Every snake is a little different I would definatley get 2 identical hides I use cut plastic flower pots for hatch lings and small Juvie snakes. As for preferring one side over the other I would not worry to much about it. Of my 4 snakes they all prefer one side over the other and everyone has identical hides. They are all healthy and eating like champs I did worry about it for a while and asked the same question a while ago. Everyone is happy hiding where they hide