Hide boxes during breeding?

Hi everyone im wondering how everyone deals with hide boxes during breeding. Do you remove them or keep them. Right now it looks like they are just getting in the way. Is it ok to remove them for breeding?

Thanks
-Idriss

I don't have hide box's .. and most don't cause the rack is dark enough to be a hide ... but from most pics I see with locks there's no hides

I currently have my snakes in sterilite tube if i removed the hides and put a black blanket over top would it be ok?

I wouldn't do that .. could mess up air circulation .. just go buy some black construction paper cut n tape it around the sides

Go ahead and just remove the hides for breeding. I don't keep hides in my tubs because the rack is enclosed and it's pretty dark. However, if I did have hides, I would remove them. It's just one more thing to try and clean later (because females tend to ruin their tubs)

I took mine out for breeding. It would just be in the way.

snakes are flexible, why not just leave it as it is? who says they need a large open space to mate? i see no reason to remove a hide that is in use. they will figure it out.

Remove it for sanitation purposes and because you don't want to disturb the locks to confirm that they're happening by lifting the hide. I like to be able to confirm locks by just looking in the side of the tub. Don't want him to pull out early because you walked in on them and started watching. ;)

I remove mine and do nothing else, no taping paper or anything. I take out hide boxes because I see more locks sooner. Seems males can "find" the female's vent easier without obstacles.