Personally, I believe in using two hides, so that in case the warm hide gets too hot, the snake can move before it burns itself. Also, my BP is a neat freak; she refuses to be in a hide she has defecated in. If I am not home to clean up the mess, she can still feel secure without having to sleep in her own feces.

But many people succeed with one hide (should be at warm side of tub). I guess it depends on the snake and the stability of the temps. I use a rheostat (no thermostat), so the temps are manually controlled. There have been a few incidents in which the heat pad went wacky while I was gone and the warm hide exceeded 98*. So, I feel that my girl is much safer if she has an alternative place to be if she is uncomfortable in one hide.