2 exact hides, but the snake only prefers one of them? is this normal?

[stylin97]

i have 2 EXACT same hides, the Exo-terra caves like this one...

http://www.blackjungle.com/Merchant2...001/1ex-cm.jpg


and she will only use one of them... not just cold side or hot side, but only a specific one.

i switch them around sometimes when i feed her or when i clean her tank, and everytime i switch them.. she will only go to the one she always uses, doesnt matter if its hot or cold side. and she will continue using that one till i switch them around again then she will go to the other side and still use the same one.

could there be like a certain smell on one of them she likes/dislikes or something? ive washed both of them with soap and water plenty of times to where i would think the smell would be gone.

anyone have an explination..?

[daniel1983]

It goes into the other hide when you leave the room.... ha ha....unless you watch it 24/7....

Arrange some substrate so that if the snake goes into and out of the 'unused' hide, you will be able to see its tracks. I had a ball python that appeared to be motionless for over 2 months. The only way that I knew the snake moved was because the substrate would get distrubed at the entrance of the other hide.

[juddb]

I think maybe shes just doing what she wants to do. How is your husbandry? i.e temps/humidity, size of tank etc.

[stylin97]

I think maybe shes just doing what she wants to do. How is your husbandry? i.e temps/humidity, size of tank etc.

everything is perfect. tank isnt to big (2ft long) .. 2 exact hides, one large water bowl, temps/humidity are great.

like i said, it doesnt matter which side i put the hide she always uses on, hot or cold, but she only goes to that one. she KNOWS which one she likes and only uses that one. either that or she knows which one she doesnt like and always stays away from that one.... i dont know which it is. its wierd tho cause they are the same exact hides.

[Nikki0326]

Maybe there is something on one of the hides that you cant see or smell but they can. If its something that can be washed I would try washing them to see if that makes a difference.

[sw204me]

If they are completely identical, how you know she is following the same one, unless they are marked in some way, and that might be whats actually making her use or not use that hide.

[littleindiangirl]

Im gonna go ahead and say that she moves when your asleep. My balls dont come out at all until 9, and the WC doesnt until later..