All I can say is that my snakes are in transparent tubs, but I also provide opaque black hides for them. Usually they push the hide off the heat and snuggle in between the back of the hide and the back of the tub, but sometimes they go inside... then migrate themselves and their hide back and forth in the tub to suit their heat preference. It's rather amusing to watch the hides moving forward and backwards inside the tub from one day to the next.