Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone on this forum have any experience with how long a gtp adult escapee can survive? The ____ed cage fastener broke in the middle of the night & the door was ajar when I woke, and we've torn this place apart for three days now to no avail. (And I know to think up, dark, warm, or cubby..I've looked in boxes, shoes, name it, even the medicine cabinet) My cats would have picked right up on it methinks, and they haven't. (Heck, they make a major case out of a simple moth)

There's a chance the animal could have gotten outside due to plumbing openings. I live in an overgrown area, and I have a kink in my neck from shining trees with a flashlight at night.

I'm a very light sleeper, and I've laid on the floor three nights listening for anything. Obviously I'm just sick over the thought of not finding this animal and it dying come Winter. Suggestions?

hey there,well if you look back about a month or so on this forum,there was a few large threads about a similar problem i had.mine was about 13 months old and was gone longer than a month.i eventually found him,covered in dust and with some old shed still attached,but is still alive and doing well.i asked the same question as far as how long i had to find him and i think we agreed at least a couple months as long as the temps are not in the extremes.now this is if the snake encounters nothing dangerous.if you have a cat,exposed hot water or electric,boiler ect,he could be killed instantly.i found a few tricks that proved helpful online.the best trick is to pour powder on the floor all around the spots you think he may be.also use crinkley plastic wrap so that you can hear him if he crawles over it.the powder will show if he slithered throough it.i also placed live mice is small wire cages near the holes in the wall i think he went through.you have to understand that if he did go into any of these holes,its like a maze in there and considering how little they move,and how compicated it is in there,it can take months for him to find his way out or even if he decides hes hungry enough to attempt it.many people respomded for me and many explained how they also lonst their snakes and i think everybody said they eventually found theirs.the older and larger i think the easier they are to find.i once lost a baby corn snake that never returned.i think this is partly due to the fact that he was very small and could fit just about anywhere,but also due to the nature of corns and how they like to slide under tight spaces.chondro behavior is not like this at all and they usually look for the highest spot rather than small holes.good luck and never stop looking

Thanks for all the input. The powder idea would wind up a mess with my cats. I'll keep looking (glad you found yours!)

I had an 18 month old chondro escape from his cage, I had given up on even finding him when 6 weeks later we found him on the floor cruising up the hall toward the mouse room late one night!!

One thing I've noted... they don't usually travel very far from the original cage location. (Exception to this was brand new babies that were just a couple weeks old) They are pretty good at seeking out heat, check warm water pipes, back of stereo/tv cabinets..... GOOD LUCK finding your snake!!!!

Thanks! You just confirmed one of my ideas is a good one. I've kept the glass cage door duct taped open 2 inches and the heat panel on 85 degrees hoping to attract the animal. I appreciate the help!

Your Good Luck worked, thanks! A month to the exact day the snake comes out and curls up by my computer chair. The cats went postal, and it alerted me. Ice cold, thinner...but alive.