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LOST MILKSNAKE

MrDarcy Oct 13, 2006 10:45 AM

The snake is only a baby and about 25cm long, somehow it managed to escape from its glass tank on the first night of having it, I have been told that it had been fed the morning that I got it. I have searched all over and cannot find it, unfortunately I have a fairly open planned house. Does anyone have any ideas how I can find it? I have read some ideas that they are attracted to vibration, is this true? I am thinking of putting a pinky in its cage tonight hoping it will go back in to feed, just not sure how I'll keep it there.
Its been missing about 15 hours now.

Any help would be great . . . thanks!

Replies (6)

drapert Oct 13, 2006 11:23 AM

Look in small dark areas--underneath EVERYTHING, even if it seems like there's no possible way it could have gotten under there. Mark everyplace you look with a sticker.

Leaving a pinkie in it's cage isn't going to bring it back, however some LIVE bait MIGHT..especially if left on the floor.

Rig up a shoe box with a small stick and string, put the live pinkie under the box so that it can squeak. Wait for your snake to come out of it's hiding place. When it goes to snatch the pinkie, drop the box by pulling on the string. If she's "holed up" someplace, you won't be able to catch her fast enough...so use the live trap.

Cover the box with a heavy book (to keep said snake from escaping again, as she'll want the darkness to digest her prey), and after a day or so, return her to her cage again.

Conserving_herps Oct 13, 2006 12:18 PM

Also, if you're right about it having just eaten, it will instinctively look for a warm spot or warm hiding place to hide...because it would need to digest its food. If you're house heater is centralized and has been running lately, go to the exhaust screen where the warm air comes out and see if the snake can get through there. If it can, you might want to unscrew the hinges and see if the baby snake is there. Under the refrigerator area and the underneath part of the refrigerator is a good place for it to hide too.

If you're house is pretty warm, it just might hide anywhere like a pile of books, or pile of laundry. Keep in mind though the it will usually have a hard time climbing up anything...so focus your search more near the ground level.

you might want to secure your cat if you have one as it will for sure eat it if it catches it. If you or your friends have a beagle, try having the dog look for it by having the dog smell the cage. I once lost a ghost honduran but my labrador retriever found it for me by barking at it in a pile of firewood.

anyway, good luck and keep us posted.
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RAY

MrDarcy Oct 14, 2006 06:18 AM

Well its been a little over 24 hours since she went missing! The pinkie in her cage didnt work, had it set up so she entered from the top and once in wouldnt be able to get back out. The heating has not been on for ages but its still really warm around 26c. I am hoping she is just curled up somewhere dark and safe and will come out Monday when she is due her next feed. If she is not out then I'll start to really worry as she is only a baby and needs feeding every 4 days!

She is so small and its been so long she could be anywhere by now. One thing for sure the pet shop wasnt very helpful in giving advice on finding lost snakes!

kingsnaken Oct 14, 2006 01:14 PM

Even healthy baby snakes can go weeks without eating. I wouldn't worry about the eating part of the situation just yet. I have heard of people taking empty 1 or 2 liter soda bottles. Probably 1 liter for babies. They cut the top few inches off in 1 piece. Flip the top around making a funnel entrance. Put a live pinky in it. Put it on the floor against a wall. You put a hide in there also. Put a heating pad underneath it also. I would make 4 or 5 of those, then check them 1st thing in the morning. If you only make 1, it could work. Baby snakes can squeeze under anything. They can also climb. I would look everywhere. Good luck! Derek

DavidY Oct 16, 2006 07:56 PM

Hang in there. I lost my baby hondo and found it 6 months later crawling behind the basement sink. He survived a cold winter (the basement is heated but the floors and walls are still pretty cool during the winter) and a spring flood! I was sure he was dead. Imagine my surprise when I finally found him again! He weighed 29g a week before he escaped and 28g when I found him again. I keep my crickets for my lizards in the basement and there's always a few escapees, so I wonder if he was able to catch some of those or if he just kind of hibernated through the winter.

Well, I hope your snake turns up soon. Don't give up on her though, because these guys are definitely survivors.

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1.4.0 Bearded Dragons (Frodo, Red Sonya, Galadriel, Arwen, Lakis)
1.1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleons (Fred and Wilma)
1.1.0 Peacock Day Gecko
0.1.0 Gold Dust Day Gecko
0.1.0 Columbian Red-Tail Boa (Bilbo)
0.1.0 Ball Python (Daisy)
0.1.0 California King Snake (Cali)
2.1.0 Honduran Milk Snakes
0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads
0.1.0 Fat Cat (Mollie)
1.0.0 Mini Pinscher x Chihuahua (Pepper)

MrDarcy Oct 17, 2006 04:33 AM

Wow she is a beauty! Still havent found Isis, she hasnt taken any pinkies I have left out for her and its two days past her feeding time now. (

I've checked the dog and no she does not have a hungry snake hanging from her backside )

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