Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All,

I don't have a clue what happened last night but, I have a ball python (1640g so not a small animal, 3"diameter min) and built a rack identical to the one on the website www.ballpython.ca
My spacing between the end of the shelf and the back wall for the heat tape is 5/16" (0.3125". The spacing between the top of the cage and the bottom of the next rack is about 3/8" (less then the diameter of two cigarette butts put together). I cleaned the snake's cage last night, put her back, and this morning one of the cages above her's was pushed out about 6". I pulled it out and discovered her!!!!!!!

I have no idea how she got there!! My best guess is she crawled through the 3/8" wide space!! I checked her and it would appear she has no broken ribs (that I can tell, she is outrageously nervous and skittish right now handling her) and trying to hold her to support her weight down her length to check for a broken back. Didn't find anything unusual. No kinks.

If she did this, could there be some damage? She is just CRUSING the cage right now. She explores everynight about 10min after I turn out the lights but she is doing this now in the morning. Probably stress but it really freaked me out.

She now has cardboard underneath the cage to hold it flush to the top of the next shelf. I know I don't need to run to the vets for an xray right away (until she calms down a bit anyway) but are there some tell tale signs she could have done some damage to her? She has no cuts or blood coming out. Detailed scrape inspections will have to wait until she doesn't squirm or try to shoot away.

I would imagine she’d need to be put down if her back is broken? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks
Dave

I'd say you probably will find that your snake is none the worse for its little excursion. Unless she fell from the cage or had something fall on her, I thing there is very little chance that she was hurt in her escape. Snakes are strong enough to move a heavier object than most assume, and they can wedge themselves through a pretty small space if they want to. In addition, they are excellent climbers and virtually never fall from a perch. I bet she is just particularly active right now because she is in a "new" spot (even though it is her old cage) from where she was when you found her. Temperature could also be a factor, as I assume the temp of the spot she was hiding in is different from that inside her cage. Good luck, let me know how it turns out.

She was right up against the 11" heat tape (w/ proportional thermostat so it's not that hot). In her cage for the last two weeks, she has been near the back of the cage but still wanders. The rack is set with the probe for the thermostat and thermometer taped to the back (inside the container where a snake would be) of an empty cage. Temperature is 89.1 deg F at the back of the container. Cool side if about 70 to 75deg F.

I'm totally amazed at this one, if she squeezed through the 3/8" slot. I'm still trying to look at other ways she could have done it.

So no damage? I'm amazed not only that her head could compress 25% the thickness it is and the body could go through it at 3" in diameter. I guess if their one giant muscle then they could. Additional and other people's comments are appreciated.

Thanks
Dave

But Balls are amazingly strong. They can push wood, especially if you used thin would that is easily bent. Those 34" Rubbermaids can bend on an angle very easily as well. My suggestion is to make the shelf a little more snug.

As for her cruising, well escaped snakes often do this for a week or so. I find that they will eat better after an escape as well! Weird, and not advisable to try purposely, but its what I've found in the 3 BP's I've had escape over the years.
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