Mandatory Optional Items

Okay, so the title is a bit confusing, so let me explain. I posted this on another forum, and am just curious about varying opinions and preferences.

I'm going to assume as a general rule here that everyone understands the basic husbandry of their snakes in terms of what equipment you *need* to maintain them. However, that aside, I'm sure a lot of people do additional things in their snake's homes.

What non-mandatory items do you find yourself ALWAYS using in the vivs for your snakes?

For me personally, I always add a small, baseball sized rock to aid them in shedding, and a small sturdy branch in the event that they wish to climb a bit. What do you all include?

Mine are in a rack so nothing lol...

Mine are part in rack part in vivarium but.... soon all gonna be in Animal Plastics cages..
I prefer narural look inside my cages so cypres mulch.. exo terra stone hides stone bowls and because House snakes will use branches when provided.. they will have them..

Only one thing with spoil that look is accu rite termo hydrometer :p

I use hides, a small rock, and a plant or two. I like to keep it pretty even if they are in tubs. :)

I've only got one colubrid, so anything I do in her cage I "always" do. :P She's got a big hollow "tree" that she can slither through and come out the top. I've had her for almost a year now, and she still loves this thing...she's laying on it as I type, actually. She also makes some elaborate tunnels in the deep aspen. So if I ever get another like her, I'll probably always provide deep substrate they can tunnel through and something fun and interesting to climb on.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5021/5...d8f43220e9.jpg
(This is when I first got her last year...she's bigger now, but otherwise looks just the same. :P )

Judy, I love that snake!! She's very pretty - is she a milk snake? Just wondering because her pattern is so aberant....

I also like to give my snakes a branch. It provides something to climb on and aids shedding. Even my tubs have a branch - it might not be a big one, but there's one in there! ;)

I also have an Accurite in each cage. At the moment, I have one in each tub too even though those are in the same rack, lol... I like to know what the temps are at a glance. Some people use a temp gun or other thermometers, so I don't consider an Accurite in the "mandatory" catagory, but I feel it's mandatory for me. I like the Accurite because it measures the hotspot, the ambient, and the humidity all in one.

She is a milksnake. And thanks! I loves her very much. She makes me grin every time she comes out to visit. (Her tank is right beside my desk. :D )