I would say that so long as he has the OPTION of choosing a hide, you shouldn't worry if he decides not to use one. Once you get his home all set up, and you know that the temperature gradient is correct, the humidity is in the right range and consistent, and he has some hides to choose from.....the rest is up to him.

Look at it from his point of view...everything he knew in his world has been ripped out and replaced with something alien. Even his girlfriend is gone. (Being a little facetious there...because I know they don't have "girlfriends" nor is it proper to house them together except for breeding, but if they've been living together up til now, she is another element of his environment that he was accustomed to having around and now it's gone.)

My suggestion is that once you get whatever container you intend to house him in permanently....set it up withOUT the snake in it...make sure the environment is just right and how you want it...and only then move the snake into it. (He may need a good soak before hand to help with that totally stressed out shed.) Once he's in his permanent home, just leave him totally alone for at least a week...probably two would be best. It won't hurt him to skip a meal and he most likely wouldn't eat it anyhow. He may not eat for several weeks, even, if he's as stressed as it sounds.

Anyhow, I've been away from the herp scene for some time and don't remember a lot, but I hope I've helped some, and anyone here will surely correct me if I've said something wrong.

Judy