2 hides different size?

[Oxylepy]

Okay so lemme explain the hides issue:

Ball pythons hide to achieve a sense of security. In captivity we want them to thermoregulate, deciding where they are in the enclosure based on the temperature of the location.

A ball python will choose a hide based on the level of security it offers as well as the temperature. By offering multiple hides of the same size, the snake chooses the temperature instead of the security. This leads to the correct level of thermoregulation.

By having hides of different sizes, the snake will choose its hide based on the sense of security the hide offers as well as the temperature, which skews hiding towards the sense of security and away from the temperature.

So, the same size is recommended. Now, realistically, the level this is important is subjective, as determined by the snake. If your snake doesn't mind it won't affect it. However many ball pythons, likely most, will mind, and will choose the location they feel the most secure.

I hope that adequately explains both how important and how unimportant hide size is, placing you directly in the grey area in between, which is where you will find that a 5% difference isn't that much, but a 50% difference will matter a lot.

End result, see if the snake is hiding in the most secure location, and see if it thermoregulates. Adjust your setup accordingly.