Using hides???

I have never used a hide with my boas, but do remember when I had a very large ball python collection it was almost a must to provide one for there comfort, and need for security.

Anyone here use hides here for their boas? I was thinking about getting some and seeing how it goes. I don see it hurting, although I do remember cleaning poop off them a lot lol.

I know for boa babies and Juvies they recomend that you use hides. Most ault boas seem indifferent to hides from what I've read. My boas have always had hides apparently and will use them as adults so I provide them. From what I've seen however they don't use them. It's very hard to find boa hides on the market. I used cat litter bans from the dollar store and cut a hole in the side.

All of that information is based on my research however as I am very new to boas and don't have alot of experience with them.

Hope this helps :)

I have three Colombian morphs, with the following "rescults":

My hypo girl loves her hides (plastic plant holders with an entrance cut in): she's always in them. She's a late '10 and still in a tub.
My jungle boy has only used his a handful of times since I've had him so I took them out. He's not stressed without them and never misses a meal. He's a year and a half old and still in a tub.
My new sharp albino girl uses her hides 50/50 since having her. I know she'd be fine without it if I took them out but they're in there if she needs them. She's a late '11 baby and in a tub.

When they're big and in plastic cages I'll decided whether to put large hides in with them or not (I would say it depends on the snake). I know that most people with large adult boas usually don't have hides.

Mine has two, but shes only 5 months and only uses one of them half the time, I find her on top of it more than in it

I have colurbrids, and they love to borrow. So I provide them with a 1-3 in deep bedding (depending on their size) for them to borrow.

But when it comes to Boas and Pythons I dont provide them a hide, imo it makes them less active and seems to make them more scared of human contact.

My two small boas use their hides pretty regularly. My larger ones tend to only use them when they go into shed. The rest of the time, they are usually perching on them or the branches.

My boa hides all the time, and appreciates the two I provide. He's just over 4 feet long and squeezes into large RBI hides :rolleyes:

Got a kenyan sand boa recently and she prefers burrowing in her substrate more than anything. Do kenyans need hides or are they fine without?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by foreverbored

Got a kenyan sand boa recently and she prefers burrowing in her substrate more than anything. Do kenyans need hides or are they fine without?

---

My female has no hides in her cage and she's fine. She's under her substrate 99.9% of the time. My male has two hides, never uses them, ever. I plan on taking them out soon.
So I'd say nay to the hides for kenyans. Just make sure you have a bunch of substrate. lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ShutUpAndSmile

My female has no hides in her cage and she's fine. She's under her substrate 99.9% of the time. My male has two hides, never uses them, ever. I plan on taking them out soon.
So I'd say nay to the hides for kenyans. Just make sure you have a bunch of substrate. lol

---

Thanks! Whats best for them, UTH or heat lamp?