Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I read somewhere that gravid females should not have hideboxes. Is this true, and if so what is the reasoning?

Also, we have custom built 4 x 2 cages for our dumeril's and I always used belly heat, but I am not happy with the results. I have heard about securing heat tape to the side of the enclosure and of course using a thermostat to regulate temperature. Should I cover the tape with foil? Any tips on how to set up heat in a custom (wood) enclosure?
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Thanks,
Amy
www.myboids.4t.com
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1.14 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball pythons
0.0.1 Sinaloan Milk Snake
0.0.1 Plains Garter
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
2.0 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Mid-Baja Rosy Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
1.2 BCI
That's Just The Snakes!

Here is my theory on hide boxes.

And I dont care what anyone else says about hide boxes.

Every single one of my boas has access to a nice dark hide box, even ones in a rack type setup. And every single one of my boas loves to use there hide box. Boas do not hang around out in the open in the wild they hide and, they do the same thing in captivity. I have no clue where some people come up with hide boxes are bad. If someone tells me horror story about how there hide box killed there boa I might reconsider.

For my pregnant females I shred news paper so it is like a huge nest they can choose where they want to hide and this female loves it.

I think the only reason some people dont use hide boxes is because then the have to put more effort cleaning them or they cant cram anything else into there Boas cramped quarters.

Greg Reinert

I like the shredded paper idea! I'm so used to eggs and incubators with my pythons, I am eager to learn all that I can in regards to boa breeding...especially since I just acquired some more boas recently.
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Thanks,
Amy
www.myboids.4t.com
----
1.14 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball pythons
0.0.1 Sinaloan Milk Snake
0.0.1 Plains Garter
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
2.0 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Mid-Baja Rosy Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
1.2 BCI
That's Just The Snakes!

Im not sure it is a readily practiced thing I just do it. It keeps nice and insulated. I forgot to mention that keeping heat pads on the sides is a good idea.

Greg

The problem most breeders have with hides is that when a hide "box" (doesn't apply to your setup, Greg) is provided, oftentimes a female will have her babies in it. Because of the cramped quarters, babies can and do get crushed. A couple babies crushed in this way will tend to turn one off of hide boxes!

I use Aspen as bedding. I just lay a section of newspaper on top of several inches of Aspen and the Boas burrow under it. When the newspaper gets soiled, I just replace it. It works great.
I do have a couple Boas that will not use a hide of any type.
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Jason Dowell

I have a 4' x 2' wood cage as well, I use belly heat and it works great. The setup I have is 4' of 11" wide heat tape on the bottom, then I have a 1/4" plexiglass piece that covers the whole bottom about 1" above the heat tape.
Thats just what works for me

Thanks! I now understand why people avoid hideboxes for gravid boas. I hadn't thought about the "crush" factor, but I see why that is such a concern.
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Thanks,
Amy
www.myboids.4t.com
----
1.14 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball pythons
0.0.1 Sinaloan Milk Snake
0.0.1 Plains Garter
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
2.0 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Mid-Baja Rosy Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
1.2 BCI
That's Just The Snakes!

n/p
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Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com