Removing the hides of a Nic. boa - good or bad?

[jtyson123]

So here's my dilemma. I've been thinking about two pieces of conflicting philosophy concerning boas and hides. I have a Nicaraguan boa, and she's still a little flighty and can be nippy (which is usually the stereotype), and she has two hides in her enclosure that I've been letting her use since I got her in January. Now here's the thing: I've heard everywhere that hides will help a snake feel more secure (which was the main reasoning behind me letting her have hides in the first place), but then I've been reading that BCI don't need hides, and I read an article by the Boaphile that getting a boa used to not having hides will result in a boa that is more secure out and being manipulated/handled.

So my question is should I continue to offer the hides and hope that it makes her a little more secure, or stop offering them for the same reason? Any opinions are welcome. I'm starting to think that removing the hides might help, but then with her being a Nic I don't want to make her any more nervous than she already is naturally...

IMO your snake's attitude is going to be attributed mainly to two different things; its temperament overall and how it is handled. I don't believe a hide makes a snake aggressive. The only boa I have is around 15lbs and 7' and rarely ever comes out of her hide. Yet any time day or night you can pull her out and handle her and she has never once bitten me or anyone else...She has even done some semi professional modeling and never got testy being held by girls who could barely handle themselves.

You snake is either nippy, or not. Handle her more and hopefully she will get better with or without hide - however you choose.