Hey everyone.

First I'd like to thank everyone for the help I've received in the past. I think this place is very professional and humble.
Advice from passionate people is usualy very good in my opinion.

How many of you use 2 hides for your snakes (warm & cool side hides)? Also, if you only use one hide box are your snakes housed in a rack?

I currently have my snake in a 41qt sterilite tub / no rack (he's about 1500 grams) and he has 2 hide boxes. I notice that he never uses the warm side hide if the cool hide is available to him. I have proper temps throughout the tub (90-94 basking - 82-85 cool side). Humidity is between 55-60% depending on the side of the tub the hygrometer is on.
The tub lid is white plastic (not clear) and the tub is wedged between a shelf and a wall ( making all sides blocked off except the front - like a rack). I use an undertank heater for the basking area plus a red heat lamp 2 feet above the tub which provides the ambiemt heat. Substrate is aspen.

Some of my friends tell me to just put a warm side hide and let the snake leave the hide to cool off...seeing as how thats what breeders do in their tubs when housed in racks. Others tell me to just put a cool side hide.
One buddy says to put a slightly larger flatter hide box half-way over the heat pad and half off. This allows the snake to thermoregulate inside a single hide box which he does for his adults. makes sense I suppose!

I do however find that the 2 hide box theory seems to be disapearing lately in the advent of rack systems and tub use. Only the old (10yr old) care sheets suggest it. Or for really shy snakes.
Currently my snake has a very crappy appetite but is not shy. Eating only 1 rat a month. But he is 2 yrs and 1500 grams and comes out for a cruise at night. It doesnt breed.

What do you all think?
1 hide or 2? and if only 1 hide is suggested, what part of the enclosure should it be placed on?

With so many opinions on the internet it can be difficult for a single snake keeper to make the right choices about how to properly keep a snake...so I come here!

Thanks again!

[ Show Entire Thread ]