I think this is very good advice (which Deborah gives lots of on here ) I found (with my limited snake experience) that hides can be important to some snakes, my snake stays in it's hides and eats out of it's hides. She is even in a plastic tub which is covered with tape and she still is not happy without her hides, I tried not using hides but she wasn't happy. She is most the time in one hide or the other. Her head likes to peek out the door way of the hide and slowly work her way out when food is introduced and often pulls the food back into her hide. So one hide on the warm side might be a must for some snakes, and IF not a hide on the cool side at least something to hide under or behind. The warm side is around 90 but the cool side should not be 90, it actually is suppose to be around 80 give or take. ( no higher than 86 ) So I believe in tubs or tanks large enough to make a gradient and also hold a hide or better 2, gradients and hides are highly recommended in all care sheets that I have ever read.