New BP Hide (Froggsong style)

darc · #1 (**permalink**) 12-29-2008, 07:36 PM

I made a hide for my Ball Python in the way that Froggsong demonstrated (over in the articles section).

Starting containers (a few bucks at Wal-Mart) :

Cut to size and foamed with GreatStuff:

Siliconed and covered with CoCo husk :

She stayed away from it for the first 3 or 4 days, but this evening I turned around from my computer and saw this :

She looks happy to me : D
-darc

froggsong · #2 (**permalink**) 12-30-2008, 04:03 AM

Awesome! I didn't think to use square containers. I bet it was alot easier for you to cut the access hole. Great job! I'm so glad she likes it! My BP is actually coming out every night now! I'm so excited!

darc · #3 (**permalink**) 12-31-2008, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggsong

Awesome! I didn't think to use square containers. I bet it was alot easier for you to cut the access hole. Great job! I'm so glad she likes it! My BP is actually coming out every night now! I'm so excited!

Yeah, I actually couldn't find any round containers that were a suitable size that didn't come with something in them, so I went with these. I made it a bit big, but I wanted to make sure it would accomodate her for a pretty long time.

I made a second one the next day (for the cool end) but somehow I forgot to cut the access hole before I foamed it (oops! Got ahead of myself). So, I need to try to dremel it out and make a hole without undoing too much work, then silicone/coco it.

Glad your BP is being more social these days : )

-darc

froggsong · #4 (**permalink**) 12-31-2008, 05:02 AM

I have actually been working out in my head a way to make a fully adjustable hide for BPs, that way you can use th same hide they will be familiar with as they grow. what do you think? A good idea? Also, to make it a bit more snug for her, you could try putting a layer of aspen or dry sphagnum inside the hide that she can nestle in. Plus, if you use sphagnum, you can moisten it at shedding time to be sure she has a good shed.

You might try cutting the hole from the inside out, it should be easier.

darc · #5 (**permalink**) 12-31-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggsong

I have actually been working out in my head a way to make a fully adjustable hide for BPs, that way you can use th same hide they will be familiar with as they grow. what do you think? A good idea?

Intriguing idea...
The feasibility points (to me) would be [1] if you could construct it such that it could be adjusted easily without being too intrusive to the reptile. After all, if you have to pull it out and mess with it for 30min to resize it, it could be argued that the stress factor could be comparable to a new object being introduced (though... I don't think so, cause they'll know the material/scent/etc). And, [2], if it wasn't crazy expensive/complicated to build... though you sound like you're always up for a challenge : )

-darc

froggsong · #6 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 07:07 AM

i was thinking of some sort of nesting ring system, where you could just pull it out for a minute and remove a ring when you need to make it bigger. i think itwould work really well, depending on the materials and how tightly the rings fit together.

SnM_Man · #7 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 09:13 PM

how bout using 3/8'' hard wood sheet to make two boxes with one open side each. the smaller one would have outside dimenisions the same as the inside dimensions of the bigger box. then u could slipt them together and pull it out to make it longer as the snake grows. just a thot

Jumpshot724 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 09:31 PM

Hmmmm, I may make one of these (on a much smaller scale) for my FBTs. Looks a LOT more natural than a stupid coconut shell lol

froggsong · #9 (**permalink**) 01-06-2009, 04:44 PM

LOL Jumpshot!!! Did you see the how-to article? You could definitely do this with a small plastic planter as well. I think it would work for a large variety of animals.

darc, does she still love it?

darc · #10 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggsong

LOL Jumpshot!!! Did you see the how-to article? You could definitely do this with a small plastic planter as well. I think it would work for a large variety of animals.

darc, does she still love it?

She spends all her time in it : )

She's sitting in it now with just her head sticking out (like the pic). Half the time when she comes out, she just brings out the front third of her body which she lays over the top so she can keep any eye on things.

I'm happy with it... and she seems happy with it too : D
-darc