Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a large female BCI in a 6 foot cage that had a hide box on the warm side only. I recently added a hide box to the cool side of the cage and noticed she likes it more on the cool side. She only comes out of her hide boxes at night when it's pitch black in the room. If I enter the room and any light comes in she immediately flees to one of the hide boxes.

My question is this: When I attempt to breed her this season, should I leave the hide boxes in or should I remove them so I can observe whatever happens? Will she freak out or be less likely to breed if she doesn't have a safe place to retreat to?

I'd appreciate any of your comments on this.

Thanks,
Anthony

I'm sure you will get mixed opinions on this but personally I have always left at least one hide box in during the season. Post ovulation i will typically try and make sure that the hide stays on the warmer side of the enclosure, and about two weeks prior to parturtion I will remove said hide spot and let her do her own thing. Like I said I'm sure people have different methods but this has always worked well for me. Good luck

I have a female that's very shy. She doesn't like to be held, won't eat in front of you and loves her hide. The first year I tried to breed her things did not initially go well. I removed the smaller hide I had in with her and covered about 90% of her Boaphile window. I basically turned her enclosure into a hide box leaving just enough exposed window to give her a light cycle. She gave me a beautiful sunglow litter that year. Hope this helps.

Thanks for all of the info, I'll leave the hide boxes in this season and hope for the best. Hopefully I'll post next year with pics of a nice litter.

Anthony-