I only have one with a hide in my racks. All the tubs are on there own little shelf and it's pretty dark in there any way. The one with a hide had issues with eating and once I put the hide in with her she began to eat with gusto. Everyone else is doing well with out the hides. I do think that the balls grow better in the hides than when they are in aquariums. The few that are in aquariums for quarintine seem to grow slower than the guys in the racks I havent figured out why yet. It could be that it is easier to keep their temps and humidity right in the racks.