost works as a hide. I'd probably put at least one in their anyways though. If alot of the tub is uncovered however, I would have more hides. If you're worried about room, try some fake foliage to at least offer a bit of cover.

built my racks and offered hides to some ( taken them out recently to be cleaned and keep forgetting ot place them back in ) but everyone doing ok without them. but then my racks are only open in the front, the sides and back are solid since i used plywood to build mine. I made hte rack large enoug hthey can take my tubs with the lids on and locked as well as wider ( if I ever can find a tun that less than 7 inches tall ) I can move the rack center support or when I rebuild the shelves with heavier plywood to prevent sagging no dividers.. Before you build, get the tubs and such ( or th hides) consider ifthey fit into the rack or the tub with out pushing against the top or casue a gap that the snaek might to squeesze though. ( reason I like my lids on they an top they can't get though and still have some space incase I need to pull it out and not hurt the snake if they got stuck trying to get out as the lid would be against the wood and not the snake .

Thanks for the help everyone. I think once I get my rack built I will probably see how things go without hides. If I have trouble with any of the tenants, then I will use hides as needed.

Later,

George

I use one hide because my rack is in my room which of course has A/C running and I dont want them staying in the cold side for too long. They do come out at nite and move about.

If the tubs are not see through, and stay pretty dark, I don't see the point in having a hide. But some Ball pythons need a hide to feel more secure, and if they don't feel secure even in a dark tub they won't eat.

I offer one hide to everybody.

Some use it some don't.

I would rather provide an hide and the hide not being needed than not providing one and it being needed.