Help with a new rack system...

[Sandi1961]

I have my very first rack system coming via Fed Ex next week. It will have belly heat and have a thermostat with night drop capabilities. It is a 4 tub rack, sweater box size, and I ordered 3 dividers as well since only 1 of my balls is an adult. What would be the best substate to use to help control humidity?

Thanks!

[cchardwick]

I've actually switched to several layers of paper towels and I just love it. I had to switch because of a mite problem which I'm still fighting but hopefully will win. When I see a snake that's ready to shed I add a few layers of wet paper towels on top of him, that's really the only time you need the extra humidity. Of course I check my snakes daily, helps to keep the smell down because I can see when they mess up the paper towels immediately. My snakes seem to love paper towels as well, seems to calm them down, I use a really soft one (Bounty). They also like to hide in the layers too. I don't think I'd go back to any other substrate. I actually had several snakes get bedding in their mouths when feeding before I switched.

[Sandi1961]

Do you give them hides? I know one of my breeders said the tub is the hide, but I know the company I bought my rack system from sells hides...so, do they need them or do I think they need them? LOL!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Do you give them hides? I know one of my breeders said the tub is the hide, but I know the company I bought my rack system from sells hides...so, do they need them or do I think they need them? LOL!

It's best to provide hides and them not being used than the opposite, not provide them and them being needed.

Provide hides, watch your snake see if they use them and if they don't after a month remove them and of course if you see a change in feeding habit or behaviour adjust accordingly.

Some will need them some won't it depends on the individual.

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[Alexio]

Do you give them hides? I know one of my breeders said the tub is the hide, but I know the company I bought my rack system from sells hides...so, do they need them or do I think they need them? LOL!

Personally I'm not sure if it's a one size fits all answer. My understanding is that it depends more on the type of tub in the rack. Like if it is a brown, black, anything non -see through that passes no light (so the tub would be pitch black day or night) then having a hide is less important. I was just talking to a former pb breeder yesterday about this same thing and he said he didn't bother with the hides unless they stopped eating or seemed stressed. I am a big believer in holding to core husbandry as the animal is small so I give all my younger bp's two hides one on the warm and one on the cool. I give my larger bp's one hide in the middle that they sort of move around back and forth depending on what they want.

[Sandi1961]

Cleopatra uses her big hide about 50% of the time, Ramses rarely comes out of his, Seti explores but definitely uses his, Neferti and Ankh-Meri-Ra are very active and use theirs sometimes...lol...so will see what each likes when in the new tubs. The tubs look to be clear/opaque and the rack is black. Imagine they will have to settle in when the new set-up arrives.