Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

Help! First time EVER our 3.5 foot Ball has escaped. We also have a new kitten which we are keeping in what we believe to be a snake free room! Please answer two questions for me so that I can breathe again...

1) Will a snake this size go after a kitten (9 weeks old)?

2) Where could he possible go? Can they climb stairs? We've looked in all of the dark, warm spots we can think of (we don't have ductwork). I've looked in all of the closets, heaters, under the fridge and stove and down in the basement. Any other ideas?

Have you ever found a Ball alive after they escaped? We love him very much and I am crushed right now (my son left his lid cracked a bit too much I guess). I am also worried sick about the kitten.

Thanks for ANYTHING you can say...

Karen

To start with, I am not by any means an expert on snakes, I am a beginner at best, I will say there are many people on here that have had ball get loose (and found them fine and health). I personally have not gone through it due to the fact I am still not completely over my fear of snakes and have the cage locked tight.

I have heard everything from putting a little bit of flour on the floor to follow if they go through it. Look in any tight dark spaces. I have also heard of turning the air down (making it colder) and putting out a basking/heat light. As for the kitten, I would try to keep it contained as much as possible until your little jailbird is back where it belongs. You may also want to look into some locks for the cage (just a thought). Good luck and let us know when you find it happy and healthy!
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-0-1 Rescued Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-2-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet, Isis
0-0-1 Rescued Fit and Trim Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

Thanks, Bryan. I will double, no make that triple check the bedroom again. I think I will also leave all of the windows open today/tonight and set out a heat lamp and watch tonight. Hopefully he is NOT upstairs or downstairs... Can they climb stairs?

I will also set out the flour in the doorways.

Man, I am just so sick to my stomach because of this kitten. We have waited TEN weeks for this baby!!!! And now this...

Thanks,
Karen

they can easily climb.

I wouldn't leave the windows open. As seen with one other reply (who found it on the AC) that may provide additional escape routes for it to take.
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-0-1 Rescued Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-2-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet, Isis
0-0-1 Rescued Fit and Trim Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

I want to make sure it gets COLD in the house tonight... Brrrrr...

i would get a frozen rat thaw it out completely and put it in a plastic tub or something. do it at night and play detective and wait and see if it will come out to eat.lots of luck and let us all know the outcome. as far as the kitten well it wouldnt be able to swallow it but im sure it may strike at it.

and found her up on top of my AC. Yes that's right my AC.

Good luck in finding him!
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Dave

www.DNReptiles.com
Myspace/DNReptiles
Myspace/blog

Hey Karen ,Put duck tape on the floor in a few places where you think the ball might be or go .Put it upside down to where the tape end is up and the ends are stuck to the carpet of floor .It will catch the ball python when it goes over the tape .I know becaulse it worked for me .It took a few days for the ball python to crawl over the tape but it did and it got stuck in the tape . To get the tape off use a Q tip and olive oiland warm water but not to warm.It sux but it works .I had to cut the tape of alittle at a time and using the olive oil to loosen the glue of the tape .Good luck and let us know you catch it .
Kenny Scott
Spud .

sorry about the spelling I know I can`t spell lol.

If you are going to use tape, I would suggest 2 inch masking tape instead of duct tape. I would put down several strips of it all connected to another strip that was connected to a string that had some empty coke cans tied to it so that when the snake crawled over it and stuck to it, it would make noise. If the snake does get stuck to quite a bit of it, it would still come off a lot easier then duct tape. Even if it just stuck to it enough to shake the cans, you will be able to hear when it was out and tell what part of the house it is in. Just my thoughts.

I personaly wouldnt use duct tape but thats me. I had a baby childrens python get lose a few weeks ago and the ironic thing is that although I never wouldve intentionaly used tape to catch it, the only reason I found it was because it got caught on some dual sided carpet tape. I was realy freaked out when I saw it stuck because it had twisted itself up all crazy and it wasnt fun pulling the tape off.

Nevertheless......he lived just fine and doesnt seem to be harmed.

Whatever youre comfortable with I suppose.

This guy started on the floor, and even went past this: climbed up the doorknob, over the lock, and up the side of the door.

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1.1.2 Python regius
0.0.1 Eunectes notaeus
0.0.1 Lampropeltis spp.
1.3.0 Triturus karelinii
1.3.0 Taricha granulosa
5.0.0 Ambystoma mexicanum
0.3.0 Ambystoma jeffersonianum
0.0.2 Ambystoma laterale
0.0.2 Ambystoma mavortium
0.0.3 Salamandra salamandra
0.0.1 Tylototriton verrucosus

It's ironic that you should talk about them climbing stairs. I had a 6 foot anaconda get out sometime last night (through all fault of my own). So at 7am we mounted a search for the little gal. High and low (concentrating on wet places like the bathroom and laundry room). We found her in the upstairs bathroom, curled up UNDER a chest of drawers.

The only real issue is that she had gone through my quarantine room. But everything in there basically has a clean bill of health now. They just haven't been moved yet.

My biggest advice to you is to look EVERYWHERE! Pull stuff out of closets. Look UP in closets. You can't just look at the floor level. It's intensive, but to find your snake, you've gotta be crafty.

Another idea is to create a hide box, and put a heat lamp over it (or heat pad under it) and put a mouse in it and wait for your snake to find the free meal.
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1.1.2 Python regius
0.0.1 Eunectes notaeus
0.0.1 Lampropeltis spp.
1.3.0 Triturus karelinii
1.3.0 Taricha granulosa
5.0.0 Ambystoma mexicanum
0.3.0 Ambystoma jeffersonianum
0.0.2 Ambystoma laterale
0.0.2 Ambystoma mavortium
0.0.3 Salamandra salamandra
0.0.1 Tylototriton verrucosus

.......I was ticked. All you can realy do is the obvious---cover up any obvious escape routes---pull out a realy good flashlight (I suggest a powerfull LED or something)

OK....the flashlight didnt do me any good this time.....I searched everywhere....

And then one night (in the dark!!!!) after one week, I saw him at the top of my staircase sprawled out in the bottom of an open hall closet.

I pretty much figured Id see him eventualy. As long as you keep doors closed and escape routes covered youll probably see him again.

As for your kitten...it is highly unlikely the cat will recieve much attention from the snake. I wouldnt think a male ball could eat a 9wk old kitten. Kill it maybe?? But still unlikely. I doubt the snake would attempt a kill without trying to eat it and I dont have confidance that your ball will care much about the kitten being as big as it is. Sometimes kittens will "bat" at snake faces or play with them and since balls can be quite shy the "batting" can often deter the snakes interest.

Good luck.