question about hides

[Kagez28]

so i've read up and down about hides for BPs and i i just want to know what some experienced snake owners think about what im using. first off i have one of those half hollowed out logs, this one is kind of big of him so he usually doesn't use it. then i put in a small card board box, like the one you get checks booklets in in the mail. he loved that one but it got so damn it just fell apart. i then read you should have 2 hides that are identical so he doesn't have to choose between warm and cool sides, is this true? well anyway i also read about using upside down flower pots with the drain hole made larger, well i did this with some smaller pots, but i was wondering if it was a good hide for him?

any other cheap suggestions...

i'll post a pic of his tank to give more of an idea a little later...

thanks

[Aric]

Those check book boxes sound perfect, nice and small. You want two identical hides that are very small, just enough for them to squeez themselves into.

This is what I use, nice and small, they seem to love them that way.

[Kagez28]

this is his home...


little closer...



hows it look?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The reason why your hides should be identical is that if they are not your BP will chose security over thermo-regulation.

You can make hides out of plastic bowls, plastic flower pot dish, you can purchase something like this I get mine here www.reptilesupply.com (There are different sizes available)

Remember no matter what type of hides you plan on getting they must be tight so your BP can snug in, with all the sides touching is body.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

In my opinion your enclosure is too big for such a small BP and it might create problems in the future (rule of thumb: the enclosure should be 2/3 of the length of your Ball Python)

Flower pots are too big as well, again all sides need to be touching his body (that includes the top as well)

And log hides make poor hides not offering enough security.

Oh and I would suggest to switch your thermometer and hydrometer, those are not accurate, you need a digital thermometer/hydrometer like this to get an accurate reading of both temps and humidity. (Can be purchased at Walmart for 12$/13$)

Hope this help.

[kavmon]

here are a few hides that work well and are economical.









vaughn

[Kagez28]

how about cutting the pots down so they aren't as high? would thank make his hides a little more ideal...i was wondering more about them having a hole in the top verses side... but since the example shown have wholes on top i guess its ok.

as fot the thermometers and hygrometer the new digital in/outdoor one is on the way (eBay). the ones in there now were given by a fellow herp friend.

thanks

[rabernet]

I think the flower pots are too big for him - I'd go with plastic flower pot saucers instead, like the one that Vaughn illustrated for you. Here are some that I have used. They are inexpensive (I don't like the word cheap when it comes to ball pythons) at about 50 cents each. I use a solder wand to melt an entrance in them.


I also agree with Deborah that the enclosure seems awfully big for him.

Here are my flower pot saucer examples:



There's really a snake under there!




The saucers come in different sizes (I get mine at Walmart) and the solder wand is about $10.

[frankykeno]

I like hides that are reasonably priced, easy to clean, dark and sized just right for our snakes. Here's some we use....

Big, heavy black rubber dog dishes from the local feed store....


Little bowls from the dollar store....


Cereal bowls from the dollar store....