Quote Originally Posted by bns View Post
What do you disagree with?
I've never seen an boa get tangled up...and I don't understand how a hide made it 'easier' for a boa to move around in her cage. I would suspect another issue.

Boas are simple and boas are complex at the same time. Small things (such as indirect lighting) have an impact on their behavior (choices). The type of heat used to regulate the enclosure has an impact on their choices. How they lay in an enclosure speaks volumes about what is going on with a boa. A secure (mature) boa that is not digesting or developing new skin should be loosely spread out in his or her enclosure.

I'm not saying a secure adult boa will not or should not use a hide but I would be concerned if I walked up to a mature boa in my care that was tightly coiled or trying to hide on a regular basis.
I am questioning the reason they seem to stop using their hides. Neither of us can be inside their hides to know for sure, nor can we be inside their cute scaly heads.

I merely explained what worked well for me & my large BCI pet, & that she appeared to use it out of enjoyment, not fear. Having a hide can reduce their stress because
they don't live out in the open in "real life" either. Can they survive without it? Sure. We can all "survive" without half "the stuff" we have, but the idea is to make lives
more comfortable, whether for ourselves or for our pets. I realize those who breed boas find hides are inconvenient, they're just one more thing to supply & then have to
wash, & may get in the way when snakes are trying to mate...I "get" all that. This forum is about sharing techniques that work for us & bring out the best in our pets, &
sometimes it helps to figure out WHY some things work better.