I am not a believer -do you think you can convert me?

[ohyeahnow]

I can understand the theory of identical hides, and think this may benefit the environment and snakes comfort in some cases. In my six cages no two, or more in some cases are alike. My BP in specific has two on opposite ends, three during shed time. If he is the shed process, he never leaves the hide until he sheds. As far as the other two hides go, he moves freely between both, as my other snakes move from hide to hide. The BP spends some time each day in each hide. If he did not, I would try two identical hides.

When I first started keeping snakes, the members of the herp society and and the Dr. Of biology all fed live. I purchased mice from my neighbor who fed all her snakes live as well. I never left a mouse unatended, and no snake was ever bitten. The benefits known with using f/t has caused me to only use f/t. 4 of my six snakes do not even wrap, if the even bite. Many will crawl up and eat. The one snake who has been on f/t wraps, but if the prey were alive, the place he strikes and the way he holds the prey would surely lead to a bite. My BP before I switched him, always struck and wrapped giving the mouse no opportunity to hurt him. So based on my observations, once a snake has regularly eaten f/t to switch back could cause the snake a harmful bite or scratch.

I believe the idea of keeping a snake in captivity in a smaller space with identicle hides is for his comfort, seeing that he is not in a natural setting. We pick our snakes up to handle or clean, and the snake realizes he is not immune to being picked up. For this reason it is important to make him feel as safe as possible. If he only feels safe in one hide, thermoregulation goes out the door. In this case two identical hides may help with a secure feeling and thermoregulation.

In the wild they live shorter lifes because of diseases, lack of food, road kill, and predators. These factors can all be controlled in captivity. Personally speaking IMO a large enclosure with plenty of hiding spots and temperature zones, a snake might do very well no matter how big his living area is, as long as his requirements are met.

Interesting discussion points.