Your set up is not horrible. I never said that. But your original post is a begginer question that shows that you still have a lot to learn. I appologize if I insulted your level of experience. In fact your temperature gradient (the single most important part of herp keeping) is awesome.

Your snake sits out in the open because it has been accustomed to do so over its life. It had a choice, sit out in the open (I would consider even your hide boxes open), or die of stress. Snakes (even delicate ones) are hardy. Some snakes can't do that. Those die young in most peoples hands.

I recently got a california kingsnake that had been kept on newspaper with a water bowl and a branch for over 10 years. It was reasonably healthy appearing (a little obese). I kept it like I do my other cal kings with a deep layer of aspen and a large board covering most of the bottom. He did not know how to bury himself. And he sat out in the open. So I gave him some flower pots. He didn't use them either. Now I repeat - he is perfectly healthy and he will likely breed no problem. He has no idea how to act like a "normal" snake. Does that mean that I should recommend to people that they should keep snakes with no hides? Why not? It obviously can work just fine.

Your kingsnake has successfully adapted to its environment and is obviously thriving. He looks beautiful. Your cage is by far better than most peoples. If it works for you than thats fine. Don't change a thing. But is it whats BEST or is it whats good enough to prevent disease?

He certainly doesn't act like any pyro I have ever seen in the wild.

If you want to learn more about your snake than the biggest area you can improve are the hide boxes. If your snake isn't completely brainwashed he will use them more and you will see him less. Sad but true.

Lastly I want to comment on what you said about handling and stress. In short YES YES YES. I believe that a snake that craps its pants every time you change the water bowl is not in a healthy situation. All of my snakes are accustomed to me and it has nothing to do with how much they hide when in their cage.

That baby cal king from the vivarium... I put him in and didn't touch him or anything else in the cage except the water bowl for over 6 months! When I moved, I waited until I saw him, opened the cage, and picked him up. He was fine. When I broke down the cage I found an amazing network of tunnels and several shed skins.

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