Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For many of us, keeping a multitude of snakes forces us to become somewhat utilitarian. Because of this, I have made a couple hideboxes that are different from your standard half-log and black plastic box hides. I even use license plates for hides, my snakes love them. Just think about the sheets of tin we find snakes under while herping. I'd like to know if anyone has come up with creative solutions for hideboxes for their snakes?

Here's a couple of mine.

This one is an old one from several years ago. For this one, I used the deli cup the snake was sold to me in, I covered everything but the lid with tape and cut a hole in the side. I left the lid clear so I could pick up the hide and check on the snake from underneath. If I could do it again, I would not have used tape. Fortunately, I never had problems with tape peeling and getting stuck to a snake.

Now were talkin!!! I have used so many different things over the yaers. My favorite for small to medium snakes is T.P. and paper towel tubes for 2 reasons:1. When they get dirty toss them and 2. All your friends and family are more than willing to save them for you. I also like old flower pots, butter cup, cottage cheese containers, sour cream containers and for larger snakes try those 5 qt plastic pail ice cream containers. I loved your idea about the license plates. I have seen some pretty inovative ideas at zoos. Try yard sales and see what you can find.
-----
Joe

I make basic wooden hides for my "display" tanks. These as well as the water bowl hides.
see attached photo.
But for my sterilite boxes I use anything from gladware containers with a hole in the side to toilet paper and paper towel tubes.
I think the best, though, are deli cups and simple boxes..
For my smaller snakes I like to use the white deli cups. Just turn them upside-down, with the lid on, and cut an access hole in the side.
For medium size snakes I have found the boxes that my fishing reels come in work perfectly. A snake up to about 2 to 2 1/2 feet feels quite secure in these.
As the snakes get larger the boxes get larger. One of the best type of boxes I have found for the larger snakes is...computer game boxes. Lay one on its side, cut an access hole, throw in a little substrate and you have the perfect hide. Low profile and secure!!

-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

I use a variety of plastic containers as hides, water jugs, and food jugs. Snakes are generally secretive and spend most of their time in one container or another, making them feel at ease.

Here's one of my racks showing the ten gallon tanks I normally use. Some containers are visible...

This tank shows a moist nest box, which can also be used for shedding snakes, and a couple other plastic containers which fit pretty tightly into the aquarium...

Talk about utilitarian..LOL. The glass enclosures make viewing snake behavior much easier than with tubs, however, a feature I like.

TC

-----
Ratsnake Haven: Calico and albino Chinese stripe-tailed ratsnakes, Mandarin ratsnakes, Chinese twin-spotted ratsnakes, South Korean Dione's ratsnake, Great Plains ratsnakes and corns

Those shoeboxes work great, for everything from waterdishes to hideboxes, even full of vermiculite for lay boxes.....

and at about 99 cents each.....they dont break the bank, wash easy and 3 (water hide and egg) fit nicely in a 20 long (which is what i use mostly)

great post

keith
-----
I'm not sure I want popular opinion on my side -- I've noticed those with the most opinions often have the fewest facts.

12 pack soda boxes work well for larger snakes (my 6 ft. bci loves hers). My adult bulls prefer inverted plastic dishpans with an access hole in the top/bottom (economical/easy to clean). Most of my adult rats seem secure in cereal boxes, and of course the bath tissue and paper towel tubes are standards for snakes appropriately sized. I also use shoe boxes, pvc pipe, old flower pots, and inverted old wicker-type baskets (great ventilation, toss when they're dirty). Basically, before I toss something, I usually examine it for herp-use potential!
With what it costs to feed them, recycle to hide them!

i find myself in stores buying products now according to their packaging, looking for right sized hides! it's kinda become a fun 'craft' fashioning something useful out of what was otherwise trash. i always keep sciccors and duct tape handy for a 'project'. :>] i use alot of catfood boxes & pizza boxes too which are good for lots of stuff up to empty cardboard beer cases for adult drymarchon.

Love it! I have to confess that I do the same when choosing between different brands of the same type of product.

I've also used: shoeboxes, rocks, made a custom one out of ceramic - which included a waterbowl. The license plate idea is a good one - I've used that, as well as just a piece of cardboard. Vision products makes a whole line of cool hideboxes, including a T-rex skull.

-----
"I may be crazy, but ya know... I can rationalize just about anything."

NT

The one I have used the most are plastic flower pot bases - the ones that look like terra cotta but aren't. They come in a bunch of different sizes, are cheap and are round and low so they fit a snake's coiled up body just perfectly. I tried using the actua terra cotta ones first but found they were really tough to notch for an entrance hole. The plastic ones you just cut with scissors or a dremel. Oh yeah they clean up and disinfect really easily too. Another good one I found for small snakes are granola bar boxes - again, free (if you eat alot of granola bars!), disposable and a nice, low shape for added security.

>>For many of us, keeping a multitude of snakes forces us to become somewhat utilitarian. Because of this, I have made a couple hideboxes that are different from your standard half-log and black plastic box hides. I even use license plates for hides, my snakes love them. Just think about the sheets of tin we find snakes under while herping. I'd like to know if anyone has come up with creative solutions for hideboxes for their snakes?
>>
>>Here's a couple of mine.
>>
>>
>>This one is an old one from several years ago. For this one, I used the deli cup the snake was sold to me in, I covered everything but the lid with tape and cut a hole in the side. I left the lid clear so I could pick up the hide and check on the snake from underneath. If I could do it again, I would not have used tape. Fortunately, I never had problems with tape peeling and getting stuck to a snake.
>>

NT

I have used
- cardboard boxes
- commericial extruded plastic hide boxes (I still have some I have been using for over 20 years!)
- inverted cat litter boxes (for bigger snakes)
- inverted flower pot trays (probably the best option)

When I was in Mexico last summer, I bought a box of mexican roof tiles which are basically elongate pipes cut in half lengthwise. They are great! My milksnakes particularly like them.

For cleaning the terracotta stuff, I basically soak it in bleach water, wash in hot soapy water, soak in fresh water to rinse and them bake dry in the oven at 250 degrees for about 30 minutes. Result - sterile, clean hideboxes with a minimum of elbow grease!
-----
Chris Harrison

All sizes of cereal boxes, the cardboard box that holds a case of sodas or beer, kleenex boxes with their opening on top, the list is endless and when they get soiled, u can just throw them away and place a new box in the cage.
Best...
Jim