hide boxes

[Traci]

I have a half moon bark hide box. One on the cool side and one on the warm side. I was wondering how and if I should clean them or just throw them out and get some new ones. Also if I do clean them how long should keep them before I throw them out? Thanks for the info

[CornsnakeKeeper]

It's entirely up to you. I think they are a tad expensive for hide boxes so you should try to scrub them a little when they get soiled and let them air dry. They may last for a long time if your corn never soils them. If waste doesn't come off very well, and it starts to either smell or look unattractive, then you will need to toss it. Some other hide box ideas that are cheaper are macaroni boxes, toilet paper tubes, and my favorite because they are easy to keep clean, plastic hide boxes made for gerbils, etc. Indestructible. Bought mine at a local pet store. Good luck!

[Traci]

Thanks for the tid bit on the gerbil boxes. Since he never wastes on the hide boxes an they don't smell I guess they will last awhile.

[JakeTheSnake]

I use broken pots as a hide the kind you can get at Wal-Mart or K-Mart for about .90. Very easy to clean and the seem to like it also makes my viv more nature. Reminds me of my grandma's garden area of her house.

[CornsnakeKeeper]

Another tip-

if you're tight for space, you can get a plastic dog bowl that has places for your fingers on the sides to lift it up. The snake can drink out of it and they like to use the holes for hiding spots. They come in all different sizes for different aged corns.

[kieran]

What i have started to use are 'Flora' tubs, i live in the UK, so im not sure 'flora' is in the USA, but it is like butter and u spead it on yer bread. There are lots of diff sizes so find one that as a snug fit for yer corn

[Missymonkey]

What I do for the climbing branches I find in my back woods is to soak them in hot water with a little touch of soap for about half an hour (first I scrub off any moss or other foresty gunk I don't want on the branch of course) then I bake it in my oven (the door can be open if the branch is to big but don't let the wood touch theheating elements) on 200-250 for a half and hour to maybe an hour if it isn't drying out. and sand off any ruff edges. This should be good enough to disinfect it and get any surface crud off too. Cheaper than buying too!

[absolutneil]

I use and suggest plastic planters. They are very cheap and easy to cut an entry hole in. You can get them at a place like Garden Ridge.

[Peter]

for babies, you can't beat toilet paper tubes or paper towel tubes cut down to toilet tube length. I save them from my school bathrooms all the time. It is hysterical to see 5 or 6 hatchlings all piled into one tube like it is a hollow log.:D

[Iris]

I agree
toilet paper tubes or paper towel rolls are great! My snake loves them and if you look into one of the sides he's always curled up rigfht in the middle. How cute!!

[LizS]

I make my own hides out of polymer clay (brand names: Sculpey, Fimo), using a wire mesh armature. I made some for the corns that are 14 inches long by 5 inches wide and about 1.5 inches tall. These hides straddle the warm and cool sides of the cage, so the snakes can thermoregulate as they please without leaving the hide. I used several colors mixed together to achieve a marbled effect, and I throw them into the dishwasher in the rare event that they get pooped on. The finish is matte, and to achieve a high gloss effect I use 2 part epoxy (resin and hardener). The high gloss finish makes the colors more brilliant, and is what I used on the boa's hide.

[Peter]

post a picture, I'd love to see one