Hides: how many? (+ does your snake use half-logs?)

[LadyJemima]

Checking out the many, many hides on Amazon. Have decided on the size Large Exo Terra Snake Hide for a the humid hide (gets great reviews). I'm thinking about a half-log, although one person in the archives said their snake never uses it. I'm sort of getting the feeling the corns like the tightest space possible (maybe with just one opening?) As ground species, do they prefer all of their hides on the ground? How many do you have in your tanks?

 

[DLena]

Corns like it tight and dark. If you can see them, they can see you, and that could be a problem. If you want to use a half log, back it up to a wall and make sure there is plenty of bedding for burrowing and filling the back end so the snake isn't in a hide with an exposed back view through the glass. Or block most of the opening with fake plants and other clutter.
2 identical hides, one for hot side, one for cool side. If you have the room, a few others as well scattered about.

 

[DollysMom]

Rather than a half log may I suggest a cork round or a half cork round. All my snakes use their cork hides. Why cork? It dies quickly when wet and can be washed. It's attractive. It's lightweight. It comes in many sizes an shapes.

All my snakes have and use cork hides. My Cleo's favorite hide is her cork round. Sadly, she's outgrowing it.

 

[Karl_Mcknight]

I have 2 half logs, 1 cool side 1 warm side, several fake vines, and a porcelain cave on the warm side.

My snake uses all of them at different times. He loves the cave hide and spends his digestion time there. But he uses the other equally too.

Corn snakes like tight fitting hides. They like to curl up and feel the sides touching them. It's not just a matter of hiding, it's about feeling protected too.

 

[Zombiegirl]

When mine were babies I went to the dollar store and got cheap plastic bowls and cut a "U" shape out of one side and they loved those. Once they outgrew that I found some fake stone type hides and those have been equally accepted. They aren't so big that there's too much room for the snake to be uncomfortable and they fit pretty well in their vivs. I have a couple half logs for my ball python but I buried it in his substrate so you can barely see in there. That's where I usually find him.

 

[LadyJemima]

Great info. Speaking of hides...for an adult, what size would you recommend? The M or L? (Don't forget there will be moss inside).

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/snake_cave.php

 

[LadyJemima]

And yes -- cork round sounds like a good idea.

 

[DollysMom]

My adult, 4 ft 6 in long and 550 grams easily fits in a large.

 

[Karl_Mcknight]

This is a medium I bought for Rufus when he was a bit smaller. He's now about 4 feet long and still fits nicely. They like them a bit tight. At some point I may have to upgrade to a large, but for right now this medium is fine.

 

[LadyJemima]

Yes, but is a large too large, if they enjoy tight spaces?

 

[Karl_Mcknight]

a large would be too big for a baby, but it would be ok for a 5 foot adult

 

[LadyJemima]

Just missed your post, Karl. That's why I'm thinking maybe a medium. I've seen photos of pythons in the large...

 

[Karl_Mcknight]

how big is your snake?

 

[DollysMom]

I'm sorry I wasn't clear. With moss my girl fits the large snugly. To further elaborate, because of the moss you have more latitude. If it is a little large the sphagnum moss takes up the slack. For an adult I would buy a large.

P.S. I don't believe a full grown ball python would fit in a large. A Children's python might.

 

[beckyhiker]

I can tell you that as far as half logs go, Zaya only uses it to slither through and once or twice she's gone over it. She's never hung out in it, but we only have it up against a few plastic vine leaves, so she probably doesn't feel secure in it. I have to check out the cork rounds.

 

[UncleSams]

Cin spends quite a bit of time in her half log, but definitely prefers the fake stump on the cool side. I'm thinking of getting another or a bowl like Rufus has and setting it up on the hot side. Give her more choice.