At what size does a Burm normally stop using hides?

Hi guys. The guy I bought my Burm from doesnt have hides for any of his adults. He said once they're adults they don't need them cos they're pretty much the king of the jungle and really confident.

My Burm is only 8 months old and 4 feet long. She stopped using her hides about 2 weeks ago (she only ever used the warm hide anyway). I thought it was because they were too small so I bought her the largest exo terra tortoise cave as she's growing so fast. But she's not interested in it at all.

Is this normal at 8 months old/ 4 feet long? Thanks.

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Not sure about burms but my 8 foot retic and 7 and 6 foot boas all have hides still and do use them. I believe all snakes should have somewhere they can retreat to for their own 'personal' time.

My adult retics get under the paper and hide when they are in shed.

My two year old still uber-defensive burm is hiding under paper now (not in shed, she just really likes hiding).

I would continue to make the hides available and let your snake decide whether to use them or not.

I wouldn't say they'll stop using them at a certain point. It's more or less they'll use it when they want to feel more secure. My cobra still fits in his hides, but he rarely uses them unless he's in shed. Otherwise he just lays slap dead in the middle of the cage with his head propped on the ledge watching me. Just provide a hide as long as you're able to that way if she wants one she can use one.

When they're adults, it's not easy to provide a big enough hide for them because of their size.

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

Not sure about burms but my 8 foot retic and 7 and 6 foot boas all have hides still and do use them. I believe all snakes should have somewhere they can retreat to for their own 'personal' time.

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I'll still offer it in case she wants to use it. I also have fake plants on both sides that she can hide under. And the opening for that hide is pretty big so I draped some plants over the front for more security. No doubt it will be too small in a few months anyway ha ha.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

My adult retics get under the paper and hide when they are in shed.

My two year old still uber-defensive burm is hiding under paper now (not in shed, she just really likes hiding).

I would continue to make the hides available and let your snake decide whether to use them or not.

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I was wondering if she would get stressed out in the open but I guess it's her choice lol.

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Originally Posted by Neal

I wouldn't say they'll stop using them at a certain point. It's more or less they'll use it when they want to feel more secure. My cobra still fits in his hides, but he rarely uses them unless he's in shed. Otherwise he just lays slap dead in the middle of the cage with his head propped on the ledge watching me. Just provide a hide as long as you're able to that way if she wants one she can use one.

When they're adults, it's not easy to provide a big enough hide for them because of their size.

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Do you absolutely have to have them n both ends or will one end suffice? I see both methods being used.

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I attempted to provide a hide for my baby Burm I acquired in Dec of 2017. It was more to keep his hot spot more cozy for him than to hide. He would go in but always come back out with half his body outside of the hide including his head. My Burm is definitely on the curious side. He gets out every day and maybe he is just waiting for me to get him out. Now he is right at 4 foot long and he has no hides. It has been my experience with this Burm and the one I had nearly 30 years ago that they leave insecurity to other snakes. Burms for the most part like to see what is going on in society. Mine definitely fits that mold.

I just checked your posts and realised I've already seen him lol. An up to date pic would be cool though

I always recommend one on each end, but if you don't really see yours using it, I would say one end is okay. I would likely put it on the warm end if it were me. I keep hides on both ends for everything except my horned viper and bush vipers. I have a basking spot for them, otherwise I have logs and fake leaves that they'll hide in and under. The one exception is my horned viper who hides in the sand to where you can only see the top of his head most of the time.

Now I'll add, if you start seeing him use the hides frequently then I would add the other one back.

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Originally Posted by Neal

I always recommend one on each end, but if you don't really see yours using it, I would say one end is okay. I would likely put it on the warm end if it were me. I keep hides on both ends for everything except my horned viper and bush vipers. I have a basking spot for them, otherwise I have logs and fake leaves that they'll hide in and under. The one exception is my horned viper who hides in the sand to where you can only see the top of his head most of the time.

Now I'll add, if you start seeing him use the hides frequently then I would add the other one back.

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Sounds good I'll monitor her behaviour. She always stayed in the warm end mostly. Then when the humidity went up around 90% for a few days with fresh eco earth she would move around more. So now I keep the humidity 75 - 80 which she seems to find more comfortable.

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Way back in the olden days, my uncle had a burm and it never hid, even though it had areas in in which to do so. He also had a retic, and that thing always hid during the day, even when it got so big that it nearly outgrew its modified garbage can hiding spot. Lol

I have found that all of my adult kingsnakes are almost always out in the open while nearly all of my bps are almost always hidden. I think it just varies with species and age.

No experience to offer, but what a gorgeous girl, love the red foliage you have gorgeous noodle with a magnificent set up , she looks pleased:P

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Originally Posted by Valyrian

Hi guys. The guy I bought my Burm from doesnt have hides for any of his adults. He said once they're adults they don't need them cos they're pretty much the king of the jungle and really confident.

My Burm is only 8 months old and 4 feet long. She stopped using her hides about 2 weeks ago (she only ever used the warm hide anyway). I thought it was because they were too small so I bought her the largest exo terra tortoise cave as she's growing so fast. But she's not interested in it at all.

Is this normal at 8 months old/ 4 feet long? Thanks.

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Have nothing to contribute in regards to your question lol, but your set up looks bad ass, got to share a few more pictures man.

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Originally Posted by C.Marie

No experience to offer, but what a gorgeous girl, love the red foliage you have gorgeous noodle with a magnificent set up , she looks pleased:P

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Thanks, I couldn't decide between Hypo or Albino so I got a Hypo Albino (Pearl) [emoji3] There were also Blizzards available from her clutch (Super Hypo Albino) but they were a bit out of my price range.

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Originally Posted by Hamsnacks

Have nothing to contribute in regards to your question lol, but your set up looks bad ass, got to share a few more pictures man.

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Thanks man. It's a 4 x 2 Vivexotic vivarium, with White Python 150 watt CHE and LEDs both controlled by a Microclimate Evo thermostat on a day night cycle.

I'm looking forward to building her a custom adult setup. This is my only snake so I can go all out with a slightly heated drainable pool and large branches for climbing [emoji3]

On a side note, I like this Eco Earth a lot but it sticks to her mouth from tongue flicking. Its not inside as I've seen her yawning but do you guys experience substrate on their mouth too?

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Awesome pictures man, well done, I really like your set up, it looks great. I like the colors and use the same tortoise shell for my Carpet Python who's about 6.6 Feet and I'm going to start covering it the way you have it.

In regards to Eco Earth, I've never had a snake that would get it in their mouth due to tongue flicking so I can't comment on that but my snakes definitely get some in their mouths if they attack a prey pretty hard and roll around. From my knowledge on reptiles though, not just snakes, a little Eco Earth can't harm them if digested, they get a lot more Nature in their mouths in the wild and their stomachs are incredible. The only concern I've read from others on here is if a bigger piece gets stuck somewhere at the beginning of their mouths, but I go through all my substrate to make sure no bigger pieces are present.

Owning 1 snake is great cause you can just focus all your attention and money lol on just the one.

Keep us updated though, would love to see her as she grows and if you build a bigger tank.

Good luck to you and her

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Originally Posted by Hamsnacks

Awesome pictures man, well done, I really like your set up, it looks great. I like the colors and use the same tortoise shell for my Carpet Python who's about 6.6 Feet and I'm going to start covering it the way you have it.

In regards to Eco Earth, I've never had a snake that would get it in their mouth due to tongue flicking so I can't comment on that but my snakes definitely get some in their mouths if they attack a prey pretty hard and roll around. From my knowledge on reptiles though, not just snakes, a little Eco Earth can't harm them if digested, they get a lot more Nature in their mouths in the wild and their stomachs are incredible. The only concern I've read from others on here is if a bigger piece gets stuck somewhere at the beginning of their mouths, but I go through all my substrate to make sure no bigger pieces are present.

Owning 1 snake is great cause you can just focus all your attention and money lol on just the one.

Keep us updated though, would love to see her as she grows and if you build a bigger tank.

Good luck to you and her

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Thanks mate. The tortoise cave has only been in there for two days but so far she just seems to prefer climbing over the top of it ha ha.

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My Normal never used one and my Albino stopped after about 4/5 feet.. They were not the PVC hides of today so idk if that mattered back then or not. Mine always just coiled in the back right hand side basking area. Ive never had plants, decor or clutter for my Burms and never a nervous bone in their body [emoji1360]
Glad she is doing so well[emoji1362]


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