Do boas need hides?

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Originally Posted by Gio

Yes, and online.

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/3425...iXohoCgqLw_wcB

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This. Bear in mind that they are big so shipping may negate any cost savings.

You could also stop by your local restaurants and see if they have any they are throwing away because they are cracked - just cut the access hole where the crack is, and then clean it well. The ones I use just barely fit in my dishwasher.

I am going to play a bit of devil's advocate here. In my experiences, once a boa has reached around 2 years old I never really found it necessary to have a hide. Maybe I'm just lucky with the animals I have had, but everyone in my collection seems to do great without one. Now maybe they would utilize it if I offered one, but all my boas eat, shed and act normally without a hide. I do have my younger boas in racks, so that might help in making them feel secure as well.

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Originally Posted by JoshSloane

I am going to play a bit of devil's advocate here. In my experiences, once a boa has reached around 2 years old I never really found it necessary to have a hide. Maybe I'm just lucky with the animals I have had, but everyone in my collection seems to do great without one. Now maybe they would utilize it if I offered one, but all my boas eat, shed and act normally without a hide. I do have my younger boas in racks, so that might help in making them feel secure as well.

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True most older ones don't "need" a hide per say but offering one never hurts. I mean my 6' gal doesn't use her hide much. Usually only during shed time when she wants to be left alone or sometimes after eating. But most of the time she just pushes it around and sleeps next it or behind it or even lays half on top of it. My point is it cant hurt to offer them one. Heck even my sunglow as a baby didn't really use her hides much. She just sat on top of them or behind them. But again considering how cheap you can get the ones from Walmart I linked, I figure why not.

My adults use their hides all the time. If they aren't under them, they perch on top of them.

I also like the bus tubs because they have a 1/8" lip around the bottom edge which catches water nicely; I can fill it up and keep the humidity up in the enclosure without having to soak the newspaper that lines the floor of the enclosure.

So,,,, once again; Do they "NEED" hides??

Well that depends on the snake I guess, but you probably can by without them. Is it worth giving the snake the option?

I would say it certainly is.

There is no negative in providing a secretive animal with the option to use a hide.

Again, my 6+ foot BC uses both warm and cool side hides all of the time. When he is not in his hides, he is perching.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2322.jpg

You will not see the wide array of behaviors boa constrictors display if you put them in a box with nothing to do.

This all depends on your personal preference and need for efficiency.

Personally, I prefer to offer as much as I can for my animals.

Final verdict??


Hides are not a bad thing.