Who said half log hides aren't secure enough?

Hey guys! This is just a little easy tutorial on how to make your half log hides a bit more secure.

This is a half log as we all know.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/29/agy4a7y2.jpg

Materials you need:
-A half log
-Enough cardboard to fit the back of the hide
-Push pins, tacks, or nails
-Scissors
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/29/yzu9y7ur.jpg

Start by putting the cardboard on the back of the hide.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/29/egysunu4.jpg

Then use a marker or pen to draw a line on where to cut.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/29/7a2emuzy.jpg

Then cut along that line.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/29/yty2uva6.jpg

Push the push pins on both sides of the hide, securing the cardboard on the hide. Make sure the pins are pushed in all the way, and not loose.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/29/ymetagy7.jpg

Now cut the cardboard along the curve of the hide to make it less bulky and ugly, a more natural feel.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/29/a3yzygej.jpg

And now put in your hide wherever you need it in your tank or rack. There you go! You just made your half log a bit more secure for your ball python. Hope it helped!

You do not want to use cardboard in a ball python enclosure, it will hold bacteria if you have proper humidity, or it will soak in pee and yuk ...
Not safe imo.

Try that with a piece of wood maybe, but not cardboard :gj:

The cardboard might work temporarily, but would probably have to be changed weekly. Perhaps you could use an opaque piece of plastic?

Also, not too sure how I feel about those thumb tacks. Maybe you could use the kind that have a flat metal piece on the outside so the snake doesn't accidentally pull the pin out.

Nice idea to fix half logs though. I assume you could do the same thing on the front to make the entrance smaller.

When I used half logs, I would put them against a blacked out surface and have a generous amount of leaves in front. I found a small driftwood branch once that had a perfect snake sized arch on one side and could stand up on its own. It looked wonderful and blacked everything out.

Yeah... Don't think I would put cardboard or thumbtacks in with my snake. :(

Sent from my ADR6410LVW using Tapatalk 2

I'm using this one:
http://www.petco.com/assets/product_...316685512C.jpg
You think if I give him something more secure he'll be less jumpy? He doesn't seem to mind too much, I think it's just going to take some time for him to get comfortable and realize I'm not out to get him. (Today marks 2 weeks since his arrival)

I tried to modify half logs before and i finally just caved in and ordered some from Rich at Reptile basics. Best decision I ever made.

Replace cardboard with plastic

Replace thumb tacks with aquarium safe silicone


Voila!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

You do not want to use cardboard in a ball python enclosure, it will hold bacteria if you have proper humidity, or it will soak in pee and yuk ...
Not safe imo.

Try that with a piece of wood maybe, but not cardboard :gj:

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I removed all wood hides from my snakes a long time ago.

The humidity caused some kind of weird blue-gray mold or mildew to grow on them and I didn't even bother trying to clean them and put them back.

Threw 'em out.

All my hides [Balls and Boas] are plastic stuff, now.

Nothing 'colonizes' it and I can sterilize it.

[I'm paranoid about fungus and bacteria]

:)

got yall beat. i happen to purchase some texas holey rock and found one in a half circle the exact radius of the half log i bought. it looks super cool and i can sneak a peak at my lil guy when he is chillin. ill post pics when im less drunk :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by delcus

got yall beat. i happen to purchase some texas holey rock and found one in a half circle the exact radius of the half log i bought. it looks super cool and i can sneak a peak at my lil guy when he is chillin. ill post pics when im less drunk :D

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Whoo .needs to be less drunk? LOL. I'm a reptile basics fan, too!

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Greekinese

I'm using this one:
http://www.petco.com/assets/product_...316685512C.jpg
You think if I give him something more secure he'll be less jumpy? He doesn't seem to mind too much, I think it's just going to take some time for him to get comfortable and realize I'm not out to get him. (Today marks 2 weeks since his arrival)

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Probably. He would appreciate the comfort at least. He'll get used to handling as he gets older too.

I'm more worried about the thumbtacks than the cardboard. I've given my guys cardboard shipping tubes, and if nobody uses them as a toilet immediately, they'll last a month or more.

Honestly, your wood hide looks like it may already be molded to some extent. Low humidity is bad, but too high can be much worse if you have substrate or hides susceptible to mold. No one wants to see their scaly friend suffering from an RI. The cardboard is definitely a bad idea(will definitely mold in proper humidity), and I would definitely avoid securing things with the tacks in his cage. I'd recommend a hide from reptile basics inc if you want to buy one, or since you seem to be a craft sort, just cut holes in some plastic bowls and file down the rough edges! :gj:

In what world do thumbtacks ever sound like a good idea in a snake cage......

Temporary at best. Those are push pins not thumb tacks and are really really bad idea.

Love the Reptile Basics hides.

boom problem solved. :banana:

http://www.pangeareptile.com/forums/...608197&thumb=1

Quote:

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Originally Posted by delcus

boom problem solved. :banana:

http://www.pangeareptile.com/forums/...608197&thumb=1

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But the problem is that the snake wants it dark! If you had paper covering that side it would work. The snake won't feel secure if it's still looking out a big window.

that side is facing my geckos terrarium so its honestly about the same as the cardboard. the same amount of light can get in through the front of the log. i normally dont have my uv light on i just used it for the pic and to show his crib off. although now that i think about it if u took the cork background from zoomed and cut it to size it would work even better than both the cardboard and my rock. that was a total drunk epiphany :D

Go to your local dollar store and get plastic dog crock bowls.

Cut a "mouse hole door" in them and your snakes will be happy as can be.

They may not be very fashionable but they adore the things.

I just stuff moss in the back of mine.

PetMountain.com is having a sale so I picked up a couple of the rock looking ones.

The problem with that is I won't be able to see him hehe. Even if he's in the log snoozing, it's still nice to be able to sneak a peek at the little guy! :P