Snake "hides"

[cka]

I always like looking at everyone's aquariums/cages and seeing the enthusiasm and creativity that goes into them, especially among keepers new to the hobby. I do have a comment; I see a lot of folks use the "half logs" (or something similar) as hides and they almost always get placed directly on top of the substrate, with loads of empty open space underneath. Now the operative word here is "hide". When you were a kid playing hide and seek would you go and "hide" in the middle of an open, empty room or would you find a nice dark closet to dig yourself into? I thought so . And it's the same for your snake. Snakes need to feel hidden to be secure, and crawling under a large (to them) log open at both ends does not fill that need. They'll use it because there is nothing else to use. When I used aquariums and had a log hide to use i would half bury it in the substrate and cover the back end of the hide completely with substrate, giving them a dark, warm space they could squeeze under, out of sight.

I know it doesn't look near as nice, and most corns probably could care less, but it's something to consider, especially with a new or difficult snake having issues settling in. Just my two cents, folks :*)...

 

[Hunter2011]

yeah I use a piece of bark that I found outside that is liek a half log, and I try to burry it too, Star likes it, but I also have 2 paper towel halves that she can go to if she wants the security but most of the time she goes in her tree hide thing or the bark

 

[Susielea]

Another thing I do with large hides, like the bigger cave type ones, when using them with smaller snakes, is to stuff them with paper towels or scrunched newspaper. This way the snake feels more secure, burrowing into the tissue or paper, until they are big enough to fill the space inside themselves

 

[Morph Collector]

I always like looking at everyone's aquariums/cages and seeing the enthusiasm and creativity that goes into them, especially among keepers new to the hobby. I do have a comment; I see a lot of folks use the "half logs" (or something similar) as hides and they almost always get placed directly on top of the substrate, with loads of empty open space underneath. Now the operative word here is "hide". When you were a kid playing hide and seek would you go and "hide" in the middle of an open, empty room or would you find a nice dark closet to dig yourself into? I thought so . And it's the same for your snake. Snakes need to feel hidden to be secure, and crawling under a large (to them) log open at both ends does not fill that need. They'll use it because there is nothing else to use. When I used aquariums and had a log hide to use i would half bury it in the substrate and cover the back end of the hide completely with substrate, giving them a dark, warm space they could squeeze under, out of sight.

I know it doesn't look near as nice, and most corns probably could care less, but it's something to consider, especially with a new or difficult snake having issues settling in. Just my two cents, folks :*)...

I would just like to say the only wood in my cages would be the mulch. I don't know what everyone else thinks, but I sterilize my rack every 45 days, and I sterilize the water bowls weekly, along with the hides (replace them with a new one, while I clean the old ones - and vice versa). I heard somewhere that those wood logs can create infection in your cage, and that they are virtually impossible to clean therefore people don't usually bother trying. In my mind an important part of animal husbandry is the cleanliness of the cage they are in, though it may not look dirty, I worry about the bacteria growing from their stuck on poop in those wooden hides. Thats just me though, probably... I use the $4 cheap hides from repti supply.

 

[Morph Collector]

Ps. Paper towel centers, and things that are going to be tossed when the cage is cleaned is normal, and I was planning something of the sort for my up and coming Corn Snake viv. Once again, I hope not to hurt feelings with the above post, just stating "how I do thigns" and everyone has a way, they are like a nose, most people have them (cept michael jackson).

 

[Drizzt80]

Great idea for a thread/topic/post! My best hide are $2 something rubbermaid drawer organizers turned upside down with a 2" hole cut in the bottom. My adults love them! One of the important things I recall reading in more than one place is you need a hide that's small. Small meaning that the snake feels most secure when their bodies are actually in contact with the sides of their hiding spot.

D80

 

[Bram]

We need more pictures.

I always like looking at everyone's aquariums/cages and seeing the enthusiasm and creativity that goes into them, especially among keepers new to the hobby.

I'm new to the hobby, and a bit of a DIYer. This is my improved cornsnake 'apartment' (only for one though, I don't cohab).

Each little door leads to a separate room for my little bloodred Isabeau. Each roof section can be opened so that I can get her out when necessary. It also lets me dump in extra aspen shavings for her to hide in. She seems to prefer the room on the warmer end, but she does seem to regulate herself by using different rooms on occasion.

I do have a comment; I see a lot of folks use the "half logs" (or something similar) as hides and they almost always get placed directly on top of the substrate, with loads of empty open space underneath.

I have a hollow log, though flatter on the bottom, that I bought from PetSmart. I think it's probably bamboo. It is very open, especially at her size, but with the fake plants at the back she seems to feel pretty safe. Most nights she'll come out and sit at the back of it and look out.
She hasn't pooped on it yet, but I think if I had a hard time cleaning it I would just replace it.
I have seen some of the half logs cut with a wedge at the back shaped to fit into the corner of a viv. These might make for more of a hiding hole than otherwise.