Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went to feed Our Little B/W Banded Cali King and She's gone..... She got out.... I don't know how either since my Mom claims to have "clicked" her house completely closed..... She got out in My reptile room. I have two iguanas in there that'd kill Her in half a second.... There are also the four cats and one dog that roam the house..... Poor little Deco is only a little more then a foot long and about the width of a Sharpie Marker..... I'm in shock.... I don't know what to do... She could've gotten into the walls, into the attic, into the heat vent, The Iguanas, Cats, or dog might've gotten to her.... I don't even know where to begin looking for her. I looked under and around some things in there but The door was open (Have a fan in the doorway to circulate air) so she might have even gotten out of the room..... Worst of all, She was on a shelving unit on the third shelf up...... She could be hurt..... I left three Pinkie mice on a paper towel on the floor hopeing the fans might blow the scent around and She would come to them..... She's GOT to be hungry, it's feeding day! omg.... What should I do????? What CAN I do????
-----
2 Iguanas, 3 Beardies, 1 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 1 Leo, 1 African Fat Tail, 1 Columbian Rainbow Boa, 1 Fla Garter Snake, 1 Banded California King Snake, 1 Corn Snake, 3 Fire Belly Toads, 1 Eastern Painted Turtle, 1 African Sideneck, 2 Horses, 4 cats, 1 dog, and I'm still not done.....

It seems like at least 80% of the stories you hear about escapes are from kings. Especially cals. I bought a cal king 2 years ago that was my first colubrid in years so I forgot how fast they were. While I was preparing it's box when I brought it home, it disappeared. I left it on a table and turned away to adjust the newspaper for literally 5 seconds. I never saw it again but I assume it jumped off the table and crawled into the wall. It came out 8 months later after I had moved out of my mother's house. Her boyfriend dropped a 10 pound weight on it's head. And the really worst part is that he was a perfectly banded B/W desert phase cal king. I mean perfect banding from head to tail. Ever seen one of those before? I hadn't either and haven't since. And believe me, I've been looking. That was over a year ago and it still bothers me when I think about it.

So anyway, not to discourage you, but I tried all the tricks at first too. And he didn't come out until he was ready. 8 months later. But either way, he did show up. Yours will too. Probably when you least expect it. But I do hope he turns up soon for your own peace of mind. Good luck.

I had a sub-adult cal king about 4 months ago, and same happened to me. I looked in his cage one day, and he was gone. I looked all over that room, and my house; I ended up finding him that day, three rooms down. My cat seemed really pissed off, so I went to see what was the matter, and sure enough, there he was. Perfect timing, too. Well, I know it doesn't help, but there is hope of you finding your king.

Good luck and keep searching.

It's true that even though most snakes are escape artists, kings seem to be better at it than most. But hang in there - there's hope.

Here's a trick that's worked for many: Sprinkle flour on the edges of the floor, especially near corners and behind/under furniture. If it's still around, you'll eventually see "snake prints" in the flour. Might help you figure out where it's hanging out.

And...think like a snake: "I may be hungry, but I can go weeks or even months without food if necessary. Right now I just want to find a quiet, sheltered place where I can avoid predators and maintain my optimal body temperature.

I had a juvenile Texas Rat snake escape last summer. I had written him off, only to find him - totally unexpectedly - on the dining room floor in January!! I still don't know where he stuck it out for about six months!

michaelb

My baby is loose too, I've torn apart the house and particularly my room where I keep my snakes but no luck. I've got water bowls all over the house hoping she doesn't get dehydrated and die, I'm not worried about food, they can go months without food. This is the longest I've ever had one loose before, but fortunatly its just me and the rats and my other baby snake. I keep walking down the hall expecting to see her... I hope she comes out soon.
-----

My greybands:
Prince Mandrake and Princess Caldera

My best advice for people with lost snakes is "get a cat". Since you already have 4 my advice is "watch your cats". Cat's sense of hearing and smell are so much better than ours it is hard to imagine. I gaurantee your cats know where that snake is and are trying to get at it. Or, unfortunately, already have.
-----
International Snakes Meetup
International Herpetology Meetup