Homemade hide will it be ok

So all it is is a piece of cardboard tube cut down wraped in duck tape will this be http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/06/5ypu6umu.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/06/u8ugutum.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/06/ama2apap.jpg

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I do not suggest putting duct tape (or any kind of tape) in your enclosure. They can get stuck, rip off healthy scales and are a nuisance to clean properly. Plus - the design of that tube does not give the bp much sense of security - the two open ends are not conducive to a happy bp. Get yourself two matching cereal bowls and cut a doors in them, much more secure, only one door and they are much easier to clean - just run them through the dishwasher!

I second the comment on the tape. It is not good to have tape in the enclosure. You want to have a hide that the snake can crawl in and feel the walls on all sides, making it a nice cozy close space. I'm not sure your design accomplishes that. Also, if you make a homemade one, be sure that the edges are not sharp. I use a soldering iron to carve out a hole in an old small dog bowl for my first hides. The iron melts the edges and if there is a sharp edge, you can round it off pretty easily. If you go that route, be sure to do the melting outside. The fumes get pretty bad.

My only problem with bowels is i dont have much room for them he already has a plane cardboard one set up on the hot side with one opening up against the glass so theres only one opening to it and has a rock cave on the cool side is it that important to have matching hides if so will the plane cardboard be ok on the cool side if i put one end against the glass so thers only one opening
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I agree with Xotix. The cardboard interior could get wet and harbor bacteria, which you would never see, and the open ends don't offer much security. Find something that is more of a cave design - upside down bowl, planter dish, plastic chinese takeout container...

As far as putting one opening against the glass - it's GLASS, and could still look like an opening to a stressed BP.

The thing with the bacteria wouldn't be a problem i dont think if i cange it once a week do u we have these tubes at work so they're free and easy to make http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/06/ry9a7aty.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/06/na9a9u2e.jpg

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Ok so i guess ill just scratch the whole cardboard thing

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Is the cardboard too heavy-duty to cut and fold one end down, so it isn't open, and maybe hot glue it? Changing it weekly would definitely help with the icky-factor.

Having two identical hides helps them feel secure. If you have two different ones, then the snake could favor the security of one over the other - but the other has the proper temperature the snake wants at that time. They end up sacrificing something in the end - and that can stress them out immensely. I second the soldering iron - that's what I did with my dog bowls. 1$ bowls at walmart or the dollar store - i cant recall. and a 15$ cheap soldering iron at home depot. And yes - do it outside - such a bad smell.

And even in a week, harmful bacteria can multiply exponentially. And making a new hide every week can be really annoying. Make hides once that will last a while. When they outgrow it - make a bigger one. You should be able to get through all of a snakes life with probably 4 different size hides (this is based on my experience with my snakes, others may have different views though).

Take a visit to your local dollar store. Find a pack of 2-3 plastic bowls for $1. Tada!

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Take a visit to your local dollar store. Find a pack of 2-3 plastic bowls for $1. Tada!

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+1 :) anything absorbent just leads to bacteria and mold

If you want a cheap cardboard hide that's throw away-able, use food grade boxes like mac n cheese or noodle boxes, etc. and throw them away weekly.

To be a hide imo it should have only one opening for the snake to have to "protect".

Orrrrr just go over to reptile basics and grab you a couple hides from them, super cheap, durable, easy to clean, and they have offset cut outs so the snake can feel comfy as the opening is not directly in the middle!!!!


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This is my current tank setup as u can see there is not much room for a bigger hid on the warm side thats y i was askimg about the tubes cuz it fits perfect on that side and yes i could probably use a smaller water bowel but it helps keep the humidity up http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/07/e8uvy6ab.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/07/egeru3a9.jpg

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That is a monstrous water bowl.

How big is the snake that is in this enclosure?

Havent weighed her yet but shes snug in both her hideshttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/07/y7uqana7.jpg

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Kinda hard to tell since there is no scale reference in that picture. She looks pretty small. How snug is snug? My snakes barely fit in their hides, they use them more like hats, lol.

How long have you had her? she looks a little on the thin side.

Shes got a lil room and ive had her for about a month eats good once a week but im going to try to feed her two mice today

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

That is a monstrous water bowl.

How big is the snake that is in this enclosure?

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Without a monstrous water bowl tanks have a hard time holding any kind of humidity ;)

And having two identical hides seems about weird, ever seen two identical hides in the wild?
As long as there is good hiding places and a good hide over the hot spot the snake will do fine.

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

Without a monstrous water bowl tanks have a hard time holding any kind of humidity ;)

And having two identical hides seems about weird, ever seen two identical hides in the wild?
As long as there is good hiding places and a good hide over the hot spot the snake will do fine.

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No, I agree that a large water bowl is necessary. Just commenting that it is HUUUGE for that tank.

Okay, I'm not trying to get on you about this but the "in the wild" argument is completely invalid. These snakes are not in the wild, they are in our homes. It is up to us to provide the most ideal environment possible for our little guys to ensure their health and safety.

Now, I agree with you about the hides not really needing to be identical. There are many exceptions one can make to the "rules" of keeping ball pythons. Hides are a debated topic. If a snake is eating, pooping, and shedding like they should without two identical hides, chances are that changing to identical hides won't really do anything. But there are a lot of ball pythons that benefit from identical hides. Especially in a glass tank.

Lol, sorry didn't mean to go on a rant just then. It just really grinds my gears when I hear this "well in the wild it isn't like that" stuff because it does not make for a valid argument.

tl:dr My ball pythons are in my living room, not in the wild. Yeah they don't really need identical hides, but some benefit from it.

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Originally Posted by pbr

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/07/egeru3a9.jpg

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Just HAD to advertise the PBR, didn't you?


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just use the cardboard tubes as disposable hide. theyll work fine. i recommend putting the tube half way on the warm spot and half way off so your snake can use it much like they would use a log partly exposed to sun.

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Originally Posted by Coleslaw007

Just HAD to advertise the PBR, didn't you?


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Well with her name being pabst...... yes lol:D


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Are in the US? If so check these plastic hides out. They are super inexpensive, easy to clean, and come in many sizes.
http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes -oops edit.

Also I have just seen your photo. For a temp hide a cardboard tube is cool. I would not have thought of that.

If its the heavy tubes im thinkin of. I like it, change them often as they get damp but that should work. I used a similar tube, pvc i had and i just filled the one end with substrate so it was dark.

Got 16 made today so changing them out will b no problem

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I use disposable hides also,like cutting off the end of a 12 pack soda box for my smaller girls,and a shoebox for my bigger girl. That way I can change them out often and dont have to worry about them outgrowing them fast! My girls like their Mountain Dew apparently.. I changed out one of the MD boxes to put a slightly bigger hide in,and well,it got ignored,so I put the box back in and she went over to it immediately :p

Don't put any tape inside the enclosure.


Maybe I'm missing something, but you've got a nice glass aquarium, professionally made for reptiles water bowl, grapvine wood decorations, and another professionally made piece of decor.

Your snake is going to spend 80% of its time in its hides.


Why are you using crappy bacteria harboring cardboard tubes with open ends that people are advising against for the only thing your snake actually gives a crap about? Are you refusing closed end hides because you want to be able to SEE the snake all the time?

Using them cuz they r free and easy to make and i have enough to change them out literally every day and there put up against the glass so there is only one opening and i keep a towel over the tank to help with heat so i dont see her anyways

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OK, but my point is that you spent probably 20+ dollars on that water bowl, at least 10 bucks on the grapevine wood, and at least 10 bucks on the little rock hide. We'll call the plastic plants 5 bucks combined even though they're probably more than that at most pet shops. Why is it SO important that the hides be free and able to be replaced every day? Do you plan to not clean the rest of the tank? Are you so broke you can't afford to spend another 1 - 20 dollars on proper hides? As stated earlier, you can buy a 4 or 6 pack of small plastic bowls at the dollar store. With those, you can change the amount of space you offer to the snake as it grows, it's plastic so it won't be growing fungus if it gets moist, it will be darker, and overall your snake will be much happier with them and will be calmer and eat better for you.

Do you build the home for your pet for you or for your pet? All your snake wants is tight, snug, dark hides. It's a very thrifty idea you have here, but you should can it if your goal is to provide the snake the best care you are able to provide.

I agree. It would be safer cleaner and more time efficient to go pick up some plastic bowls or plastic plant pots cut a hole in them, abd you have a safe reusable hide.

You should never use tape in a snakes enclosure. It can do serious damage to them.

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OP might find out eventually that he doesn't like the hides. I know I've used various items as hides and I have my favorites. It might take a little while to find out which kinds you like more. Disposable isn't a bad idea. I know my snakes like to poo all over their hides. ew.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Lol, sorry didn't mean to go on a rant just then. It just really grinds my gears when I hear this "well in the wild it isn't like that" stuff because it does not make for a valid argument.

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HAHA you made me think of Family Guy when Peter had his own segment on the nightly news. "Hi I'm Peter Griffin. You know what really grinds my gears?"


Anyhow... I agree it is debatable with the whole identical hides issue but one thing is for sure and that's hides with one opening are a must! Sure there might be exceptions to this as all snakes are different but why test whether or not your snake is the exception? When the majority of feedback to a question says one thing why continue to question it?

I've used cereal boxes as hides. Change it often and you're fine.

So I've. Had some bad feedback on the cardboard so for all thoes people how do u guys feel about these that i foundhttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/12/3ysu4a7e.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/12/su2e5eve.jpgfound

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I took a 4 pack of plastic bowls I got from Walmart and dremmeled a hole so she could climb into it. Works awesome and cost me under 2 bucks


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Originally Posted by pbr

So I've. Had some bad feedback on the cardboard so for all thoes people how do u guys feel about these that i foundhttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/12/3ysu4a7e.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/12/su2e5eve.jpgfound

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Those look way too high. They want to feel the hide touch them on all sides. My advice is buy a couple identical hides. Done. Good for you and good for your snake.

Just an FYI, I have snakes that never use hides. Although I do use tubs.

Dude, why are you so set on stealing supplies from your work to use as hides? I don't think it's even within forum guidelines to advise someone to break the law and tell you to do that.

DIY is fine, but people have been very clear on the requirements you're trying to fill:

1. Tight and Snug to the size of the snake when it coils up, including overhead space

2. It should be dark inside and made of lightproof material

3. 1 small opening, just a bit larger than the widest part of the snake

Post something that fits those guidelines and you will be praised and commended for your thriftiness.

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Dude, why are you so set on stealing supplies from your work to use as hides? I don't think it's even within forum guidelines to advise someone to break the law and tell you to do that.

DIY is fine, but people have been very clear on the requirements you're trying to fill:

1. Tight and Snug to the size of the snake when it coils up, including overhead space

2. It should be dark inside and made of lightproof material

3. 1 small opening, just a bit larger than the widest part of the snake

Post something that fits those guidelines and you will be praised and commended for your thriftiness.

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My thoughts exactly I was just afraid of being rude to the OP. If you're strapped for cash you can seriously hit the dollar stores. Target has that dollar section as soon as you walk in....I got containers there for a buck a piece and cut them to what I needed.

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Originally Posted by darthkevin

I took a 4 pack of plastic bowls I got from Walmart and dremmeled a hole so she could climb into it. Works awesome and cost me under 2 bucks


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