Hides and soak dish.. is it really needed?

Hi folks, i am relatively new to snakes in general, i own a 4 female normal BPs (1 2011, 1 2010 and 2 2009).

here is my question -
1. is a hide really needed - i saw a lot of big time breeders that does not have hides in their set-up just the pull-out tub

2. is a soak dish really needed - same point above, big time breeders have water dish but not something big enough for BPs to soak... i am thinking to put a smaller water dish instead of a huge soak dish...

thoughts?

It all depends on your setup. If you're using a rack with a enclosed sides, you might not need to use hides, if your animals feel secure enough in their tubs without them. Only way to really determine that is to observe and note their feeding habits with hides and then without and making an informed decision from there.

As to the water dish, that might be dependent on the big time breeders humidity levels in their tubs and racks. A larger dish is going to give more surface area to evaporate the water, thus increasing the humidity. Again, check your humidity levels and if they're good where they are, I wouldn't change them. Some snakes like to soak (my albino will occasionally take a dip, for whatever reason) while others do it to rid themselves of mites. As a general rule you don't necessarily need to provide a dish big enough to soak in. I'd caution you on the size and depth of the dish for neonates, as they could drown in one that's too deep but since yours are juvenile or sub-adults, I wouldn't think that would be as much of a concern.

Whatever works best for YOUR animals is the bottom line. Hope that helps and good luck!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by youbeyouibei

It all depends on your setup. If you're using a rack with a enclosed sides, you might not need to use hides, if your animals feel secure enough in their tubs without them. Only way to really determine that is to observe and note their feeding habits with hides and then without and making an informed decision from there.

As to the water dish, that might be dependent on the big time breeders humidity levels in their tubs and racks. A larger dish is going to give more surface area to evaporate the water, thus increasing the humidity. Again, check your humidity levels and if they're good where they are, I wouldn't change them. Some snakes like to soak (my albino will occasionally take a dip, for whatever reason) while others do it to rid themselves of mites. As a general rule you don't necessarily need to provide a dish big enough to soak in. I'd caution you on the size and depth of the dish for neonates, as they could drown in one that's too deep but since yours are juvenile or sub-adults, I wouldn't think that would be as much of a concern.

Whatever works best for YOUR animals is the bottom line. Hope that helps and good luck!

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Wow! thanks... this put things on prespective... i just got really confused with the 200,000 guides and set-ups... hehe. I live in the Philippines actually so i do not need heating as temp ranges from 28-32 centigrade. there are drops during nov-feb but it is at 22-27 centigrade. humudity is at a constant 60% so i just raise it up by misting during pre-shed until shedding...

I don't use a soak dish. They have something large enough to drink out of.

I have hides for the ones that will use them. One snake likes an old rag instead of a hide so that is what she gets to hide under.

Hides are highly recommended at least until your animal acclimate and until you get a chance to observe their behavior and evaluate if they need an hide or not (this will mainly depend on the enclosure provided)

Tank should have hides, tubs may or may not have hides it depends on the animal itself.

As far as dish to soak, no they do not need a dish big enough to soak in.

+1 everyone

It also depends on the ball python itself. I have some that would do fine without hides in the rack, but I have at least 3 that would boycott food FOREVER if I took their hide out...even from their small enclosed rack. I say it's always safe to throw one in until you get the hang of the snakes personality. I also always provide babies hides, they seem to thrive a little better for me if they have somewhere to escape.

As far as the soak bowls, I don't have a bowl large enough for any of mine to soak in. I think that's more a personal preference. None of mine have given me any grief just because they couldn't soak. It wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it' necessary. They just need enough to drink and keep humidity high in the tubs/rack.

Good luck! :)

Wow! this is a great forum.. thanks Guys...

so... the verdict

hides - YES!
Soak Dish -Good to have but not required...

soak dish - not needed, ball pythons don't soak unless humidity is too low and that is something that needs to be fixed a different way! Water dish only thing needed.

Thanks all! i think several opinions from this site already convinced me to move to a smaller dish so that they will have more real estate. But i will maintain the hides..