BP breeding and hides

I've been noticing alot of pictures of snakes locked up and the one thing I don't see are the hides. Is that because the hide was lifted off them to take the picture, or the snakes come out of the hide to lock up, or because there are no hides in there for them to use?

I pull the hides from the girls cages when I start pairing them up ... over the years it has proven to be very effective for me.

BUT, there is ALWAYS an exception to every rule ... for some extra shy girls, I add extra crumpled up newspaper to their tubs to help them feel secure having no hide.

It's extremely important to know your snakes and make husbandry descisions based on their needs ... and not on some type of blanket advice given on a message board or in a book or video.

-adam

Some snakes do better with breeding with a hide in with them, or like Adam has said crumpled up paper does the trick too. While other snakes do just fine with out a hide or any "security blanket". It really depends on the snake from what I've seen first hand and also have heard. Like Adam said above... You have to know your snakes.

ok thanks alot.

I was just curious cause I have been pairing up my 2 adults and I've never witnessed a lock but they are always hanging out together in the hide but never wanted to pull it off and see.

I'll probably try and remove the hides put some crumpled paper and see what happens.

This being my first season breeding, I've been trying all 3 methods (hides/no hides/extra paper), to try and get a feel for what works best for me and the individual snakes..If I leave a hide in with my Albino male and his date, he wont go in there with the female usually, but rather sit on top of it, or wedge in behind it. He usually waits for her to come out before showing interest.

My het pied male being the timid lil bugger he is, has to have extra paper and a hide. If he doesnt have a hide, he will either stay far away from the female, or actually try to hide underneath her. He seems to really need the added security...

I've only been trying the one method. Just leaving her setup the way it is and putting him in. When I put him in he instantly heads to the back and straight into the hide with her. I don't know if thats a good thing or even a bad thing. But I've never witnessed a lock but then again I've never lifted up the hide while they were both in there.

Funny thing is when my male is in his tub he sits on top of his hide. but when he goes in with her its straight into her hide.