Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need some advice to find my snake! Firstly, it's the middle of summer and we don't have A/C. Therefore, our heat is off and even at night it's 75 degrees in the house. Most of the time my reptiles seem to be trying to escape the heat rather than move toward it. So I'm thinking putting out a heat mat will not work. He ate about 5 days ago and was last seen about 2 days ago. However, he was not discovered missing until this morning.

I read something about setting "traps" that make noise when the snake moves over them, but does anyone else have any suggestions? I've already torn the house apart looking for him. He's only 2 feet long, which leaves endless options of places for him to hide. Also, his cage is upstairs in a room with plenty of hiding places (a lot of junk). I really hope he wouldn't venture downstairs. I put out some water and his hiding boxes.

Thanks for your help!

Here is how you find it, in just a few words.
Start moving everyting. Look in all drawers, cabinets, closets, boxes (if they are around), under/in furniture.
Make sure all toilets are closed/covered.

What type of caging are you using. I know it happens, but there is really no reason one should be able to get out.
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Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@qwest.net

Start at 1-2 hr.s after dark and leave all lights off , place something with a strong rodent smell in the middle of all big rooms and start looking for it with a flash light . I have also put puddles of ultra violet die in key areas and then looked with a uv light and just followed the trail right to them . David of DS Reptile Rescue

I had a 4 month old get out about a month ago.I found it three days later under a speaker about 10 feet away. Look close to were it got out and look in every small tight spot you can think of.

I agree with checking places nearby...One of my males escaped earlier this summer. I noticed that some of the pictures on the shelf above my desk were knocked down one day but i didnt think anything of it. A day or two later when i was changing their water, i notices that the male escaped. Since their cages are by my desk, i checked up by the pictures and he was just sitting up there coiled in a ball. One of roommates at school had a kingsnake escape and strangely enough, we found it inside one of the fridges, behind, where the motor is (which gets pretty warm). You could also try putting duct tape on the floor next to walls and doors and what not since snakes would prob not want to be in the open when moving around they will prob hug the walls, so tape might be able to catch them. Either way, best of luck
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0.1 Normal Cornsnake
1.0 Sumatran Short Tail Python
2.2 Ball Pythons (2 normals, 2 pastel)

If the snake is moving away from the heat, it means its too hot. If your house is hot during the day (more than 80 degrees), you should absolutely be using a thermostat to control the heat pad, otherwise you are going to cook your snake. You should also be using digital thermometers to read temps so you know what temps your snake is feeling.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

I've tossed a few houses looking for escapees to no avail - if the snake has ventured further than the nearest dark tight corner it's not likely to be found easily.

Once you've got through your whole house looking for him - make sure you keep the house locked up tight so it can't get out, down any drains or into your faucets or walls and there aren't any other pets in the house that will harm the snake.

In a week or two it will likely come cruising across your living room floor one night while you are watching TV and scare the beejesus out of you. Or you'll reach into the pantry to find him wrapped around a can of soda or something. They have a tendency to turn up when they are ready!

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Tosha
JET Pythons

(CJBianco explaining the origins of the BP market.)
"In the beginning Bob created the Ball Python market. And the market was without morph, and wild traits were upon the industry. And Bob said, Let there be morph, and there was morph. And Bob saw the morph, that it was good; and Bob divided the morph from the wild trait. And Bob called the morph Albino, and the wild trait Normal. And the Albino and the Heterozygous Albino were the first investment.
-- Christopher 1:1-1:5"

Another way that has not been mentioned is to seal off the room it was in last, and completely cover the floor with baby powder. Check the room early in the a.m. and you may be able to follow the trail left behind right to him. This is pretty easy to vacuum up afterwards too. I'm not sure I'd do the duct tape trick. It could cause more harm and stress than its worth.
Good luck to you.

Snakes usually follow a perimeter....they will follow the walls and stay up close to them. Where was the tank he was in...on a rack or a table? Look at where he could have ventured outside of that tank. Are there tables or dressers to crawl under there? Get a good flash light and look under all low clearance furniture. Be certain to make sure all open windows have secure screens....if not, he will be gone outside. Usually they will turn up within the next two weeks somewhere.

Good Luck and let us know!

Susan
SSNAKES Reptiles

Ha-ha! Thank you to everyone for all their advice! Luckily I did not have to do anything too extensive (other than moving every bit of furniture in my house). I walked out of my room to go get a snack and there he was at the top of the stairs! I have no clue where he was hiding, but I sure am glad he decided to venture out tonight. Thanks again!!

good for you, I am glad you found him!!!
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Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@qwest.net