No hides?

Hey guys, I just read an article in which the author recommends NOT having hides for boas. He says they act as a "security blanket," and that large snakes should be used to being exposed to make them less insecure. How many of you do it this way? Thoughts?

i lost the chance to get a RTb, but i woud and did at time go by this, thats why most 'tics and burm don't have hides in there cages, trust me, i know some people do for babies, then take them out as they get older, but i would start with no hide

I think that's silly. I definently think you should provide suitable hides for a boa all throughout its life. The one thing I've observed in my boas is that they don't use them as much as much other species of snakes. Still, I believe they should have the option.

I think the problem is that many people give them hides as babies, then when they get bigger and commercial hides arn't made big enough, they just don't provide one, so then the boa is double stressed because its used to feeling secure and now its exposed.
At the least to can provide some fake foliage as a little bit of cover.

If your keeping the boa in a rack system which is mostly enclosed anyways, then a hide probably isn't neccessary. If they're exposed in their cage, then I would give them something.

We got a reall small baby he has 2 hides. He does not use em tho :taz:

He just sits on top of this log lol

i have a just under 6 foot boa that was raised by someone else with no hide and he has no issues whats so ever. I do not supply him with a hide but do supply him with shredded paper to go under if he indeed feels insecure but i have not had any problems with him since i took it in as a rescue. He eats fine,sheds fine,and can be handled with no problem. If you have a very flighty baby then i would personally supply a hide but imo its not needed.

I've got 2 babies under a year old. The smaller one uses his cool side hide during the day and lays either under or on his little log at night. I have caught him sleeping around his log more and more over the last couple of weeks. The other one, I have only seen in the hides for no more than a few minutes when I put him back in the tub. He is always on or under his climbing branch or on top of his warm side hide. I still provide them whether they choose to use them or not. Maybe they feel secure enough in the tubs not to use the hides. It may be different if they were in tanks...

Feel free to give your snake a hide, it's not going to make it feel "insecure".

Regular handling is probably more important than depriving a snake of options within its enclosure.

My female RTB would rarely go inher hide. She preferred resting coiled on the huge branch I had for her there instead.

yea ours sits wrapped around it or on top or like next to it.

He likes it more then the hides lol

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Originally Posted by BallsUnlimited

i have a just under 6 foot boa that was raised by someone else with no hide and he has no issues whats so ever. I do not supply him with a hide but do supply him with shredded paper to go under if he indeed feels insecure but i have not had any problems with him since i took it in as a rescue. He eats fine,sheds fine,and can be handled with no problem. If you have a very flighty baby then i would personally supply a hide but imo its not needed.

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A 'hide' is really anything the animal can use to get out of sight. I'd say shredded paper is a hide. ;) It doesn't need to be a cave or box or anthing like that.