Cloth hide.

[guidofatherof5]

Just before our girl Spot gave birth I put a couple of small hand towels in her enclosure. I felt it would give her something soft to give birth on. It would also give the babies something to shed in. After all the babies were born and removed I took the cardboard hide out and left the towels in.
I think she really like the cloth hide more then the box. I have since put her bubbies back in and they all seem more calm and relaxed. Where before they would pull back into the box when I got in to see them. They now stay out and allow me to touch them. When the cloth gets soiled I put in an old t-shirt or some other cloth item that I would have thrown out anyway. I wonder if a few people have tried this or would try a cloth hide for awhile. Let me know what you think.

[ssssnakeluvr]

interesting.....mine like to hide under the paper towels and newspapers....may try some towels

[gregmonsta]

They do seem happiest when they feel enclosed by their hides ... I also find that some of my lot actually rarely use the hides and would rather burrow in the carefresh for that 'enclosed' feeling.

[drache]

for my babies I don't bother with "real" hides
what they really like is the clumps of moss I give them, so I usually give them a couple of dry clumps and a small bowl of damp moss
and I have on occasion given a bowl with old rag instead

[Sputnik]

It certainly sounds as if they prefered something soft to hide in. Quite a useful observation. Might have to try the towels, too.

Thinking about it, the little ones I had always chose to sleep in the house- shaped hide when it was stuffed with paper towels and the older ones dug themselves into the recycled paper substrate. It must make them feel more secure than a roomy "bed", a bit like hiding under a soft duvet instead of sleeping in a empty wardrobe. Not that I'm speaking from experience there...

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Cloth hides are great. one iof my favorite hides for small snakes seems to be a favorite of theirs. Take a cardboard tube, such as a toilet paper roll. Then take a black sock and hot glue/ staple the opening of it around the one of the ends of the tube. Snakes LOVE this hide!!!