When Do You Stop Using Hides?

Hey guys, I know adult boas don't really use or require hides and i was wondering at what age/size you guys get ride of them? Any experience helps! Sorry I'm keeping this short but my biggest in slithering on and crushing my laptop currently

I've never stopped using hides. My boa is in a flower pot and we just cut a hole for an door. But my male boa is only 6ft so I'm not entirely sure if that changes anything. He uses his hide all the time.

Alot of it depends on the snake one of my 4 has a hide...I use unprinted rolls of paper and cut the pieces longer and and make a fold so they can go in between the paper and kinda makes a hide. Most lay on top unless digesting or sheding

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I have two adult females, five and seven years old, and several mature males. All still use their hides.

See I on the other hand don't use any hides with any of my boas. My young boas are in a fully enclosed rack, which I believe makes them feel fully secure. They are in 41 qt tubs without anything but a water dish and paper towel for substrate. They all eat incredibly well, and are easy to handle. My adults don't have any type of hide. IMO most boas aren't incredibly prone to stress like a bp is.

I have adults that love their hides* and even if I give them a box that is a bit too small, they'll squeeze themselves in there as much as possible. Will have 1/4 of their body sticking out but as long as their head is in there 'I'm safe, you can't see me!'. Some of the adults don't bother using the hides and just like to hang out in the cage but I like to give them the option. For my really big girl, I use a large diameter shipping tube, she usually just hangs out next to it, but if nothing else, it gives her something to crawl around and on top of and something to investigate.
*I use a lot of chipboard type food/soda boxes and such for hides, as soon as they get dirty, toss it and replace with a new/clean one.

Everybody has a system that works for them. I have an adult male that is 3+ years old and 6 fret long. I have 2 huge tortoise shell hides and he uses them both. I think boas are able to go without them, but I like giving options. I provide ample climbing options and he uses his perches, and I provide warm and cool hides and he uses them.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2658.jpg

I would say if you have an enormous BC and are looking at incredible sizes, hides may become harder to find and use.

However most boas can fit into something.

I say give them the option and see what happens.

Let me add, if you can provide top cover, that is another option. Plants or hanging vines can act at a barrier that makes the snake feel hidden.