Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I use hide boxes for my W.C.. Infact I find it essential to the acclimating process of W.C. animals.My question is,I have aquired recently a few C.B babies.When I first put them in their enclosure complete with tiny form fitting hideboxes they didn't use them the first week.Infact it seemed they didn't know what to do with them.Oh yeah,I keep all my babies in a blanket box rack with newspaper substrate.I have noticed a lot of breeders have their boa's out in the open.That's what I want.so should I take the hide boxes out so they won't get used to them?DO I NEED HIDEBOXES??? thanks, your oppinions will be appreciated. Ash Lopez
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Although hideboxes do provide a feeling of security for the animal, they are not an absolute neccessity. Most of my boas (all cbb and raised from babies) do not have hideboxes and all have been flourishing for years. If your boas are in a high traffic area in your house then I would play it safe and provide one. Otherwize, let it ride.-------RON

well do the *need* them? Probably not...
it seems to make them more secure tho. I haven't had any WC so all my babies are CB. I provide a hide for all of my boas, but depending on the size of the snake the "hide" changes. For up to 5' I provide a standard hide but for the boas over that size I usually just throw in bed sheets and if the snake wants to feel secure, they roll up in the sheets. I used to provide large log size hides and the big ones will use those as well, but typically they seem fine to just be out in the open (heck, nothing to fear anymore once they get to be biguns heh)and it's easier to clean bed sheets than large pieces of wood.

I find the use of the hide is just up to the boa, some of them use them all the time, and if I remove it they seem stressed out, others couldn't care less and never use them anyways. I personaly would rather provide it and not have it used, but that's just me.

Ash,
...I have observed several things about Boa Constrictors and hides. From what I have seen. Bigger Boa Constrictors use hides less than little ones. Captive born Boa Constrictors use hides less than WC ones. CB Boa Constrictors that are very tame use hides less than ones that are nervous or flighty. And finally Bci use hides much less than Bcc.
Jeff

>>I use hide boxes for my W.C.. Infact I find it essential to the acclimating process of W.C. animals.My question is,I have aquired recently a few C.B babies.When I first put them in their enclosure complete with tiny form fitting hideboxes they didn't use them the first week.Infact it seemed they didn't know what to do with them.Oh yeah,I keep all my babies in a blanket box rack with newspaper substrate.I have noticed a lot of breeders have their boa's out in the open.That's what I want.so should I take the hide boxes out so they won't get used to them?DO I NEED HIDEBOXES??? thanks, your oppinions will be appreciated. Ash Lopez
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n/p
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