Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok...they did it again. This time both Sparks and Shadow got out. They've been out for about 12 hours we figure (or less) and we've searched and can't find them. Did the check all downstairs (where the cage is) along the floors and in nooks and crannys - anywhere they could hide. We have three pinkies out and thawing now to put out where their cage is (on the bottom of a double aquarium stand). Sparks has gotten out before but we've always found him - once under laundry and another time along the baseboards in the room where the tank is. Sparks is an amel and Shadow is a normal. Any suggestions for finding them? My boyfriend is convinced we won't find them but I can't give up. We were supposed to go to the Pittsburgh Herp show today but are obviously looking for them instead. Any/all suggestions are welcome.

~Katie
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2.0.1 Cornsnakes (Slink, Shadow & Sparks)
0.3 Leopard Geckos (Cutie, Lily, and ?)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (Sam)
0.2.1 Pac Man Frogs(Gordito, Spud, and Diablo)
1.0 Suriname Toad (Squishy)
0.0.2 Giant Millipede (Mega & ?)
lots of snails and fish...

Well...looking back it seems I left out a few things. Both are '04 snakes, although Sparks was an early '04 and is close to two feet long. Shadow on the other hand is still a baby and is probably only a foot long. I think that Shadow is shedding because I found pieces of his skin in the room where their tank is. The head part right by the tank and the tail 3 feet away or so. I'm hoping this means he'll be in that room and will take the bait. Sparks on the other hand should be easier because he's an amel but who knows. Please help...anyone? We've been looking for 2 hours now and all I have to show for it is the parts of Shadow's shed (shed in pieces last time - so I'm assuming it's the same again for some reason). The pieces aren't brittle like they're old, they're pretty pliant which is why I'm assuming they're new. Please help.

~Katie
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2.0.1 Cornsnakes (Slink, Shadow & Sparks)
0.3 Leopard Geckos (Cutie, Lily, and ?)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (Sam)
0.2.1 Pac Man Frogs(Gordito, Spud, and Diablo)
1.0 Suriname Toad (Squishy)
0.0.2 Giant Millipede (Mega & ?)
lots of snails and fish...

>>Just keep looking.
Look everywhere. Starting from the tank to wherever you found the shed skin and continue on in that direction.
There isn't a lot that can be said from the internet.
You just have to look everywhere. Remember a hatchling can fit in a space about as big around as a silver dollar or maybe even smaller so look in small tight places that will offer security.
This may sound harsh but if it was me I would go to the show, buy two more snakes and a proper lid for whatever enclosure you are keeping them in. Actually you need to get a second enclosure.
One for each. It is not really good to keep them together. I can give you a list of reasons why if you would like. I think I will add this to my list.
If they both got out of the same enclosure that the one had escaped from previously then you need to figure out the problem or remember to secure the lid properly.
I have had five escape...all due to my laziness in not securing the lids on their containers properly. The containers work well when secured properly but when you/I get lazy or complacent and leave one side loose they WILL find the way out. They are escape artists.
My dogs found one for me shortly after it escaped the rest are history, gone.
I think if you get lucky and find one you have beat the odds.
good luck
by the way...Do you have a large enough water dish in the enclosure to allow the snakes a place to soak if need be?
Are you using a screen top?
Do you have clips to lock it securly?
If you do have a screen top do you have about half of it covered to help hold in humidity to aid in sheds?

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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

Just keep looking.
Look everywhere. Starting from the tank to wherever you found the shed skin and continue on in that direction.
There isn't a lot that can be said from the internet.
You just have to look everywhere. Remember a hatchling can fit in a space about as big around as a silver dollar or maybe even smaller so look in small tight places that will offer security.
This may sound harsh but if it was me I would go to the show, buy two more snakes and a proper lid for whatever enclosure you are keeping them in. Actually you need to get a second enclosure.
One for each. It is not really good to keep them together. I can give you a list of reasons why if you would like. I think I will add this to my list.
If they both got out of the same enclosure that the one had escaped from previously then you need to figure out the problem or remember to secure the lid properly.
I have had five escape...all due to my laziness in not securing the lids on their containers properly. The containers work well when secured properly but when you/I get lazy or complacent and leave one side loose they WILL find the way out. They are escape artists.
My dogs found one for me shortly after it escaped the rest are history, gone.
I think if you get lucky and find one you have beat the odds.
good luck
by the way...Do you have a large enough water dish in the enclosure to allow the snakes a place to soak if need be?
Are you using a screen top?
Do you have clips to lock it securly?
If you do have a screen top do you have about half of it covered to help hold in humidity to aid in sheds?

I know it's my fault they got out...I had Shadow out last night and I don't think that the lid got put back on properly. It happened with Sparks before and we think we aided him because he had a grapevine to climb on (which we took out thinking that would help). Don't worry about sounding harsh - I deserve it. They have a large enough water dish for both of them to soak in at once if they wanted. I know they were there last nigth because I got Shadow out because he was crawling around. I'm guessing they might have been hungry as we were going to feed them today. We do have a screen lid on it but don't have a towel over half, which (when/if we find them) I will do. I guess I didn't think about that because Sparks has shed many times no problem in that tank. I guess it's back to the drawing board and looking around. I put flour around the stand by the pinkies in hopes that I could figure out which direction they would go. I also put two hides right there in hopes that they wouldn't travel far. Maybe we'll get lucky.

~Katie

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2.0.1 Cornsnakes (Slink, Shadow & Sparks)
0.3 Leopard Geckos (Cutie, Lily, and ?)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (Sam)
0.2.1 Pac Man Frogs(Gordito, Spud, and Diablo)
1.0 Suriname Toad (Squishy)
0.0.2 Giant Millipede (Mega & ?)
lots of snails and fish...

>>The main thing I was trying to get accross is that they are probably gone for good.
The escape part is something that happens. It can be problems with the viv or human error.
Both can be fixed.
But usually the odds are in the snake's favor when they escape.
I would go to the show and get a new snake or two and in the meantime just keep an eye out for the escapees. If you find them then good you have more snakes. If you don't then you have the replacemnets.
so, good luck and be carefull
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

and put it on your lawn, you will find them, if they are still in the house...
GOOD LUCK. I usually find the few escapees I have had a couple months later, a little dehydrated, but ok.
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Jeremy J. Anderson
snakepimp.com
gemstatereptiles.com
Of course it's my opinion, I said it, didn't I?
Are they using the beef to control your mind? That stuff in your cigarettes, your beer and the wine Is working its way, infiltrating your spine, Today is the day you should wake up and find That they’re using the beef to control your mind. --(excerpt from a musical I wrote...)

Keep looking. Check behind and under everything. The first thing they'll do is look for a dark hiding place. Most of my excapes (knock on wood) haven't gotten too far, but then I keep looking non-stop till I find them. Get a flashlight and check under all the furniture and then carefully, move it away from the walls and check in back. Anything on the floor, pick it up and check it thoroughly. Closets? Empty them. Once you've checked everything at floor level, work your way up. I've had snakes climb up into furniture like dressers and bureaus. Pull all the drawers out, one at a time, and check the inside of the unit. Shelves? Pull everything off the shelves and check the area behind. Stereo or Computer? Move everything out and look under and behind it.

Now for the second part of the post. What were you keeping your snakes in that they both excaped? Was it due to human error or a flaw in your housing? Both are correctable. Excapes happen, but they can be prevented with appropriate caging and care. Most of my excapes in the past were from aquarium style caging with screen tops. Weights on the tops are not a foolproof method of keeping a snake in, if they can get a nose out in any corner, they're out. Multiple clips on the top work (4 minimum), but human error is a possibility. I now keep all my snakes in either locking cages or sliding rubbermaid tub/drawer style racks and haven't had an excape since.
Good Luck. I hope you find your snakes and figure out how they got out so you can prevent it in the future.

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Lora

I would suggest setting up a snake trap. It is pretty simple. Use an appropriate size soda bottle, for a small snake use a 16-20 oz bottle, for a larger snake use a 2 litre bottle. Cut the top off the bottle right where it is the largest. Then insert the top of the bottle backwards into the bottom of the bottle. What you are doing is making a fancy funnel type trap. Put the trap that you have baited with a frozen/thawed mouse of the appropriate size in the house where you think they may be on the floor. You can put one of those heat pads under it. Leave it overnight. In the morning, hopefully you will come out to a sleeping snake in the bottle.

You might want to make a few of these to use in several rooms. Don't forget the hallway and bathrooms.
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phflame

I would suggest setting up a snake trap. It is pretty simple. Use an appropriate size soda bottle, for a small snake use a 16-20 oz bottle, for a larger snake use a 2 litre bottle. Cut the top off the bottle right where it is the largest. Then insert the top of the bottle backwards into the bottom of the bottle. What you are doing is making a fancy funnel type trap. Put the trap that you have baited with a frozen/thawed mouse of the appropriate size in the house where you think they may be on the floor. You can put one of those heat pads under it. Leave it overnight. In the morning, hopefully you will come out to a sleeping snake in the bottle.

phflame

I'll definately try this. Unfortunately we only have 2 bottles around our house but oh well...two is better than none. Now the question is where to put them since they've been gone almost 24 hours...hmm...well, I'm off to bait a trap or so. Wish me luck.

~Katie

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2.0.1 Cornsnakes (Slink, Shadow & Sparks)
0.3 Leopard Geckos (Cutie, Lily, and ?)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (Sam)
0.2.1 Pac Man Frogs(Gordito, Spud, and Diablo)
1.0 Suriname Toad (Squishy)
0.0.2 Giant Millipede (Mega & ?)
lots of snails and fish...

I just wanted to let you all know how much I appreciate the support. Especially for getting back to me so quickly. Haven't found them yet but I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that they'll come out and fall for the traps tonight.

~Katie
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2.0.1 Cornsnakes (Slink, Shadow & Sparks)
0.3 Leopard Geckos (Cutie, Lily, and ?)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (Sam)
0.2.1 Pac Man Frogs(Gordito, Spud, and Diablo)
1.0 Suriname Toad (Squishy)
0.0.2 Giant Millipede (Mega & ?)
lots of snails and fish...