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For example pieces of bark may be found that are a matter of six inches long or several feet, and they may be flat or curved. Large Variability – Natural hides are often available in a wide range of sizes and shapes thanks to their natural origin. In other words, natural hides can more accurately simulate the wild habitat of many species.
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Habitat Simulation – Arguably natural materials like wood can also benefit your reptiles and amphibians by more accurately mimicking the hides that wild herps use. For those of us (like me) who appreciate a well landscaped vivarium, such as for smaller lizards or tree frogs, natural hides can become an attractive and integral part of the overall design. Organic Appearance – Most natural hides look absolutely fantastic when placed in a reptile cage. “Natural” reptile hides are those made from natural materials most commonly wood. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses which we will cover in turn. While some are freely available from most pet stores (or online) a handful might be rather more difficult to find.įor clarity we have opted to separate the range of reptile hides available into three core groups. There are more reptile hides available than ever before.
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The provision of one or more hides should therefore be considered an essential part of keeping any reptile or amphibian in captivity, as it leads to happier and more docile captives. Outside of the hide the substrate can remain as dry as ever, giving your pet snake the best of both worlds.
#LARGE SNAKE HIDES SKIN#
When your snake enters the humid surroundings of their hide they’ll find their remaining skin softens and becomes easier to slough off. Here a hide can be used as a source of moisture. But what happens when your snake struggles to moult, thanks at least in part to their dry surroundings? A damp substrate can lead to sores or skin problems in many snakes. For example many of our more commonly-kept snake species (think Corn Snakes or King Snakes, for example) tend to be kept in arid surroundings. Lastly, appreciate that reptile hides can enable you to create “micro-habitats”. The natural world isn’t sterile and dull it’s a multi-layered experience with plenty of plants, rocks and bits of old bark to explore and hide within. Providing somewhere for your pet to hide away also makes for a more natural environment.
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It seems that being forced to constantly sit in the open leads to stress, which can then boil over into aggression towards their keeper.īut there are other reasons to provide a reptile hide besides limiting stress and minimizing aggression. Indeed, some species (notably snakes) can become noticeably aggressive in the absence of somewhere to hide. Even the bolder or more confident species will generally benefit from a hide of some form somewhere they can hide away from prying eyes and feel safe. Many reptiles and amphibians are know to be quite shy in captivity.
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