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Changing the hide position...

N

Nroc

UnRegistered User
When I first started, the coconut hide was on the cools side, and the larger hide was on the warm side.

One day, I noticed my corn was choosing the cold hide early in the morning (she slept there apparently). To test a theory, I swapped the coconut with the larger hide. I wanted to see if she preferred the smaller size of coconut hide to the larger size of the other hide. Or, I wanted to see if she just preferred the cold side of the tank.

Image1.jpg


After making the swap, I found her in the coconut (on warm side) for the next few mornings.

However, for the past two mornings, she is discovered in the larger hide on the cold side of the tank. Room temps are set to drop to 67 degrees at night. Whether or not they get that low is unknown as I am asleep.

Nothing has changed with regards to the temperature of the UTH. It is always 84-86.5 degrees throughout the day, and regulated by both a thermostat and a light dimmer. I doubt the warm side is too warm for her.

It may be worth noting that she stays to the left side of the cold hide (the one on the right in the image) which seems logical as the entrance is on the right, and she would prefer to stay out of view.

Should I swap the hides again? I wanted to feed her tonight, but I also want her to stay on the warm side after eating. Is there a concern with a corn sleeping on the cold side after eating? Do corns instinctively know that they need belly warmth to digest? Will she seek out the warmth?

After her first feeding, she spent the next day in the warm coconut...so I sorta think that she may go back there after feeding her.
 
I wouldn't worry about it, she'll go where she feels she needs to go. My snake Lestat is almost always in his cold side hide.
 
Wow, Nroc, we have practically the same setup. Is that an exo-terra hide? I recently took out the exo-terra cave and put in a second coconut.

Most of the time I find my snake on the cool side. Even though he has identical hides on either side of the viv.
 
Place identical hides in different locations along the temp gradient to really determine the snake's temp preference. A snake may choose security over optimal temps. Those hides are both too big for that snake. Think "snug."
 
i think that might just be the snake balancing his body temp i dont think it really matters what hide it is. =]
 
Roy Munson said:
Place identical hides in different locations along the temp gradient to really determine the snake's temp preference. A snake may choose security over optimal temps. Those hides are both too big for that snake. Think "snug."
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing...can I add something inside to restrict the overall volume? Perhaps a toilet paper roll inside one of the hides. I want it to have a certain look, and toilet paper would be a conflict between function and form. I don't want to sacrifice either here.

I don't see any of those synthetic structures being made in the sizes I would want. I didn't even want the coconut, but at $3, I figured, it's at least smaller than the Exo-Terra.

I need to do some searching for homemade hides around here and see what others are using.
 
You could also turn them around so the "entrances" aren't facing the light. Give her the illusion of more security. Or bunch up some substrate inside. She'll grow into them at least :)
 
Tracee said:
You could also turn them around so the "entrances" aren't facing the light. Give her the illusion of more security. Or bunch up some substrate inside. She'll grow into them at least :)
Click to expand...

I thought about turning them as well, but didn't want to lose the ability to look in there at a moment's notice. I guess if it ever came to a point where I didn't see the snake for a few days, I could open up the hide to make sure she's OK.

I am going to look for smaller items to make a hide from...but the entrance hole must also be small. I think the coconut is about as small as any hide with such a large hole can be. I assume the snake would prefer to have a smaller hole anyway, as that limits how much she can be seen...
 
You could make you own? I had the exact opposite problem, my snake outgrew every hide I bought him that they were absolutely useless, it was less "snug" more "stuck"!! Super Sculpey is pretty good. If it isn't too aesthetically displeasing, a few toilet rolls will do just fine though :)
 
Tracee said:
You could make you own? I had the exact opposite problem, my snake outgrew every hide I bought him that they were absolutely useless, it was less "snug" more "stuck"!! Super Sculpey is pretty good. If it isn't too aesthetically displeasing, a few toilet rolls will do just fine though :)
Click to expand...

I always thought toilet paper rolls were a bad choice given the two entrances opposite each other. WHile offering two exit holes, it also means your back or side cannot be covered at all times. I just figured that a hide with one hole is better than one with two holes. Do you guys put one of the holes against the tank wall?
 
How about this? I haven't reduced the volume yet on either hide, but I added a third hide which bridges the warm with the cool. Let's see if she uses it. Do I need to reduce height volume, or length/width volume? Or all three?

NewHide.jpg
 
Ha ha I like it! I can just imagine her peeking out of one hide before rushing into the tube! Give it a couple of weeks tryout, as she might only use it at night when you're not looking, until she's comfortable with the new decor ;)

I bet she will love it, most people seem to say their corns love toilet rolls. I guess that even though there are openings both sides, they can scrunch up into a ball right in the middle, where no one can get them! That's what mine did in the various clay tubes I bought or made him, until he went and outgrew all those as well.

If you find she still doesn't seem to like her hides with the added security, you could still stuff some substrate or something in there to make it a bit more snug. But hopefully the bridging trick will work wonders! Great idea.
 
I have those exact same hides too, haha. My smaller snake is about that size so what I did was bunch up some paper towels inside so that the hides are more snug without sacrificing aesthetics. I also hot glued a few leaves from fake vines partially over the entrances. I figured she would appreciate it if less light got in there, plus it looks nice.

I think the tube should be fine, but if she doesn't seem to like it, you could also try those little terra cotta planting pots. You can get them in all sizes at Michaels mostly for under a dollar, and my snakes LOVE them. I have two in one viv and one in the other. It's really cute to see a snake peeking out of the hole at the top of the pot, too! :)
 
I don't think she liked the paper towel roll. I took it out, and replaced it with clay pots. Here's a pic of the setup, and a link to a thread I started in the DIY for this project. She really likes the pots...nice and snug.

I may end up adding a pot UNDER the coconut. I have to play around with this idea though, not sure how much room I have to work with.

NewHides.jpg


http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95608
 
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