Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just recently bought the smallest vision cage and Dallah wont go inside of it. Every time I check on her she has found some way to get under her water bowl and the cave that is suppose to be her hiding spot she doesnt wanna go in it for some reason... All help appreciated. I tried feeding her last night but I think she was to stressed about the new cage.

where do you have the watering dish located?

I ask only because unless there is a temp problem with them hiding under the bowl I would let them hide there. My BRB's favorite hide spot, other then just buried in moss, is coiled under the water dish.

If you have a spare and there is space I'd try placing one in the cold end and a second in the middle or slightly towards the warm end. Snakes definitely have individual prefferences in hides.

That being said most of the snakes I have seen/kept with a dogfood bowl, or other bowl where they can curl up in the base of, have loved to use the base/inside of the dish as a hide.

Is there a reason you do not want it to hide under the water dish?

Sean.

How big is the "cave"? A hide they will like and use will NOT be much larger than they are. Thdey will even usae one that is smaller then they are. For them to feel secure, they should be feeling contact with surroundings. If the hide is "too big", depending on hoiw much too big, you can add damp moss to fill in the gaps.

Each of my BRB's has a moss box. I only have two sizes, shoebox or sweaterbox. Each with one or two access holes and filled with damp peat moss and damp green moss. They all LOVE them and spend most of their time in them. Coming out to drink and hunt/explore. I know wehn they're getting hungry by seeing some out of the hides. Another benefit is they look fabulous, that damp moss does wonders for their skin.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
19.29 BRB
13.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I have big water dishes like 9x13 big and only a few of them choose to hide under it so therefore I leave it empty of substrate for easy access for the ones that use this spot. I have a male that is almost always under his dish and some of my other ones may use it definately for a secure hiding place that is a tight fit for them so they should feel very secure being pinned up under that water bowl feeling all the vibrations around them if there were to be any maybe instinctual since they are ambush predators and one more reason for them going under the bowl is when they are in shed especially when their eyes are real blue and very vulnerable to other animals with their impaired vision.

Since your snake refused food is it about to shed?
Bob

I will just use this post to reply to everyone. I dont really have a problem with her hiding under the water bowl its just big and hard to get out of the vision cage when feeding, handling, etc... and im really thinking about building me a moss box. The cave isnt much bigger than she is actually.. I dont know what the problem is and she isnt about to go into shed, she shedded last week.

Well a moss box should work great both for shedding(when next cycles) and hide. I would possibly consider a smaller water dish if it is difficult removing because you should change the water every week and if it's too much of a hassle it makes that difficult.

Sean.