Hey there new member/owner with a lot of questions lol

[zina10]

I guess there are no rigid rules in snake keeping .
You have some interesting ideas for sure .

I have 5 Royals who all have two identical hides one in the warm side the other in the cooler end . That's what I was told to do years ago and to be fair they are all happy and healthy , are actively climbing branches ( evenings only ) and all eat d/f every time .

That said I also go against the norm by keeping my Burm , Retic and two Boas WITHOUT any hides !!

They are all kept in vivs and have quieter areas in amongst the branches and logs .

All very friendly / placid / calm etc WITHOUT hides !


Incidentally , I tried them with hides but they just didn't use them usually climbing all over them but never going in them . The breeders of each advised against hides but I still tried them anyways .

Boas aren't a species that is holed up in a dark, tight space for most of their lives. Ball Pythons are.
There is plenty of evidence that this is what they crave and need for their well being, many problematic BP's will start to thrive if you meet their basic needs.
Does that mean there aren't the ones that will grow and live without some of their basic needs met ? Of course there are.

I've had all kinds of snakes. Some used their hides sporadically, like my Redtail Boa, some didn't use hides like the GTP's, Carpet and Russian Ratsnakes, and then there were the Ball Pythons, and Borneo short-tail who would use their hides every day. Doesn't mean they were in it 24/7, but I would never deny them this basic need in their lives, just so that I can "see" them more. There are plenty of snakes that don't hide, if I want a species for display.
Just saying, different species, different needs.

IMHO of course