Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Oh boy do I feel bad, very bad. I was keeping a friend's kingsnake in a tank in my downstairs bathroom. I must not have shut the bathroom door completely this morning. When I came home, the door was open and the screen over the snake's tank was pushed in. One of my cats probably jumped on top of the screen and pushed it in. My daughter and I have searched and searched. My biggest fear is that the snake (about 3 years old) went through the cat door into the garage. There are ways the snake could get outside from the garage. I am in deep doodoo!

I've read through some of the archives on how to find a lost snake but need different methods for the most part. I have 4 cats and a rabbit running around the house so a lot of the methods I read about wouldn't work. I certainly will keep tuned to the cats, the snake fascinated them.

Any suggestions? My friend raised this snake from a baby. Although he never named it, "it's a snake", I know he's going to be upset if I don't find it.

I have gone through that a few times with Kings...Usually they go low (Ratsnakes go up).

My best luck was to wait till an hour or so after the house has settled down for the night: then patrol the area with a flashlight.

Good Luck,

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Yeah. Best thing to do is wait till night time,have all the lights out and look around with a flash light. With a rabbit in the house he might actually go looking toward the rabbit cage. I am sure the king is to small to eat a rabbit but never the less he will be curious about the smell. Good as place as any to check.

Sorry to inspire any unnecessary fear, but I also had a kingsnake escape into a house with a couple of cats. I noticed the cats acting strangly near an old desk, so I started poking around under there. I found the snake with his neck torn just about in half. By some bizarre turn of nature, none of the major blood vessels were punctured. 60 sutures and $200 later, I got my kingsnake back.
I guess my point is that I agree with your instinct, which apparently involves watching the cats. I also agree with the other posters.
Good Luck!

wow, that's a bargain for $200... lucky snake, cat was probably just playing

It might be beneficial to give the snake what it's looking for. Set up in a secluded area (closet?) a warm area, keep it dark, cozy, smelling of food, ect
This leads to mixed results and requires lots of patience... best results if done soon assuming the snake is still in the general vicinity.

If you're lucky, the snake might not have got outside, but it is hard to say when you have cats running around, and if the it had a way into the garage. However, if it is still in the house, it will help you to find it if you take a little bit of flour and place it along the edges and corners of the general area. The sanke will like to slither along the walls, so you might be able to spot tracks in the flour id you leave it there for a while. This might give you a bit of an idea where it might be, or just try something simple, try looking in a nearby warm and cozy hiding spot the snake might like, and take a good look in your garage. Good luck.

try looking under the furniture up in the springs, and the cats should let you know, flour is good suggestion, patience is a true key.

Thank goodness! It casually slithered out from beside my fridge shortly after returning home from work today. I am sooo relieved! Thank you very much for all of the suggestions. Neither my daughter or I slept much last night from worry. My daughter even dreamed she found it in her bed and came in to tell me while she was half asleep! Now we can sleep tonight. And be more careful

Put you head between your knees and kiss........just kiddin. Look at nighttime when its quiet and noones walkin around makin noise. Thats when he'll come out. I lost my dumerils boa for 4 days and found him in a box under my bed 4 ft from where his cage is. Look in any dark quiet small space you think he may have gotten into. Along/above/under radiators, behind fridge/stove....anything that gives off heat is a likely hiding spot. Good luck to you. Hope this helps a little anyways