Hide preference issue?

Quick question for all y'all-
Frank has two coconut huts as you can see in the pic.
The one on the left is situated over the UTH.
The one on the right is about 30% larger in size,
and is over the cool side.
He seems to favor the larger, although there is plenty of room for him in either/or...
My concern is-
could he be unintentionally neglecting his need for proper temperature when digesting in favor of hiding in his favorite shell?
I have tried switching the shells around today to see if he follows...
Let me know your thoughts, ramblings, etc...
Thanks!
Dave \m/

When I use supplemental heat (rarely), I have noticed that the snakes prefer the cooler side. I think they will got to the heat if needed. Since I don't have a temp gradient in any tank right now, I have been finding the snakes cooling off in their water bowls! :cheers:

A post I made a few weeks ago:

Dean said:

Are the three hides identical? Is there a lot of space between them? A corn may choose comfort/security over optimal digestive temperature. I was always worried about this issue myself, so now I use a single, long, snug hide that spans the entire temp gradient of each enclosure. This way, the snakes can easily move between temp zones, without exposing themselves by traveling between hides. Once I started doing this, I noticed that the snakes were where I thought they should be most of the time.

Click to expand...

Thanks guys for the advice, much appreciated.
Dean, I think I will give that a shot if the switcharoo doesn't do the trick
Dave \m/

Is it possible that the warm side is too hot? A thermostat on the heat pad might help figure out if your snake is choosing not to use that hide because he finds it too warm.

I considered that Daisy, but the "hot" side tops out at approximately 84 degrees, so that seems fine. The only thing I can think of is that perhaps heat is building up inside the coconut hut, altough- the top is vented, so i dont see how that would happen...heat should theoretically rise and exhaust out the top.

Dave \m/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean
Are the three hides identical? Is there a lot of space between them? A corn may choose comfort/security over optimal digestive temperature. I was always worried about this issue myself, so now I use a single, long, snug hide that spans the entire temp gradient of each enclosure. This way, the snakes can easily move between temp zones, without exposing themselves by traveling between hides. Once I started doing this, I noticed that the snakes were where I thought they should be most of the time.

I said pretty much the same thing in one of my posts. I too try to provide a hide that spans the temp gradient of the tank. My snakes are all over in their tanks and not always even inside the hide. This is how I choose to cover the hide/temp option issue.

Keep in mind too that the snake is going to go where it wants, regardless of whether it's following the "rules" or not. When I have my UTH on, my snake usually hangs out in his warm hide, but almost every time he eats, he spends the next couple of days hanging out on the cool side right out in the open. My temps are roughly 84/74.

Jeff-
That makes sense man...I honestly think there are too many unwritten rules that people are preaching, form all the reading I have been doing, and honestly- my wife will tell you, once I get hooked, I am a sponge 24/7.
It seems that as long as you have a good sized, secure, cleanly viv; with adequate vetilation & humidity, sufficient gradient/UTH, adequate gradient in hides, fresh clean water, and lab quality feeder rodents...unless you are being neglegent, these guys do just wonderfully.
I have to say thank you to everyone so far who has helped me into this hobby-
Dean, Mike B, Jeff, Christopjher K., Meg F., Terri Manning...you have all been a wealth of knowledge, and it is great to know so many good people share such a wonderful passion for herps'.
Cheers!
-Dave \m/

Sorry about the typo Christopher!