Hides in Racks

[greenmonkey51]

I built my first rack and Im wondering if I should hides with it. The rack is in a closet thats shut all the time with no light. I do have aspen for substrate.

[Brandon28]

When you say there's no light, do you mean no natural light, but you have lamps set up? Or is it just dark in yuor closet, period? To asnwer your question, you should use put at least two hides in each cage. One on the warm side and one on the cool. My questions is about the light...you need something in there for them. Boas don't need a constand UVB source, but I still wouldn't leave them in the dark. What is the rest of your set-up like?

	Ultra Violet Radiation B Ultra Violet Radiation B

[DedEye]

Ok, this is a little off-topic but I am very serious about this question. By racks, do you mean like a set of drawers, like a dresser? Are the snakes left in the drawers always? Or do you breed them and only keep them in drawers when the are hatchlings? The reason I ask is that it seems a little cruel (not really "cruel" but I lack the vocabulary to define exactly what I am trying to convey) to me.

For the record, I am NOT a troll. I am NOT trying to argue or start some sort of drama, I am NOT against it, I am simply very curious because it seems to be a pretty common practice and I have never asked nor heard any sort of reason behind it.

We are all here to share our experiences and to help others if and when they need it and it is in that spirit that I ask this question.

Thanks
DedEye

[telefrag]

I keep many snaks in racks, but I keep those racks in rooms with exposure to natural lighting (2 large windows) and I do give each snake an individual hide at minimum, some have 2 hides.

I dont like keeping snakes in total darkness either

[RioBravoReptiles]

In the racks here every small boa gets one hide. But the racks are fairly private. You can get a look at how my racks are set up at this link (how-to-do-it plans)..
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http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/howto_easyrack.htm
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I don't light the rack tubs, only ambient light is supplied, anyway I don't recommend heating Boa with a light or radiant source, substrate heat is preferred. This is one reason why something like aspen is better than a plain paper or other featureless cage bottom.. the snake can very closely control it's temps with substrate heat and shavings.. on paper they are on the heat or off it.. period.
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Back to lighting... As early as the 1970s work was being done to determine how much light was needed for a reptile to know it was day (and of course that it was nightime when the light was removed).. probably first by my friend Josef Laslo of the San Antonio Zoo. Generally it takes about 40 foot candles (a measurement of light intensity) for many reptiles to know it is daytime. That's about the level of light on a desk in an average office.
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Hides.. All hides are not created equal! A snake wants more than cover from a hide and things like cereal boxes or plactic margarine-tubs don't cut it (in my opinion)..it needs some weight and permanence.. you can place a proper hide close to a cage-wall, for instance, and the Boa can then decide if it wants to be in the hide, behind the hide or squeezed between the hide and the wall.. a cereal box just gets shoved around.
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When the Boas get to be close to 3' and are obviously settled in hides are removed. Every once in a long while it's seen that the boa misses the hide and another (larger) is put in. Big boas like privacy too.. I cover part of the front of their cages. It's easy to tell when they're hungry this way.. they peek out around the front cover! This is useful to me because I have no feeding schedules! I feed the boas when they're hungry and look like they need food.
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Many boa keepers have reported tragedies like crushed babies when they were delivered in a hide-box, so pregnant boas should not be given hides.
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I hope this helps.

[RioBravoReptiles]

Originally Posted by DedEye

Ok, this is a little off-topic but I am very serious about this question. By racks, do you mean like a set of drawers, like a dresser? Are the snakes left in the drawers always? Or do you breed them and only keep them in drawers when the are hatchlings? The reason I ask is that it seems a little cruel (not really "cruel" but I lack the vocabulary to define exactly what I am trying to convey) to me.
For the record, I am NOT a troll. I am NOT trying to argue or start some sort of drama, I am NOT against it, I am simply very curious because it seems to be a pretty common practice and I have never asked nor heard any sort of reason behind it.
We are all here to share our experiences and to help others if and when they need it and it is in that spirit that I ask this question.
Thanks
DedEye

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Ok.. one thing that is often not stated in these discussions is this.. No two boas are eactly alike.. More directly to answer your question, it is likely that many boas cannot live out their lives in a rack! But others quite possibly can.. look at this:
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.. that's a boa from an island off the coast of Belize that can mature at a relatively tiny size. She's very happy in her tub... This next Boa is from the Paraguanera peninsula of Venezuela..
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.. these also can be very small and may even prefer a private environment such as a rack-tub. Cage size is a factor of the animal's size, but also comfort-level.
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Now this snake should not be kept in a rack!
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Adult Argentine boas are large and active.. they need space. This is only a small demonstration of the variety amomng the Boa species and localities.
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Have fun, be safe!

[DedEye]

Rio,

Thank you for the explanation and for the patience to answer a Newbie question without talking down to me or giving me a hard time for asking.

The Boa in the last pic is stunning, good for you!

[RioBravoReptiles]

Originally Posted by DedEye

Rio,
Thank you for the explanation and for the patience to answer a Newbie question without talking down to me or giving me a hard time for asking.
The Boa in the last pic is stunning, good for you!

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Thank you, Sir (or Ms. ? Can never tell with online pseudo-names!).
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Gus/Rio Bravo Reptiles.

[DedEye]

It's sir, thank you. You don't have to call me that though..LOL I only make my wife do that!

[Refused]

awesome pic! i see some neodesha cages in the background how have those worked for you i hear so many great things about them except for the rack you have to put them on