Is it Necessary?

Many people state that if you have a hide on the warm side of your tank then you should have the same on the cold side? Is it necessary? I have a fairly large tank for each of my snakes, they spend most of their time in their hides which are on top of the under tank heat pad. And occasionally they'll come out and explorer. I keep the water bowl on the cool side to help maintain its cool. Never had any issues but now wondering if I should invest in another hide, but how do owners with snake racks pull it off?

Also in terms of exposure, my larger snake is kinda a centerpiece in the living room, has branches and trees that cover up some of the tank but for most of the part it's pretty exposed, I've read many owners cover their tank sides to make the snake feel more safe. Is that also necessary?

Like I said I feel like my snakes seem happy, eat well, shed well... But wondering if they'll be even happier if I adjust.

Thanks

You should definitely have a cool side hide. Snakes will often sacrifice their needs and temperature for safety and security.

your snakes are always in the warm side hide because they have no choice and that’s not good for them. They should be able to choose which side they want to be in and be allowed to thermoregulate based on their needs without sacrificing security. You currently aren’t giving them that option.

Owners with snake racks will provide double hides or maybe none at all because in a rack the entire enclosure is a hide. When the tub is slid in its fully enclosed and therefore they feel
safe and secure yet have the ability to move hot to cold. I’ve seen breeders still offer hides in a rack I’ve seen some with none at all.

many owners cover three sides of a tank and always keep it covered or slowly remove a side every few weeks months as the snake becomes secure and is eating properly.

When you say “invest” in a new hide. I mean unless you are buying diamond encrusted ones it really isn’t an investment. We are talking a few bucks and some even make their own. I’ve seen people cut holes into takeout plastic boxes. But if a $5 investment for your snakes safety and security isn’t in the budget then I’d re think snake keeping all together. And no disrespect it just comes off like a decision you need to make where I’d be running to a store now to get one. You can go to a dollar store and find plastic something to make a hide or even a pot or something. You should add one ASAP because your snake is going to roast constantly on the warm side because it’s too afraid to head to the cool side which has no security for it.

ball pythons are very shy so yours pick security over thermoregulation, if they had hides on both sides they could choose proper temps for their needs.

Sorry investment was the wrong word, but definitely not $5, not a fan of cardboard boxes as hides, and for a 6ft snake it's definitely closer to $30 or more for a proper solid hide. One is a carpet and the other is a corn, just posted on this side of the forum cause in general snakes are very similar in their habits.

But It's something to look into as technically my corn has a second hide in a tree trunk on the cooler side but never see her in there. And they are both active at night. When I drop the temperature on both sides of the tank. But now I've also heard the hides should be identical or is that just pushing it?

I just don't like the cover up of the tank as I like the sun to shine on the tank during the day, I know it's not necessary but I feel like it is for any creature that would normally be exposed to it in the wild, there's a difference between sunlight and artificial light.

But thanks for the advise

Yeah definitely don’t use cardboard it’s just going to get feces on it or get wet and then cause you further issue. The snake that is in the exposed enclosure is it eating? Are you having any other issues with it? Why are you considering covering the sides now? If the snake is eating fine and acting fine then it is obviously comfortable and you don’t have to cover the sites. People usually do that in the beginning in order to make this knee comfortable. You should be fine just adding another hide. They don’t Have to be exactly identical but most people do suggest trying to keep them similar in size because again if the snake feels more secure and one than the other they may choose that side as a favorite and sacrifice their temperature needs for security

Yeah both tanks are "exposed" and never skipped a meal, shed fine and handle great. Just thought maybe it wasn't good for them. But will leave it they way it is.

I just never did the second hide cause they do come out during the day and explore and even in the hide always have their heads out watching everything. I felt like if they got hot they'd just come out but you guys are saying they'd sacrifice their temp for safety so I will be ordering 2 new hides.

Want what's best for them

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Originally Posted by Hamsnacks

Yeah both tanks are "exposed" and never skipped a meal, shed fine and handle great. Just thought maybe it wasn't good for them. But will leave it they way it is.

I just never did the second hide cause they do come out during the day and explore and even in the hide always have their heads out watching everything. I felt like if they got hot they'd just come out but you guys are saying they'd sacrifice their temp for safety so I will be ordering 2 new hides.

Want what's best for them

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I’d leave it as is and add the extra hide.

Again like i said. I’m sure the snakes cost you decent money and you obviously care about them so it’s not much to pony up to just add to their well being. Good on you

There is always room for improvement and if its easily done, why not do it ;)

I've known of snakes that have lived, grown and eaten in screen enclosures with nothing but heat lamps on top. Seemed to do well, aside from bad sheds. However, I would still not recommend keeping them that way.

Your enclosures sound really nice already, but personally, I would add a hide to the cool side. This way they do not have to choose between safety and thermo regulating.

Lol how big are your enclosures, I managed to move around the Corns tank for now and found an extra tree hide for the corner which isn't the same as her hot side hide but about the same size, she's in a 36"x17" tank but my big guy is going to be slightly harder, she's in a 56" x 22" and I use a large hide that's sold for tortoises but this way her whole body can fit it, adding another one of those is going be a bit more challenging without losing too much space lol but it can be done.

Here's my corn snake tank revised. (The thermometer on the glass is not what I use to track the temperature lol, its just there cause she's never torn it down and its pretty accurate)
Sorry I know this is the ball python section.

https://i.imgur.com/PsIG0tK.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hamsnacks

Sorry investment was the wrong word, but definitely not $5, not a fan of cardboard boxes as hides, and for a 6ft snake it's definitely closer to $30 or more for a proper solid hide.

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this simply isn't true.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hamsnacks

But It's something to look into as technically my corn has a second hide in a tree trunk on the cooler side but never see her in there. And they are both active at night. When I drop the temperature on both sides of the tank. But now I've also heard the hides should be identical or is that just pushing it?

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you're in the ball python section talking about Morelia and Colubrids...

my Corn spends a lot of time on his cool side, except after feeding day. i don't offer identical hides for him but they're very similar in size and shape, and i've never read Corns need 2 identical hides as much as beeps do. beeps absolutely do better with identical hides; it's S.O.P.

why do you drop temps at night? there's no need.

animals can have preferences just like people.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hamsnacks

I just don't like the cover up of the tank as I like the sun to shine on the tank during the day, I know it's not necessary but I feel like it is for any creature that would normally be exposed to it in the wild, there's a difference between sunlight and artificial light.

But thanks for the advise

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well this doesn't have to do with what YOU like, it's about what the snakes need and what we know about them to keep them happy.

a ball python doesn't care where the light comes from, as they'll just hide from it. [emoji108]

wild ball pythons spend the vast majority of their lives hiding in small burrows; no sunshine in there, and they are a nocturnal species to boot.