4470 El Camino Real

Los Altos, California 94022

Veterinarian Always on Duty

Reptile and Amphibian Care

Hiding Spots

All herptiles require some place to hide to get away from the view of predators. While captive herptiles are not preyed upon, their natural instinct is to hide when they feel threatened. They may not realize that they are free from being preyed upon, and therefore may experience stress from feeling threatened. Providing a hiding area is a simple way to make your herptile more secure. Hiding spots may be a piece of bark, a cardboard box, a leafy plant, or rocks stacked in such a way that a herptile can hide between them. Any structure should be set up so that the herptile feels like it cannot be seen by predators. For example, one of our veterinarians uses sphagnum moss in this South American horned frog's tank to help provide humidity. This has a bonus in that they can burrow down into the moss to hide.

Hiding spots are particularly important when a herptile enclosure or habitat is changed. For example, when you bring home a pet from the pet store or swap meet you will need to have ample hiding places for your new pet so it feels secure and can "acclimate" to its new habitat. It will often take several weeks for your herptile to become acclimated to its new environment. Hiding spaces will help to make the transition easier.

Another aid in acclimatization of herptiles is housing them in low traffic areas, that is, where there is less human and other animal activity. A spare bedroom or similar area works well. Make sure the animal is eating well and has established a "routine" before moving it into a more used/traffic area.

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