Boa Enclosure Decor

Last thread for the day so I don't spam haha.

Can anyone give me some nice and big enclosure decorations?
I am looking for a large branch, 2 large natural looking hides and maybe some other engaging elements for my boa. I know they don't need a lot but I want to create an engaging environment for him before I go pick him up.

Links to reptile supply sites that have larger items would be awesome!

I’ve not had any luck finding natural hides for large snakes. But I came to find out that is not necessarily a bad thing. Cleaning the sterile, boring hides from Reptile Basics is 10 times easier.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...43a860ed18.jpg
Reptile Basics hide on the left.

The poles are just pine closet rods stained to protect the snake from pie oils.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...adcc2b216c.jpg
This branch, is a Crate Myrtle Tree that I cut down.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d05776cf79.jpg
These poles are from 8 foot landscaping stakes found in the fencing/landscaping department at Loews.

I love how you put those hides upside down on top! How are they secured? Can they be removed easily for cleaning?

Reptile basics hides rock.

Easy to clean, the animals love them, and frankly, they do the job even are they aren’t natural looking.

If the animal you have is too small for the larger sizes but you don’t want to buy a ton, stuffing the small hides with paper towels does the trick for making the animal feel dark and secure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FollowTheSun

I love how you put those hides upside down on top! How are they secured? Can they be removed easily for cleaning?

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https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...enclosure-size
See Reinz’s reply in this thread


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The upside down hide is a brilliant idea! :O I'm gonna have to steal that for when I upgrade my BP to an Animal Plastics cage. Reinz, you have some really awesome and ingenious enrichment for your snakes.

The trick Dakski mentioned for dealing with oversized hides is super creative too! Loving all the ideas here.

Thanks for posting that link JM!

Somebodey also posted a video on mounting a sky hide as well, but I don’t think it was on YouTube, I could not find it there.

I do want to give full disclosure, this was not my idea. I just seemed to capitalize on it the most. :)

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0031ad9be3.jpgI learned a lot with installing the sky hides in 7 of my 9 cages.

Tips:

Mount the clips as close to hide as possible while still allowing sliding in and out.
Be sure to use a lot of clips, even along the back. Heavy snakes will flex the hide and it can pop out of the tracks.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9f9c611004.jpg
Two for one, two Coastals in food mode.

For ease of cleaning, use at least one stop screw up front. Otherwise when the snakes are probing about at night looking cage escape areas, they will push the hide out of tracks by pushing outside the hide from the rear.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cf06199018.jpg
This Sky Hide needed 2 screws up front, others just one.

If any doubt in hide size go with the larger one. Snakes are very strong. As they coil in the hide by stacking their coils, they can snap the clips in half from squeezing like a screw jack.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0eb883a939.jpg
You see this Jungle Python outgrew this hide when coiled. She snapped a bunch of the clips in half.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2190c9a008.jpg
Elvira, my BP will not use aground hide in this cage, but loves the Sky Hide.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d665f3edc2.jpg
Olivia has 4 hides in her split level condo. The Sky Hides are on the cool sides. She uses all 4 hides, but tends to favor the Sky Hides.

Oh that’s so smart! Do you think something like this would work if drilled into the top of the enclosure?

https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...B,gclsrc:aw.ds

I was going to go a Home Depot to find something similar with a lip and some holles on the side.

Even if you didn't come up with the idea it's still helpful to see it shared here! Thanks for the info on how the sky-hides are installed, super useful :)