Using hides???

I have never used a hide with my boas, but do remember when I had a very large ball python collection it was almost a must to provide one for there comfort, and need for security.

Anyone here use hides here for their boas? I was thinking about getting some and seeing how it goes. I don see it hurting, although I do remember cleaning poop off them a lot lol.

I know for boa babies and Juvies they recomend that you use hides. Most ault boas seem indifferent to hides from what I've read. My boas have always had hides apparently and will use them as adults so I provide them. From what I've seen however they don't use them. It's very hard to find boa hides on the market. I used cat litter bans from the dollar store and cut a hole in the side.

All of that information is based on my research however as I am very new to boas and don't have alot of experience with them.

Hope this helps :)

I have three Colombian morphs, with the following "rescults":

My hypo girl loves her hides (plastic plant holders with an entrance cut in): she's always in them. She's a late '10 and still in a tub.
My jungle boy has only used his a handful of times since I've had him so I took them out. He's not stressed without them and never misses a meal. He's a year and a half old and still in a tub.
My new sharp albino girl uses her hides 50/50 since having her. I know she'd be fine without it if I took them out but they're in there if she needs them. She's a late '11 baby and in a tub.

When they're big and in plastic cages I'll decided whether to put large hides in with them or not (I would say it depends on the snake). I know that most people with large adult boas usually don't have hides.

Mine has two, but shes only 5 months and only uses one of them half the time, I find her on top of it more than in it

I have colurbrids, and they love to borrow. So I provide them with a 1-3 in deep bedding (depending on their size) for them to borrow.

But when it comes to Boas and Pythons I dont provide them a hide, imo it makes them less active and seems to make them more scared of human contact.

My two small boas use their hides pretty regularly. My larger ones tend to only use them when they go into shed. The rest of the time, they are usually perching on them or the branches.

My boa hides all the time, and appreciates the two I provide. He's just over 4 feet long and squeezes into large RBI hides :rolleyes:

Got a kenyan sand boa recently and she prefers burrowing in her substrate more than anything. Do kenyans need hides or are they fine without?

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Originally Posted by foreverbored

Got a kenyan sand boa recently and she prefers burrowing in her substrate more than anything. Do kenyans need hides or are they fine without?

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My female has no hides in her cage and she's fine. She's under her substrate 99.9% of the time. My male has two hides, never uses them, ever. I plan on taking them out soon.
So I'd say nay to the hides for kenyans. Just make sure you have a bunch of substrate. lol

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Originally Posted by ShutUpAndSmile

My female has no hides in her cage and she's fine. She's under her substrate 99.9% of the time. My male has two hides, never uses them, ever. I plan on taking them out soon.
So I'd say nay to the hides for kenyans. Just make sure you have a bunch of substrate. lol

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

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:

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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.