Hides, my way

People often ask me what kind of hides I use so I decided I would share with everyone

Here are the hides I am using

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hides.jpg

Number 1
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hide1.jpg

6 Inches Plastic Flowerpot saucer form hatchling to 250 grams (Found at Walmart or any gardening places)

Number 2

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hide2.jpg

Plastic bowl form 250 grams to 450/500 grams (Found at walmart)

Number 3

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hide3.jpg

Large Zilla Creature Cubbyhole from 450/500 grams to 900/950 grams (Found on ReptileSupply.com)

Number 4

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hide4.jpg

X-Large Zilla Creature Cubbyhole from 900/950 grams to 1500/1550 grams (Found on ReptileSupply.com)

Number 5

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hide5.jpg

Van Ness Small Kitty Litter Pan for 1500/1550 grams and above. (Found at Walmart)

awesome hides you have there....thanks :gj:

Deb
Thanks for posting the pic's so everyone can see the type's of hide you use. Great Job!

Awesome post!!

I Use the Zilla x-large cubbyholes as well and my girls LOVE them. I also use a few larges for the juvies and babies get the exo-terra caves which they love to squish into as tight as they can. For the extroverted youg 'uns I add carboard tubes out of the toilet paper roll in addition to the cave hide.

http://www.petco.com/Assets/product_...556122853B.jpg


Cheers,
Kat

Those cuts are so precise. do you just use scissors? Mine come out much worse :D but it isn't about looks..haha

Just wanted to add that the few times I've cut out bowls, etc to make hides or nest boxes, I always use a lighter and burn/melt the edge of the plastic a tiny bit so that it cools smoothly and leaves no sharp edges. And no, you should not burn the edge and put it back in the cage immediately, let it cool. I'll try and get a pic up later.

Cheers,
Kat

Yes I know it's ugly, but I have no fear of snags when my preggie mommas are roaming in and out. Smooooooooooooth is good. Again, just the way I do it, not saying it's right or wrong, just what works for me and mine.

Cheers,
Kat

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...smoothedge.JPG

Quote:

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Originally Posted by janeothejungle

Yes I know it's ugly, but I have no fear of snags when my preggie mommas are roaming in and out. Smooooooooooooth is good. Again, just the way I do it, not saying it's right or wrong, just what works for me and mine.

Cheers,
Kat

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...smoothedge.JPG

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Thanks for chipping in :)

I use the flowerpot saucers too!
I don't even cut a hole since I use mulch substrate so I just shape the substrate so there's a little burrow under the rim.
The BP seems to love it since it is always pressing down on him, yet it's light enough so he can coil right up and lift it a bit to suit.

I used to use the black plastic hides but he's shown a clear preference for the flat saucers.


great thread~!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

Those cuts are so precise. do you just use scissors? Mine come out much worse :D but it isn't about looks..haha

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Actually what I use http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...59L&lpage=none

It cuts through plastic like if it was butter.

if you dont want to have that melted look just get a small file and you can get those edges smoother with out the char marks. :)

Very nice Deb! Thanks for sharing and using pics!! :clap:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GA_Ball_Pythons

Actually what I use http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...CQP&lpage=none.

It cuts through plastic like if it was butter.

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Thanks!!!

just passing through and wanted to drop a line. i coat bowls and things with mortar and sometimes build up walls out of foam and then coat those with mortar, making a lid. i'll post photos later if anyone wants but i just think burn holes and melting plastic...even though it works, just isn't the way for me. I also like to know that the burrow is going to move or pop off if any of my snakes "stretch" before bed time. know what i mean?

anyway, nice forum. I look forward to gleaming and sharing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by janeothejungle

Yes I know it's ugly, but I have no fear of snags when my preggie mommas are roaming in and out. Smooooooooooooth is good. Again, just the way I do it, not saying it's right or wrong, just what works for me and mine.

Cheers,
Kat

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...smoothedge.JPG

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sandpaper works well too take a strip and run it back and forth like your a shoe shine. youll get a smooth clean finish

Thanks everyone for the wonderful responses. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FL0OD

if you dont want to have that melted look just get a small file and you can get those edges smoother with out the char marks. :)

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That or a cheap heat gun. You can really get it nice buy actually molding it while warm. You can even do a nice bend to make it easier for the snake.

^^
It all depends on the type of plastic. Most will become soft and pliable and will reharden as normal when cooled others will become extremely brital if overheated.

You can go to walmart or the auto store and get oil drain pans. These things are a little over a dollar and I use them as my hides and my water bowls. They are cheap and inexpensive so I can throw them away whenever i want

I use pet food bowls from ikea. If your using a rack they are perfect, I use them for water bowls and hides. Because they are so large they cannot tip over in the rack. They have two sizes, one is perfect up to about 1900g and the small ones are good for hatchlings/young snakes. They are dirt cheap too..

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90140379

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7...11958s3bk6.jpg

Nice find! They just built a ginormous Ikea here in Orlando..I'll have to plan a trip sometime soon so I can pick up a bunch of these :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

Nice find!

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Another breeder actually gave me a few when I bought part of his collection. I figured out when I was cleaning them that they were from ikea so I picked up a ton of them. The small hatchling ones were on sale for 25 cents lol.

Thanks everyone! You were all a big help!

I just brought home some cheap plastic cereal bowls. They're mostly dark but slightly transparent.. I'm not extremely worried as they will be in a dark room most of the time anyway.

I agree with you Kat! When I cut up my cereal bowls I melted the edges with some flames. I was worried about getting anything that 'folds over' because I'm a freak about sharp edges with animals. D:

Thanks again!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

People often ask me what kind of hides I use so I decided I would share with everyone

Here are the hides I am using

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hides.jpg

Number 1
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hide1.jpg

6 Inches Plastic Flowerpot saucer form hatchling to 250 grams (Found at Walmart or any gardening places)

Number 2

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hide2.jpg

Plastic bowl form 250 grams to 450/500 grams (Found at walmart)

Number 3

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hide3.jpg

Large Zilla Creature Cubbyhole from 450/500 grams to 900/950 grams (Found on ReptileSupply.com)

Number 4

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hide4.jpg

X-Large Zilla Creature Cubbyhole from 900/950 grams to 1500/1550 grams (Found on ReptileSupply.com)

Number 5

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Room/Hide5.jpg

Van Ness Small Kitty Litter Pan for 1500/1550 grams and above. (Found at Walmart)

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how much for the hides

I'm not very handy with DIY. So, I got these:

Zoo-Med Repti-Shelter 3-in-1 cave

http://www.thatpetplace.com/images/p...ion/P49954.jpg

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Originally Posted by zombie&lemons

how much for the hides

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Flowerpot saucers are about $0.70 at home depot / lowes
Plastic bowls are about $2.00 for 5 at Walmart
Cat litter pans are about $1.90 at Walmart
The zilla hides are less than $5

Quote:

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Originally Posted by anatess

I'm not very handy with DIY. So, I got these:

Zoo-Med Repti-Shelter 3-in-1 cave

http://www.thatpetplace.com/images/p...ion/P49954.jpg

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i got one for Norma and she loves it i got ir real cheap on amazon.com

I used plain sandwich tupperware for my smaller BP's. I was cleaning a tub out and I put her in a spare that had one from my leopard geckos and she went right in. When I finished her tub, I put the container in and sure enough, she went right back in. I used a 1 1/2" hole-saw to cut the hole in the lid.

Excellent post with pics...Thank you so much..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Flowerpot saucers are about $0.70 at home depot / lowes
Plastic bowls are about $2.00 for 5 at Walmart
Cat litter pans are about $1.90 at Walmart
The zilla hides are less than $5

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Really?? Those are a lot cheaper than the exact ones, from the exact same places by my house :(

I use the cat litter pans with my two biguns. They love em, and it fits perfectly on one end of my rack system :)

im thinking of using the pot pan, thanks for the ideas.

I can't seem to find those Zilla hides anywhere, do they still sell those?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by janeothejungle

Just wanted to add that the few times I've cut out bowls, etc to make hides or nest boxes, I always use a lighter and burn/melt the edge of the plastic a tiny bit so that it cools smoothly and leaves no sharp edges. And no, you should not burn the edge and put it back in the cage immediately, let it cool. I'll try and get a pic up later.

Cheers,
Kat

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Another tip for people along the same lines: Soldering irons are great for cutting plastic. Just do it somewhere ventilated, burning plastic should not be inhaled.

These are great hides, and reasonably priced. Better than Zillia IMO

http://www.reptilebasics.com/Hide-Boxes-p-1-c-282.html

heck yeah thanks! im about to get my first snake and i was trying to think of what to use lol. you just saved my wallet XD

I use drawer organizers out of the kitchen wear department in Wal Mart for my babies/juvies. they are about a buck a piece. Anything bigger I use litter boxes that Wal Mart sells for about a buck twenty. They have three sizes I believe.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/IMG_0556.jpg

You guys are going to laugh, but I use the plastic coffee cans they just came out with...Washed them good to get the smell out and then cut them in half so that I have two hides with one can.

I get my hides at the hardware store!

They're PVC LB Access fittings, you find them in the electrical aisle. They have sizes from teeny wiggleworm to huge fat BP (but the biggest size is special order... and kind of expensive!)

http://j.photos.cx/imagerequest-44b.aspx

in the picture it's "upside down". Take off that screw-on panel and put it down in the cage. I find my snake enjoys entering/exiting through both top and bottom at times... sometimes he comes out the top and goes in the bottom! :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by janeothejungle

For the extroverted youg 'uns I add carboard tubes out of the toilet paper roll in addition to the cave hide.
Cheers,
Kat

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I thought i was the only one using cardboard. They also love the paper towel rolls, chrismas paper wraping rolls, and newspaper rolls. My 4 ft BP chooses the rolls over her hides. She will also rock the whole tube with her tail, while most of her body is inside the tube.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dundee85

These are great hides, and reasonably priced. Better than Zillia IMO

http://www.reptilebasics.com/Hide-Boxes-p-1-c-282.html

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Nice stuff but when you have gardening and pet departments at local stores these and other specialized hides are a HUGE waste of money!

i used a small empty cardboard kleenex box for my first ball years ago...it loved it. this time around around i plan on using 2 8" repti shelters from reptiledirect.com.

this is my guys favorite hide
http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/produ...-3759666dt.jpg
looks a little different though

Is it better to have a tighter fitting hide?

I am having an issue with my female not going under her hide - it is more spacious then her previous one (which barely covered her). Should I cut it, so it's lower??

At the moment she doesn't go under at all, in fact, she lays on top.

Quick question for you (and my first post). For asthetic purposes, have you tried covering the hides with moss, or substrate, or any other material. I know that it is clearly not needed, but part of my joy of keeping reptiles is terrarium decoration and making it look natural. I just wanted to get your opinion on decorating the hide.

Thanks!!:gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by janeothejungle

I always use a lighter and burn/melt the edge of the plastic a tiny bit so that it cools smoothly and leaves no sharp edges.

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Clever! I never would have thought of that!

Hi everybody :)
I had a question. Do palm tree leaves or branches hurt snakes in anyway? Because I want to put in some leaves or braches as another hide for my bp.
Thanks in advance
-Tim

I found mine really enjoyed small cardboard boxes such as smaller cereal boxes. She enjoyed the paper towel roll when she was younger and outgrew them, but i just found some long square tubes for entertaining crackers that are just her size :) they make nice places for moss and elevated moisture, as well. Now when i shop, i am always on the lookout for containers that will suit her... I like the flower base idea as it it a nice shape they don't normally get.

i have a half log for mine right now but it lets a lot of light in. im thinking about putting cardboard over both ends and cutting a whole in one just big enough for her to fit in. shes about 3ft long. what do you guys think?

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...ki/photo45.jpgSo I have many hides from reptile basics, but I needed a new one right away one day and I was at the pet store and bought a plastic castle type hide for hamsters. They had from clear to opaque and they had tiny breathing holes. 4.00$ Saw them at Petco, and Petsmart etc. I bought mine from a local pet store. A little more expensive but works on bps I think up to 400g.