Using hides???

I don't have a redtail however.....

I give all of mine hides from day one until they're so large I can't make a decent hide for them or they stop or rarely use it. I also give them new hides every so often, depending up how quickly they dirty them.

All of my hide items I get from work so I never lack in hides.

For babies, I use small *scent free cigar boxes....Swisher Sweet Cigarillo boxes.

As they grow I use other boxes our merchandise and supplies come in of various sizes. I do NOT use the ones that are taped at the bottom nor ones that had any type of chemical or chemical agent in it. I always get the ones that are glued. Even though they'll probably never touch that tape, I don't want to take a chance. I also use bag-in-a-box boxes (fountain drink syrup boxes) for the bigger ones and these boxes seem to be really popular with those that are big enough I can use them. Co-workers save them for me (when they think about it lol) and I even have a store close by me that is starting to save them. :D

This way is more convenient for me since I have a neverending supply of boxes. Sometimes, if I haven't changed them in a couple of weeks or so, I'll go through and give them all new hides.

*I get the red cigarillo boxes. It appears that snakes don't like their homes smelling like grape, wine, white grape or peach :rolleyes: :rofl:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by foreverbored

Thanks! Whats best for them, UTH or heat lamp?

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UTH they never one out of the substrate. Just be careful of temps. I often find mine on the bottom right on the heat. You don't want to burn thm :3

I have a hide for my ~6 month old Dumeril boa and she used it for the first week she was here maybe? Once in a while I find her under it, because her UTH is under it and so she goes in there to feel secure and warm. But more often than not recently she just burrows in her aspen shavings an leaves her head poking out. She's a funny little thing. But to the point, she rarely uses it and is eating fine. I have her in a 20L aquarium with towels over it. She seems happy. So I would say depending on why you have your boas in, you may or may not need one. Try it for that snake. If they use it, may as well leave it. Otherwise, there's probably no need unless it's a juvie. They may appreciate the option. Again, depends on the snake. Hope that helped. :)

When I had a albino RTB, she used hides until she got to about 3 feet, then did not use one after.