Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 6 month old corn snake got out some time yesterday, and I have torn the house apart looking for him. I have looked in all the "warm" places and still no luck. He's so small that I'm afraid that I could be missing him. I even got a pinkie and rubbed it all over the floor around his tank and areas nearby. Anyone know of something else I can do to find my baby?

Thanks

Start by looking thru any areas the snake could hide close to the cage and work your way out. Usually they do not travel too far in a day IF there is a suitable hidespot close by. It can curl up in any area the size of a half dollar so be very thorough. If it has recently fed, look for any signs of fresh stools. The longer it is out, the more exploring and further away it could get, so tearing the room apart in the first few hours or days is crucial. Unfortunately, if there is any access to get under a carpet, into a wall or AC conduit, or any other unaccessable to you, you may be out of luck. Another idea is to have some else look after you have torn everything apart. I had an entire clutch of Glades rats escape. I could not find any of them, but my wife, who will never let me live this down, found every one of them. Most stuck to the sides of the room and were behind a bookcase, dresser, ect. Good luck!

If you give them a hidy cave and provide food, they'll use it.

Search his home as well, especialy if you use a lose substrate (ie aspen shavens). Twice I thought I lost my corn snake and both times, he never left his cage, yet both times, I took all the furnature out and sifted through the aspen and couldn't find him...he was just very fast and moved to the other end of the tank while I searched the far side. Either that or he found a pocket dimension to hide in. The first 'escape' was why I called my corn, Copperfield.

Also, check any crevise, ledge, or space that is about half your snake's length above the floor. I would start from his home, the shelf it is on (or table etc) and work your way down to the floor, then follow the nearest wall, checking behind, underneath and on any obsticles you encouter. Crawl on the floor while you do this. Anything that is a quarter inch or bigger, is likely big enough for the snake to get into.

Others have suggested putting a layer of flour or starch by the doorways so you can see if the snake left the room during the following night.

I had a few escapes: An eastern ribbon, a Western ribbon, a rosy boa and another eastern ribbon. I found one eastern in another cage she had gotten into. The other was just in some dead grass in the cage. I found the rosy on the floor, and never found the Western. In conclusion, never give up. Try putting some dishes with thawed mice out and watch to see if they disappear. You can also put flour on the floors before you go to bed, and see if you can find tracks in it. Or put shopping bags on the floors, and you could hear them crinkling from another room. Seal all openings to heaters and dishwashers. Look behind bookshelves and other dark places on the floor.

DAVE

Yesterday, after walking in the door from work, who did I see soaking in the cat's water bowl but the "missing" snake. Luckily the cat had been put up (with a different water bowl) until I found the snake. So much for them not going very far away from their tank...he was in a seperate part of the house. He had to go down the stairs, and across three rooms. I guess he's quite the world traveler. Thanks for all of the information...I have a feeling it may come in handy with this one. We still don't know how he got out.
Thanks

That's probably one of the best found snake stories I've heard yet...lol

(except mayve the one who found theirs in a box after moving, lol)
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
6.7 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
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