Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just lost my baby albino California Kingsnake. I have searched my room and left out flower along the walls to see if I could find any trails, but no luck. Can anyone give me some advice?
-----
AIM sn: z10silver

The best method I have found is to wait till the lights have ben off at night for about an hour or so and then patrol the house with a flashlight. Kings usually stay low so check corners, under cabinets anything that has crawl space big enough for him to hide.

Good luck,

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

Like the other poster said, try looking at night.

Here are some fun stories for you re lost snakes:

1) A friend of mine lost a young B&W Cal king about 24" or so (keep in mind we live in the city). About 6 months later he found it in his garage.. it had grown some and looked great.

2) I had a baby Mexican black king get out in Spring time in my house in a 2nd story bedroom. Aroung September, my wife was out in the backyard and yelled to me. She saw a "shiny black snake" in the planter on the side of the house. It was gone by the time I got there, apparently slipping into a hole in the block wall.

3) Another friend lost a Kenyan sand boa.. true story. Almost a year later, he found it in his house.. still fat and happy, and bigger. Incredible.

4) My personal best was my Sinaloan missing for 9 months.. found again in fine condition.

5) I think it was John O of Texas who related a story of a mex-mex king hatchling that got away and was found 2 years later in one of his mouse colony cages. He new it was the same one because it had a peculiar striped neck pattern.
-----
Mark

Here's a few more.

Lost a 3' Brooks that turned up seven months later crawling out from under the refrigerator.

Lost a 2.5' Yuma King that got out a barn window (in S,Fla). A few days over a year later I went snake hunting in the pasture (as a joke/dare by a friend since the temps were in the mid forties). Fliped over a a large piece black plastic tarp and found two small Red Ratsnakes...and the Yuma.

Lost a Fla 3' female. Found here stretched along an electrical chord 8' off the ground.

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

Thanks for the advice guys, but my snake was only a baby, about a foot long. How long do you think it can live without eating?

Zach
-----
AIM sn: z10silver

I'm sure it will be fine for a while. I have lost my snake 3 times already... I keep it in my bedroom and all three times it only went a few feet into the closet. Now it's in an escape proof cage. I'd say just check under things. Maybe when you go searching at night, thaw a mouse out and put it on the ground somewhere and just sit there watchign it. Maybe the snake will smell it and come to eat it.
-----
~Shana~

A lot depend on if it is able to find something to eat (small lizards for example). Here in Florida we have wall geckos and anoles that are food. If not....depending on how much fat the snake had stored I would estimate no more than four months.

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