Hide Spaces

Hello! All my snakes have two or more hide spaces (depending on which ones need more security), and all of them are different. For example; My Ball Python has a rock hide and a log hide. Since snakes will choose security over properly heating themselves, should all my snakes have all the same hides spaces in their enclosures (I.E Ball Python: Two rocks hides, instead of rock hide and log hide)? Then they would have absolutely no reason to choose whichever feels more secure, and they might do a little better job at heating/cooling their body temps, right? All my snakes will go to their less secure hides to regulate body temps if they need to, but they almost seem reluctant and I don't want that. Thanks in advanced

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Originally Posted by B.O.S Reptiles

Hello! All my snakes have two or more hide spaces (depending on which ones need more security), and all of them are different. For example; My Ball Python has a rock hide and a log hide. Since snakes will choose security over properly heating themselves, should all my snakes have all the same hides spaces in their enclosures (I.E Ball Python: Two rocks hides, instead of rock hide and log hide)? Then they would have absolutely no reason to choose whichever feels more secure, and they might do a little better job at heating/cooling their body temps, right? All my snakes will go to their less secure hides to regulate body temps if they need to, but they almost seem reluctant and I don't want that. Thanks in advanced

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All snakes should have two identical hides. If money is an issue there are things you can do to still make a good hide, but the black box hides from like Reptile basics are nice, though I get mine from Pagnea because I don't like his shipping prices.

But they are DIY tutorials on how to make your own hides cheaper, but the thing is to make them tight fitting.

Some of my setups have two different hides. I don't worry about them being identical as long as both hides get used. If you have proper hides and proper husbandry there should be no reason to worry. My brb has two identical hides but he hardly ever uses the one on top of the uth. Being that his cage temps are good it presents no issue for him.

If the log hide you referred to OP is a half log with two large opened ends it is not a good choice for a ball.

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Originally Posted by Neal

All snakes should have two identical hides.

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I hope my snakes don't find out about this requirement...

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Originally Posted by sho220

I hope my snakes don't find out about this requirement...

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Let's not be picky and start an issue over this. You've been here and seen enough to know that the hides should be similar, not have to be identical. But somebody reading this thread and seeing they can be different can be taken the wrong way. Who's to say my idea of different isn't vaguely different from another person. Does it have to be the same exact size? No. Same material? No. So in their mind they can go do two way different hides and then it's because it was briefly read and it said they don't have to be identical.

We recommend stuff that is easier for newer keepers to understand because something we have that we've all acquired over time in dealing with snakes they don't have. I know the hides don't have to be identical, but I have experience. Most of us recommend not to bother feeding new snakes but they have people who have been here for years that do this regardless, because while know they won't always eat, others may freak out because there new snake isn't eating. Some veteran members recommend new keepers to not feed during shed, but I know many many if not most of us veteran keepers feed while they're in shed, or at least offer.

It's different when talking from one veteran to another versus a veteran to a new keeper. So again, let's not start an issue here.

EDIT:
A prime example is BOS using a log hide and a rock hide. That log hide has two entrances versus if it's the exo terra rock hide I'm thinking of has one, that means less security and at some point in the time he's been a member on the forums he's read that the hides don't have to be identical, so that's where that came into play. If somebody says similar the definition of similar can vary by so much it's not even funny. Identical is safer when talking to a new person for this exact reason.

My hides aren't identical but he uses them both. He prefers his warm hide though. Even if I switch the hides themselves, he'll keep close to the hotspot. (Makes me want to partition his 40gal and put a girlfriend next door to him :P)

Sent from my warm hide

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Originally Posted by Archimedes

My hides aren't identical but he uses them both. He prefers his warm hide though. Even if I switch the hides themselves, he'll keep close to the hotspot. (Makes me want to partition his 40gal and put a girlfriend next door to him :P)

Sent from my warm hide

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No but I'd bet that they're very close in size/space and the way he fits in them though, right?

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Originally Posted by Neal

No but I'd bet that they're very close in size/space and the way he fits in them though, right?

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Yeah, the coverage area's about the same. His cool hide is a little roomier, but when he uses it he tends to sit halfway outside it anyway. Its where he parks his butt when he's hungry, hahah.

Sent from my warm hide

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Originally Posted by Neal

It's different when talking from one veteran to another versus a veteran to a new keeper. So again, let's not start an issue here.

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Absolutely...let's keep the misinformation train chugging along...you MUST provide identical hides, you MUST not feed more often than once a week, you MUST not feed during sheds, you MUST keep them at 86.23572 degrees on the cold side and 91.42553 on the hot side, if you feed a snake the day you get it, it will EXPLODE, you may not, under any circumstances, handle your snake until a full 48 hours after it's last meal.

IMO you're doing newbs a disservice by passing along absolutes like that...why not just explain to them like you explained in your reply to me...
:confusd:

And in order to not start an "issue", this will be my last post on this thread...
:gj:

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Originally Posted by sho220

Absolutely...let's keep the misinformation train chugging along...you MUST provide identical hides, you MUST not feed more often than once a week, you MUST not feed during sheds, you MUST keep them at 86.23572 degrees on the cold side and 91.42553 on the hot side, if you feed a snake the day you get it, it will EXPLODE, you may not, under any circumstances, handle your snake until a full 48 hours after it's last meal.

IMO you're doing newbs a disservice by passing along absolutes like that...why not just explain to them like you explained in your reply to me...
:confusd:

And in order to not start an "issue", this will be my last post on this thread...
:gj:

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I'm going to edit my reply and keep it simple. I never said MUST. I was only trying to be simple and to the point. Stop trolling now sho, you already troll enough threads.