Do boas need hides?

I have a male boa over five feet now and he out grew his hides. The problem is, I cannot find any that are bigger, anywhere. So I went and got a plastic severing/mixing bowl (the darkest the had was purple) and I cut a hole into it. I know it would fit him but he wont use them. Is this okay? He doesn't seem anymore aggressive then usual. He isn't the nicest boa, he likes to attack us through the glass even when he had a hide.

Yes they still need hides. I give my 6' gal just one hide though now on the cool side as she mostly only uses it when shes shedding or when she wants alone time. If you got a Walmart by you, try one of these http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-...Black/17011370. I use these for her and she fits in perfect and is very happy. Plus they are easy to wash. Just remember to cut a half moon for the door so the bottom is open so the snake cant get stuck if it doubles back on itself in the doorway.

There are hides that will easily fit a 5-7 foot BC. My fella uses these two turtle shell hides all of the time. He is a 6+ footer.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2658.jpg


"Needing"? Well you'll probably be able to get by without, but I would always provide as many options as possible. If you are simply housing a pet and not housing multiple animals that require efficiency setups you should provide hides and climbing options.

Your BC will display a wider range of behaviors by doing so. Snakes, all of them, are secretive by nature. They are not frequently found out in the open and far from cover without good reason.

Hides will offer them a place to feel secure if the need arises.

Stress in snakes is responsible for far more illness than people attribute it to. Stress can cause various issues that can weaken an immune system and open it up to a whole host of problems.

While I doubt this will be a serious issue with your animal, I would not discount offering a secure place for the snake. You can either make your own hide, look for the type I use, or look at large half log type hides. There are options.

If you offer some options and the snake uses them, it is a no brainer.

Be alert to cues your snake might be giving as well.

Does it pick a corner in the rear of the cage and coil tightly? That may be a sign the snake feels more secure there than any other spot in the cage, but doesn't necessarily mean it is secure. It just means that is the most secure spot it is able to find.

Some folks convert cat litter boxes into hides, some use large ceramic flower/plating pots.

Ultimately the choice is up to you, but as I said before, providing options is the best bet for a animal that prefers secrecy and security.

My BC is about 5.5 feet and still fits in the XL reptile basics hide with some room to spare. They've got one more size bigger I can get then I figured we would have to make some out of bigger rubbermaids or something. I like to have some sort of cover and hide out for my animals.

i've used these for large blood/borneo and coastal carpets. they come in two sizes I think.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-M...101A/202086173

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Originally Posted by DennisM

i've used these for large blood/borneo and coastal carpets. they come in two sizes I think.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-M...101A/202086173

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They do not sell those here. I tried looking for one a while ago to build new rodent breeder racks. They do not sell them in my area.

I never thought of a kitty litter pan. I will have to go look for one and see if he will use it.

After putting in the mixing bowls for his new hides, he did start laying in the back corner behind the mixing bowl on the warm end. He really doesn't seem to be stressed at all though. He still eats and still seems lively and is active at night.

I will go to walmart and see about those litter pans. Thanks!

I get plastic bus tubs from a local restaurant supply store for $5 and cut an access hole in them. They work well as big snake hides since they're very sturdy.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I get plastic bus tubs from a local restaurant supply store for $5 and cut an access hole in them. They work well as big snake hides since they're very sturdy.

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$5 !!! I need to look into this.

Okay, this is probably a stupid question but what is a bus tub? Are those those things bus boys walk around picking up dirty dishes? And where would get one of those if there are no restaurant supply stores?

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Originally Posted by BCS

Okay, this is probably a stupid question but what is a bus tub? Are those those things bus boys walk around picking up dirty dishes? And where would get one of those if there are no restaurant supply stores?

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Yes, and online.

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

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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.