must I use hide box for shy ball python?

My Champagne is around 750g and I bought her almost three months ago. She`s only shy ball python in my collection. She`s really stubborn eater that she never eats when it`s bright and always rushes into hide box when she sees me. She`s eaten pre-killed or live rats so far but from 2 weeks ago stopped eating without any reason and always acts like a chicken. She`s shed a month ago so I don`t think she`s in shedding process. So, I`ve just removed the hide box to change her habit.
I don`t want her to act like a chicken. Do you guys think hide box is must be used for ball python? I see some of large scale breeders don`t use hide boxes for all of their balls.

I would recommend doing whatever she needs in order to feel secure and safe enough to start eating again.

Have you read Colin Weaver's recent article on this topic?
http://ballpythonbreeder.com/2014/08...thon-appetite/

Good luck!

Some times people focus on efficiency of cleaning and don't make changes until it effects egg production. There's been a lot of evidence to suggest that a shy ball python will eat just fine once it's in an enclosure with an appropriate hide. You might have to experiment a bit to get the temps in the hide right as well as the size and opening. I'm not a fan of keeping ball pythons without a hide because they will feel secure only when nestled into something. Have you read Colin Weavers or Justin Kolbylka's articles on substrate on cleanliness regarding picky eaters?

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HAHA Eric squeezed that comment in at the same time. Sorry for the redundancy.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

I would recommend doing whatever she needs in order to feel secure and safe enough to start eating again.

Have you read Colin Weaver's recent article on this topic?
http://ballpythonbreeder.com/2014/08...thon-appetite/

Good luck!

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Thanks for sharing~

Common sense will tell you that if something is needed then it should be provided regardless of however else other people keep their animals.

If your BP is having issues with feeding not providing added security is not gonna help.

I don't provide hides as a general rule however over the year I have had made exception here and there for some animals.

With BP it's not a one fit all.

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Originally Posted by alan12013

Some times people focus on efficiency of cleaning and don't make changes until it effects egg production. There's been a lot of evidence to suggest that a shy ball python will eat just fine once it's in an enclosure with an appropriate hide. You might have to experiment a bit to get the temps in the hide right as well as the size and opening. I'm not a fan of keeping ball pythons without a hide because they will feel secure only when nestled into something. Have you read Colin Weavers or Justin Kolbylka's articles on substrate on cleanliness regarding picky eaters?

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HAHA Eric squeezed that comment in at the same time. Sorry for the redundancy.

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Yeah, I did read his article about regarding picky eaters and that`s why I`m trying to give some change to my shy girl.

However, I think removing hide box is not a good idea...

Thanks for your reply~

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Common sense will tell you that if something is needed then it should be provided regardless of however else other people keep their animals.

If your BP is having issues with feeding not providing added security is not gonna help.

I don't provide hides as a general rule however over the year I have had made exception here and there for some animals.

With BP it's not a one fit all.

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Yes, now, I`m strongly believe that I must use hide box for shy and picky eaters.

thanks for your advice.

You're not going to be able to force your snake to "not be a chicken"; if it needs a hiding spot to feel secure, it needs a hiding spot to feel secure.

While many big breeders don't always offer hides, they often do for certain snakes, so there is an excellent chance you are just not seeing the snakes that have been offered hiding spots.

The information provided has been great :) Good luck, hopefully your shy snake gets into a regular feeding routine.

-Jen

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Originally Posted by LLLReptile

You're not going to be able to force your snake to "not be a chicken"; if it needs a hiding spot to feel secure, it needs a hiding spot to feel secure.

While many big breeders don't always offer hides, they often do for certain snakes, so there is an excellent chance you are just not seeing the snakes that have been offered hiding spots.

The information provided has been great :) Good luck, hopefully your shy snake gets into a regular feeding routine.

-Jen

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Thanks, :D

I give all my snakes hideboxes whether they want them or not :rofl:

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Originally Posted by albinos_rule

I give all my snakes hideboxes whether they want them or not :rofl:

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I let mine tell me if they want them. A few are around 1100 grams and don't need them, while one 1600 gram female rarely exits hers.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I let mine tell me if they want them. A few are around 1100 grams and don't need them, while one 1600 gram female rarely exits hers.

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I agree with this. I have an extremely shy girl that's either hiding in her hide or under the paper towels. Always hiding lol. But my other 2 can be content without a hide but I just provide everyone with one anyway. It doesn't hurt. Extra security never hurts :)


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I agree some will avoid most of the common hides that people use. I have a couple real big girls that refused a lot of the hides I put in there even the creative ones but I kept at it and have managed to find something for each of them. It's just my way of doing it so I'm not passing judgement. I really like trying to give them options since they have options in the wild. I haven't heard of many Ball Pythons spending their lives in the open when they have choices so I'm willing to work with them a bit since they rely on me. About a month ago I had an employee tell me I was running a puppy mill of snakes since I kept them in tubs and that really got me thinking about the way I do things. I am pro tub though so I explained to her that they're a great way to control the temps and humidity.

I'd just like to point out, most big breeder's who don't use hides ? They use rack systems and the tubs are dark enough and secure enough at the back that hides are redundant. If your setup isn't like that, I'd use a hide.

Gale

These are the racks that I want: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FISvBydm6qM It has a built in hide and place for water bowls. Supposedly this hide works really well for picky eaters as it ensures a dark tighter hide in the back of the tub.