Why offer your reptile a humid hide?

Humidity is not necessarily the same throughout a terrarium. Under a shelter, in contact with moist substrate, a reptile can find conditions that differ from those in the rest of its habitat. It can move in and out according to its needs.

A humid spot for shedding

Some snakes, such as Pantherophis guttatus, Lampropeltis and Thamnophis, may use a humid hide as they prepare to shed. The moisture helps soften the old skin. Eublepharis macularius and Hemitheconyx caudicinctus also benefit from this type of shelter.Some animals move in at the first signs of shedding and continue to return afterwards.

The size should suit the animal’s current body size. A hide may be suitable for a young snake and then be replaced as it grows. The animal should be able to enter easily and fit entirely inside.

To set up this area, you can use a moisture-retaining substrate, such as Forest Bedding coconut humus, depending on the species. Moisten it without soaking it, and check its condition regularly. This humid area complements the conditions in the terrarium without replacing an appropriate ambient humidity level.

Courtesy of Coeur de Gecko, Reptiles-Planet ambassador

A place to lay eggs

A suitably prepared cavity can provide an egg-laying site for Eublepharis macularius, Hemitheconyx caudicinctus or Correlophus ciliatus. It offers the female a secluded place to dig and lay her eggs.

The substrate must be suitable for the species and deep enough for digging, while leaving enough room to turn around. Moist vermiculite is one substrate used in laying boxes.

The removable lid then makes it easy to check the substrate and look for eggs without turning the hide upside down.

Or simply a hide

Even when no shedding or egg-laying is imminent, the animal may come inside to rest. A humid hide can therefore become a regularly used shelter, even outside shedding periods. Its contents and moisture level should always be adjusted to suit its occupant’s needs.

The Nesting Cave comes in three sizes to accommodate different sizes of lizards and snakes. Its two-piece design also makes maintenance easier: the substrate is easy to replace, and the interior remains accessible for cleaning.

• RP876179: Nesting Cave M - Gecko Egg-Laying Hide - 12x10.5x7.7 cm

• RP876181: Nesting Cave L - Gecko Egg-Laying Hide - 17.5x13.5x12 cm

• RP876183: Nesting Cave XL - Gecko Egg-Laying Hide - 20.5x15.5x16 cm