When to get bigger hides

Silly question but how do folks on here determine when it is time to upsize the hides? I certainly don't want to outsize my guy, but I also don't want him squished as he grows. Are there things to look for over time that tend to say 'I need more room'?

When they start to wear the hide as a hat its a pretty safe bet its time for a bigger hide.

If you get a hide that is a bit to big you can fill it with moss to give it a more secure feeling.

I keep all my ball pythons in the same size tubs. When the hide becomes a hat they get new ones. At about 1200 grams I remove the hides.

Changing a hide seems to make them upset.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

I keep all my ball pythons in the same size tubs. When the hide becomes a hat they get new ones. At about 1200 grams I remove the hides.

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I know most people will stop using hides for adult snakes. However, I have never found an adult that wouldn't use one when given the choice. BP's like hides regardless of size. I have found that if you put a medium hide in with a 2000+ gram snake, they will still tuck their heads and whatever portion of their body underneath that they can.

For that reason I use hides for everyone. It's not the popular trend but it makes me happy, and I'd like to think it makes my snakes happy too. Who really knows? They've never thanked me once, the bunch of ingrates.

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Originally Posted by rlditmars

I know most people will stop using hides for adult snakes. However, I have never found an adult that wouldn't use one when given the choice. BP's like hides regardless of size. I have found that if you put a medium hide in with a 2000+ gram snake, they will still tuck their heads and whatever portion of their body underneath that they can.

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Nothing wrong with that. I remove the hides because it makes it easier for me to check on them and I am cheap. If I acquire an adult female I usually will put in a hide until they have eaten for me. Once they are being bred the hides have to go for me though. I doubt one of my big girls would have the room to wrap her bowl if I still had a hide it there with the size of tubs I use.

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Originally Posted by rlditmars

I have never found an adult that wouldn't use one when given the choice.

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This :number1:

That's why all my guys get hides. They can move them wherever they want in the tub, so everyone's happy.