ValueAquatics Reptile Caves and Hides
Do we need to give our reptiles a cave or hide?
Do they actually serve any purpose?
These are some of the questions asked that seem easy to answer but can be very complex and not every reptile, amphibian and insect needs a cave but generally require a safe haven.
They need a place to feel secure and safe; it may be anything from a large cave to living under a stone or rock as long as it gives security and the correct conditions like temperature and or humidity.
So yes they do need a hide is the easy answer but as we will see not all require the same it all depends on the animal and what it is being used for.
Snakes can be at home in anything from a hole in the ground to a branch in a tree. Generally if the snake is a ground dweller it will use anything from a hole in the ground to a tin can as long as it feels secure and safe, this means it can feel the sides touching on most sides. The snake cave can also help with giving the animal extra humidity that will help with shedding its skin.
ValueAquatics recommend having two hides in a Vivarium or Terrarium on at the warm end and one at the cooler end and when the snake is about to shed add some damp moss, damp kitchen paper or sponge pieces (natural sponge works best) and spay daily to keep the hide humidity up until the animal has shed.
Arboreal snakes will use a holes in trees even the forks in branches some just wrap around a branch. Know your animal’s needs.
Lizards are basically the same a hole under a stone or rock to the underside of a leaf in the trees.
The same for Amphibians and insects.
ValueAquatics have a large range of hides and caves to offer in all shapes, sizes and prices, unfortunately they can be very popular so It is always prudent to give an alternative if possible especially on the Bark effect types, the Exo Terra caves are nearly always in stock.
For a moss box I can highly recommend the Exo Terra snake Caves they even come with the moss and in three sizes small, Medium and large suitable for baby snakes to large Corn snakes, Milk and Cali king snakes.
The Exo Terra Reptile hide outs are ideal as a hide for the snake and comes in for sizes from small to extra large these are good for baby snakes to Corn, Rat snakes, Milk snakes, King snakes the smaller Boas and Pythons. Also suitable for lizards, amphibians and tarantulas.
The Exo Terra Reptile dens are novel if you keep some of the Gecko family that like caves or tight gaps in rocks etc. Especially Leopard Geckos seem to love them. The larger part goes on the glass front and the front part magnetically fits against the glass from the outside so that when you want to check the animal you simply lift off the front section and do not disturb the animal inside, especially when checking for eggs.
They are also useful for burrowing Tarantulas if buried at the front and tipped at an angle so that the entry hole is level with the top of the substrate. In two sizes medium and large.
Exo Terra Rock Outcrops are also good hides looking very natural and realistic rocks with multi entrance that can help reduce stress.
As with all the Exo Terra caves and hides they are extremely well made from resin in a natural form and colour so blending in with any type of décor and easily cleaned.
ValueAquatics also have the Royce range of caves and hides made of a very strong resin and made with a natural bark effect. There is a large range with these from natural looking bark caves to natural looking moss boxes that look like a tree stump. This range is also very popular and sometimes the smaller items can be sold out so best to put an alternative down if you can.
John
