What to do about hides?

My Blood is finally getting too big for those X-large Terra hides and I'm debating if I should find him new ones or have no hides at all.

I remember reading about using hides until Bloods are a certain age but is that really acceptable?

I wouldn't get them a hide when they got that big. I think newspaper is sufficient enough ya know? lol, seems sometimes they prefer it over the hides we give them anyways.

Is he starting to wear the hide as a hat? Facing to the right? Cuz that's the blood side...

I have never used hides...Adults get newspaper and the babies get cypress...The babies always burrow down in though...
BT

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I wouldn't get them a hide when they got that big. I think newspaper is sufficient enough ya know? lol, seems sometimes they prefer it over the hides we give them anyways.

Is he starting to wear the hide as a hat? Facing to the right? Cuz that's the blood side...

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He squishes as much of himself in there as he can but his head and tail pokes out the entrance. It's kind of comical.

I'll take the caves out and see how he does.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I wouldn't get them a hide when they got that big. I think newspaper is sufficient enough ya know? lol, seems sometimes they prefer it over the hides we give them anyways.

Is he starting to wear the hide as a hat? Facing to the right? Cuz that's the blood side...

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I've also been pondering lately about the "hides for adult bloods" issue lately. My guy currently just sits on newspaper substrate and I'll crumple/wrinkle 2 sheets of additional newspaper. I find he always ends up hiding under the crumpled newspaper sheets - regardless if I put the sheets nearer the warmer or cooler side of the enclosure (I did that as a test).

Do your adult bloods somehow just find their way under the flat newspaper substrate to make their own hide or do they not hide at all? Or do you also provide a few crumpled sheets of newspaper?

On a side note, I noticed my 1 1/2 year old male ball python somehow always end up finding an opening in the flat newspaper substrate on his own and chooses to hide under there rather than use either of the 2 hides I've provided. This has only started the past few weeks. Up until that point, he's always just gone back and forth from the "hot" and "cold" hides ever since I acquired him.

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Do your adult bloods somehow just find their way under the flat newspaper substrate to make their own hide

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Oh, they find a way under the newspaper. The key is to clean their enclosure thoroughly, put down paper, making sure that they CANT get underneath it.

Then about 15-20 minutes later, you will find your blood snug and gleeful UNDER the newspaper. LOL

I have found that the bloods are cheerful and laugh at you when they are under the newspaper, but for ball pythons, they tend to be anti-social, and there is rumor they dont like the sun (like vampires).

Those two species both get pure enjoyment out of peeing and urating within hours of a new change of substrate.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Oh, they find a way under the newspaper. The key is to clean their enclosure thoroughly, put down paper, making sure that they CANT get underneath it.

Then about 15-20 minutes later, you will find your blood snug and gleeful UNDER the newspaper. LOL

I have found that the bloods are cheerful and laugh at you when they are under the newspaper, but for ball pythons, they tend to be anti-social, and there is rumor they dont like the sun (like vampires).

Those two species both get pure enjoyment out of peeing and urating within hours of a new change of substrate.

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HAHA!

The Duke will play around in his waterbowl for a day or 2 then drop a deuce. He wants to be a naughty vampire God!

The bloods I have had in my collection seemed to spend most of their time in their hides. I personally wouldn't take it away from the two I had. I currently use cat litter boxes for my yellow blood from Walmart and have also found and used some sort of rubbermaid dispan from there as well.

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Originally Posted by Earl

HAHA!
He wants to be a naughty vampire God!

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Well who doesn't??? I'd be a naughty vampire god! ahahaha (props for blade reference :gj:)

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Originally Posted by daaangconcepts

The bloods I have had in my collection seemed to spend most of their time in their hides. I personally wouldn't take it away from the two I had. I currently use cat litter boxes for my yellow blood from Walmart and have also found and used some sort of rubbermaid dispan from there as well.

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I did find some clay flower pots and I tried knocking a hole in them but I ruined them. I wish I had a dremel. :(

I'm so torn with this. Ugh!

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I'd be a naughty vampire god! ahahaha (props for blade reference )

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http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...ngo/smokin.gif

I got rid of my guys hides while I gave carefresh a try. He didn't have any problems. He just burrowed down into it.

I have since switched back to unprinted newspaper. And am using those cat boxes from walmart. The van ness brand ones. I'd like to get rid of them though. He's so squished in em. He'll have bent scales and what not from being crammed (sp) in there.

Littleindiangirl. Your saying that they can find they're under the paper without hides? I might try that. That way he can stretch out a little more.
*patiently waits for my animal plastics T-10 to arrive* Then he'll have all the room he'll need!

Nope they don't need hides. Haha

I took my guys hides out to see how hed do. I made sure the paper was bent up a little around the ends so he could find his way under it.

Took him 2 seconds. Went right back to his cool side where he was before. With a little more room.

Kara (klg) had told me that bloods spend a lot of time under leaf litter in the wild. And that hiding under newspaper simulates that. In the sense it sits on top of em and they have to burrow to get under it.

As long as he keeps eating. My guy can stay without his hides. Just thought I'd let everyone know how mine did.

Awesome to hear! The paper holds a bit warmer temps and humidity than the rest of the tub, so they may hang out for the change in climate...

Or they just like to feel snug as a bug under the rug. :D

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Originally Posted by Earl

I'll take the caves out and see how he does.

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Hey Earl, did you give this a try yet? If so, I'd be interested to hear how your blood has reacted to the change!

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Originally Posted by Dvas_Romeo

Hey Earl, did you give this a try yet? If so, I'd be interested to hear how your blood has reacted to the change!

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I'm going to do it when I get home tonight. I'll definitly let you guys know what happens.

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Originally Posted by Earl

I'm going to do it when I get home tonight. I'll definitly let you guys know what happens.

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Sounds good and look forward to hearing your observations!

He'll scoot himself under the paper I'm sure but the only sign that will tell me that he is okie dokie is if he still eats.

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Originally Posted by Earl

He'll scoot himself under the paper I'm sure but the only sign that will tell me that he is okie dokie is if he still eats.

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I cleaned Jelly's cage last night, so I purposely did not put 2 additional sheets of crumpled newspaper to see how he does. I noticed in the past, every time he's placed back in his enclosure after handling, he'll always go hide under the 2 sheets (regardless if it's placed on the warmer or cooler end) and the next day he'd still be in the same spot under the crumpled newspaper. With that, he was extremely inactive (I know some bloods are naturally "lazy") and every morning I'd have to touch him before work to make sure he's still alive, haha! Also, as a result from remaining in the curled up position under the crumpled sheets for such a long period of time, his scales were often bent.

As of this morning, Jelly did not find a way under the flat newspaper substrate - maybe he's just not the brightest guy? ;) But he definitely seemed more awake, alert, and active. Not surprisingly, as others have noted on this board, he just had to leave me a huge area full of liquid urine so I had to do some last minute emergency enclosure cleaning before work this morning. He's not so curled up anymore when lying there and I believe he's actually moving around the enclosure more...but that could just be some nitial exploring due to a "new" enclosure layout.

I'm going to continue to monitor him, and as you mentioned, the next scheduled feeding (next week Wednesday) should give a good indication whether our beloved pets are indeed OK without their hide(s). In my situation, so far so good. More exercise, no "squished" curling up (and for loooong periods), no bent scales, there's now some actual movement back and forth between the warmer and cooler ends, and no more mornings of pondering whether the guy is still alive since he's remained in the exact same position overnight (although this is mainly just a benefit for myself and not the animal)! :D

My guy also has become more active. He's very lethargic. So any movement is more active. Haha

He's since stayed on his cool side. He prefers that side anyways. But he is a lot more sprawled out. Which is good!! These animals being so lazy and big; the ability to sprawl out helps combat respiratory infections. And being confined in a hide too small for them doesn't help.

He will be getting fed tomorrow. He should eat. So far so good. Ill post an update to keep anybody interested informed.

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

My guy also has become more active. He's very lethargic. So any movement is more active. Haha

He's since stayed on his cool side. He prefers that side anyways. But he is a lot more sprawled out. Which is good!! These animals being so lazy and big; the ability to sprawl out helps combat respiratory infections. And being confined in a hide too small for them doesn't help.

He will be getting fed tomorrow. He should eat. So far so good. Ill post an update to keep anybody interested informed.

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That's awesome news! I'd be definitely interested to hear an update on your blood after tomorrow's feeding!

Took mine all of about 2 seconds to make his way under the paper.


http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/kljgh003.jpg


Dvas put the comics on the bottom and yours will look for it. Trust me.

Example - see all my bloods in these cages?

http://bloodpythons.com/forumpics/newcages.jpg

Exactly! ;)

KLG there is nothing in there for them to read.

Nope...my bloods meditate instead in their nice, non-inkstained cages. ;)

Having ink stained cages is only a problem if the articles were boring.

Huh????? Evidently you've never had a white cage covered in inkstains from newspaper substrate after a blood python swamps its water bowl & then goes for a cruise, trashing the substrate. No thanks! :)

I will not use printed newspaper as a substrate. Pelleted paper & kraft paper, yes. Nothing with ink on it makes its way into my cages. Cannot stand the way it looks, cannot stand the way ink sometimes stains snakes (especially albinos, etc), especially in higher-humidity environments.

Have used it in the past, never will again. PERIOD.

I'm just being silly.

I haven't noticed any ink stains in my snakes tank. Yes I've heard of it, no I don't see it.

Where do you all find the unprinted stuff at?

Uline is a place to start. I get my plain kraft paper from packagingsupplies.com, and the paper pellets are Harlan-Teklad through a local distributor.

Awesome! I shall look em up and get some. :gj:

Earl - if you want to try some kraft paper before committing to buying a whole bunch (they sell it in big bundles), drop me a line & I'll send you some. Shipping on the bundles can be a little expensive, so you may want to test it out first before buying a bunch & then deciding you don't like it. :P

Or go to office depot. They sell kraft paper rolls. 24 inches by 900 feet. For 30 bucks. No shipping as long you have one close. You can just go pick it up yourself.

Or go to any uhaul place. They sell unprinted newspaper. That's where I got mine. 144 sheets for 8 bucks.

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Originally Posted by Earl

Took mine all of about 2 seconds to make his way under the paper.
Dvas put the comics on the bottom and yours will look for it. Trust me.

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Hmm...from your observations and along with Kara's pics of her invisible bloods, I've basically come to the following assumptions:

a) Jelly is just way too lazy to care or bother to hide
b) Jelly isn't the brightest blood out there (if so, it's OK...I still love the guy to death)
c) Jelly isn't interested in the latest local news or comics
d) Jelly is just further trying to play his little games with me...this time at such an advanced level that he's really got me stumped...which would then totally rule out point b)

:rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by KLG

Earl - if you want to try some kraft paper before committing to buying a whole bunch (they sell it in big bundles), drop me a line & I'll send you some. Shipping on the bundles can be a little expensive, so you may want to test it out first before buying a bunch & then deciding you don't like it. :P

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I doubt I'll have a problem with the Kraft other than my snake getting mad at me for taking away his funny papers. I do appreciate the offer though and the info. :)

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Or go to office depot. They sell kraft paper rolls. 24 inches by 900 feet. For 30 bucks. No shipping as long you have one close. You can just go pick it up yourself.

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Ahh perfect! There is one right on my way to work.

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a) Jelly is just way too lazy to care or bother to hide
b) Jelly isn't the brightest blood out there (if so, it's OK...I still love the guy to death)
c) Jelly isn't interested in the latest local news or comics
d) Jelly is just further trying to play his little games with me...this time at such an advanced level that he's really got me stumped...which would then totally rule out point b)

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Hehe! :8:

You never know, Jelly is probably very sure of himself and just doesn't feel the need to hide.

Well sula ate today!! Like none other! He's never struck so fast! And he took the rat down with grace.

I think I can say he's quite content without his hides!!

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Well sula ate today!! Like none other! He's never struck so fast! And he took the rat down with grace.

I think I can say he's quite content without his hides!!

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I figured as much. KLG wouldn't steer us wrong but she has caused a problem. I have the Kraft in the tank but my Blood won't hide under it. He has nothing to read!

Anybody know how to teach a snake to meditate? :8:

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Well sula ate today!! Like none other! He's never struck so fast! And he took the rat down with grace.

I think I can say he's quite content without his hides!!

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Alright, congrats! I'm going to offer Jelly his next meal on Wednesday. Hopefully I'll have just as much fortune as you! :)

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Originally Posted by Earl

I figured as much. KLG wouldn't steer us wrong but she has caused a problem. I have the Kraft in the tank but my Blood won't hide under it. He has nothing to read!

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If you get a chance, would you be able to post a pic of what your setup now looks like with the kraft paper? Also, did you size the kraft to the same size of the enclosure and do you use multiple layers? Just trying to get an idea since I'm playing around with the idea of trying out kraft... Thanks Earl!

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Originally Posted by Dvas_Romeo

If you get a chance, would you be able to post a pic of what your setup now looks like with the kraft paper? Also, did you size the kraft to the same size of the enclosure and do you use multiple layers? Just trying to get an idea since I'm playing around with the idea of trying out kraft... Thanks Earl!

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http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/asdfojge.jpg



The paper is 24 inches wide but my tank is a little less than that so I have to cut it up. He's been dropping urates ever since I put that paper in there and very active at night as well.


When I had the newspaper in the there he went right under it but now he's been staying where he's at in the pic. I have no idea why.

Crumple the edges so he can find his way under it. That's what I did.

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Crumple the edges so he can find his way under it. That's what I did.

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I don't think it matters right now. Whenever he wants to drop a deuce he'll stick his butt in the water bowl so I'm sure he has one more stink bomb to deliver. He found his way under the newspaper easy enough, I doubt the Kraft will be much of a mystery for him.

Hey thanks, Earl! Interesting how you say your blood is more active on kraft than on newspaper.

Looks like you have some overlap of kraft in your enclosure. What I'm trying to decide is whether I should have a single sheet that's basically the same size as the flooring...or whether I should have multiple smaller sized sheets overlapping each other. Hmm... :confused:

I would do it just so they can sneak under the paper and still have some underneath them. The bundles are huge, 900 feet of paper so you'll have plenty.

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Originally Posted by Earl

I would do it just so they can sneak under the paper and still have some underneath them. The bundles are huge, 900 feet of paper so you'll have plenty.

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OK cool...I'm heading out to a nearby office depot to see if they have any in stock! :)

Oh they'll have it. Its in the packing section.

And yeah 900 feet of that stuff is a hell of a lot!!! Just figure if you use 8 feet of it every time you change the paper out. You'll have over 100 changes!!!

Well he ate a f/t rat and went right under the paper. Mission accomplished.

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Oh they'll have it. Its in the packing section.

And yeah 900 feet of that stuff is a hell of a lot!!! Just figure if you use 8 feet of it every time you change the paper out. You'll have over 100 changes!!!

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Found it! I laid a thick pad of newspaper first...then used the kraft as a top layer. I'm using 4 feet of the kraft each time...so 200 changes! :O

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Originally Posted by Earl

Well he ate a f/t rat and went right under the paper. Mission accomplished.

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Congrats! I was wondering earlier today when your blood's next feeding would be and the result! :gj:

Ok here is one for you guys...my Blood has developed a habit now of pushing with his nose on the front glass of his tank. He'll do it all day long and the front of his nose will be rubbed raw.

I take it this boy is stressed out and needs a hide?

Is he hiding under the paper? How many layers are there for him to hide under?

If the paper isn't thick enough to make it dark underneath that would make sense.

My guy has probably 3 or 4 layers he gets under. And he's doing great.

That or get a good size hide in there so he can sprawl out a little. They're lung is HUGE. And the ability to sprawl out helps combat respiratory infections.

Hope that helped :)

Yeah he's got a couple of layers and he does get under them but I don't think it's working for him. I even crumple up a few pieces that he hides behind to.

I tell ya this Blood is a real whacko. :8:

I picked up a cat litter box for him to hide in so hopefully it will put a stop to him rubbing his face all crazy.