Reptile & Amphibian Forums

RRRRrrrrg. I JUST GOT a pretty, baby jungle carpet python (last night)from a friend. I put him in a cage, and failed to secure one corner of the top. He escaped. He's small, just about 12-15" and very thin. He could be anywhere. I've torn apart my reptile room, no luck. Are there snake traps, or any tricks to luring a snake out of hiding? I have spent several hours looking for him. I've tried to get my dog to sniff him out (and learned my dog is useless in this capacity)...I'm really ticked off. Mostly at myself for being so stupid. The snake needs to eat. The guy I got him from said he hadn't fed him in weeks. Has anyone developed any technique that can help me? I've never had a snake escape before. Please email me at polarpooch@charter.net if you have any ideas that might work. Thanks, Vicki
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~Vicki
0.2 chondros
1.0 ball python
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa
0.1 albino cornsnake
0.1 veiled chameleons
0.2 leopard gecko
0.0.3 morays
reef tank

Do you find yourself peering back into the enclosure it escaped from, hoping it has somehow found its way back? I always did, but I haven't had an escape in years! (knocking on head)
I'm sorry to hear you have an AWOL snake, especially a small one. As for snake traps, I use plastic soda bottles for such. You can make your own by cutting the top of a soda bottle off where it starts to taper, invert the top section and feed it back into the bottle securing it with tape. You can cut the spout off of the top, prior to fitting it back into the bottle, to accommodate the size of your lost snake. Once you have done this, cut a hole large enough for the open end of your bottle to fit flush, from a piece of square cardboard and secure this to the edge of the opening. Place the trap along side a wall, or make a couple and place one along each wall, as snakes will generally crawl along such and hopefully climb into your trap.
You may also wish to try the old flour trick, where you sprinkle flour within the area your serpent has gone amiss and check such on a regular basis for tracks, this will give you an indication of where the snake has been and possibly where it was headed…

Good luck,

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

Well, yes...I've probably looked inside the cage more than a dozen times. Removing the substrate, looking in the "tree" branches, under the water bowl...AGAIN. Am going to set about making this trap tomorrow morning. The flour is a very clever idea...wouldn't have thought of that! Thank you.
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~Vicki
0.2 chondros
1.0 ball python
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa
0.1 albino cornsnake
0.1 veiled chameleons
0.2 leopard gecko
0.0.3 morays
reef tank

I just yesterday recovered a snake that went missing on 9/3...nearly 8 MONTHS ago. He got out of my snake room, which is in my basement. I have a large beer can collection, and yesterday I heard some falling. I went down and found my Baird's ratsnake, significantly LARGER than when I last saw him, climbing a shelf & knocking down cans. I have heard of people placing plastic grocery bags all over the place and laying quietly at night listening for rusling sounds. Keep looking & listening & never give up. I was sure this snake was GONE, but he's alive and well. Good luck. Duffy

Suddenly, I wish I had a beer can collection!! I hope I get lucky like you

Thanks to everyone else for the help here, and via email!

Vicki
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~Vicki
0.2 chondros
1.0 ball python
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa
0.1 albino cornsnake
0.1 veiled chameleons
0.2 leopard gecko
0.0.3 morays
reef tank

Keep looking. I finally found my lost anthill python hatchling last night. He was missing for over 2 weeks and I've been going crazy the entire time. He got into a cabling hole in the wall and ended up in the basement. I kept looking, and tried to look someplace different every day. So just keep looking, and eventually you will find him.

A friend of mine has found snakes that had been missing for nearly a year. Good luck