Hides in a rack system

I'm a little confused. I love my AP T8's and was looking at a rack system. Do you have to use hides in a rack system, since the tote itself is kind of like one big hide? Since the belly heat is normally in the back and that's where I see people put there hides, doesn't that technically mean the hide is on the hot side? Is it really possible to regulate a 90-92 hot side and 80-82 degree cool side in a bin, or do you just aim for more of an ambient temp of like 82?

Some of my ball pythons stop eating if they don't have a hide, even in a rack system. Others don't care. I do put the hide on the heat if they just ate, but it's light enough that the ball pythons will push it off the heat if they want to be cooler.

My spare bedroom for BP's & boas is about 78*F. Ambient in the tub is a degree or so higher than that.

I use racks I only give a hide if they don't eat without it none of my adults have hides

It's better to provide an hide and it not being used than not provide one and it be needed.

If after a few months they don't use it you can remove them but at first I highly recommend that use hides and see what your animals do for a few months.

I no longer use hides but every now and than an animal will need it and therefore it is provided, this is where knowing your animals is very important.

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I have 5 snakes in a tub rack. They all have a hide and use it.

Dave

Any ball python that's <400 grams gets a hide while living in shoebox bins (6 qts). If it's larger than that, it only gets a hide of it stops eating when the tub is removed.


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Hides are such a simple thing, I consider them necessary. If you are hard on cash... Raid your pantry. Cereal boxes, tea bag boxes, your wifes\girlfriends\your own tampon boxes... Pick a box. If it gets dirty...well you go get another. Just saying, but tampon boxes are a frequent buy. Food is a frequent buy. Even if money is tight you can find something. Toilet paper rolls for hatchlings. Everyone buys toilet paper. In a rack if the hide is in back you won't see it. So try it. No harm in tossing in a box.

I use hides in racks and all the BPs use them. There's no need for a 10 degree (or any degree) heat gradient in a rack or otherwise. as long as ambient is in an acceptable range (pretty much anything in the low to mid 80s). however, a gradient can be accomplished in racks. though I'm not sure about 10 degrees as I don't utilize heat gradients.