Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good hide for a 48" BP?

I recently took a smallish sweaterbox (roughly 12x12x4" spray painted flat black. I use a pro-heat IR radiant heat panel, so the idea is that this is not only a warm hide box, but also a raised platform for him to get a little closer to the heat panel (flat black absorbing more heat). He took to it immediately, but then the smell of the paint became rather strong, even though I let it dry for a week beforehand.

I was a bit bummed about this, as I really like the sweaterbox idea. It's easy to clean, and it is also very convenient to get my BP by just picking up the whole hide (I keep the top attached and cut a circular hole in the side). But, the paint smell can't be healthy. Should I hunt for a black/opaque sweater box?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

~Paul

cereal boxes or something similar. they are even more convient because they have all the same properties as your other hide but they are diposable and free (assuming you would normaly throw them out)
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jake

my addiction:
1.1? normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1? amelenistic corn snake (zyklon)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

Your hide box was a good idea.Might the heat panel be throwing off to much heat? That's the only reason I can think the paint fumes would come back after curing. Maybe ditch the heat panel and just put the hide over the UTH. Just a thought.

Quig

Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it!

ginebig- As far as I can tell, the temperature is right where it should be (80/90/95). It's a pretty nice heat unit. Maybe the type of heat (infrared) has something to do with it, but I want to keep the system as it is the most natural and beneficial from what I understand. I'd rather swith the type of hide.

goregrind- I've used cardboard boxes before with mixed results. For starters, they seem too light. Every morning I'd wake up to see that he has rearranged the furniture, he is especially good at flipping the boxes and getting a corner to land in the water. So, they get soggy and warped. He really seems to like the sweater boxes, he uses the cool side one quite often and hasn't moved it.

Depending on the size cage you have, you can use plastic kitty litter pans. I buy whatever size is needed, turn it over and cut an access hole. My BP is about 5ft and she loves hers. i try to get the pans in dark colors, so it stays nice and dark in there. You can also find reptile-specific made plastic hide boxes-I have seen them in black only-but they are basically the same idea and have the doorway already made into them. They come in different sizes, so they work great for smaller BP's who might get lost in the bigger pans. HTH!
Susan

Thanks, that's a pretty good idea, especially if I can find one of those black ones. Ideally, it would have a cover, too, as it makes it really easy to get the BP out. All you have to do is pick up the box and he comes along with it.