Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My male king snake escaped on 8/12/03 and I have not seen him in a week. Can anyone tell me what percentage of snakes is recovered. I have a two story house and he could be anywhere if he is inside - but what are the chances he went down the sink or washing machine drain? I could see in the laundry room (where his cage is) that items had been knocked over on the sink, but I have seen no other sign that he is anywhere in the house. I don't know how he got out of the cage - it was still completely sealed - and I am sick with grief. What size space can a four foot king that is 1 1/2 to 2" in diameter at the largest point fit through? What is the longest time a king can live without food? Will he eventually come out to eat if he is still in the house - or will he hide from us and starve? I only had him six months, but he is very docile and not skittish. I find it hard to believe that if I have seen no sign of him that he is anywhere in the house. He is not a graceful snake, and has always tended to knock over items in his path. I also have four cats, and they have not acted as if anything is moving in the house - although they are so used to our reptiles, they may not even take note of him. Please help - I have left food out, left heating pads on the floor piled with blankets to attract him, and have searched the house in the dark with a flashlight - we have searched under everything we can get to - however there are many spaces between, under and behind cabinets in our house that cannot be reached.

Snakes are like ninjas you may not see him for months, or never again. Houses are not built to be snake proof and a kingsnake can find his way out easier then you could with the front door open. Don't give up hope, I lost a cal king in my apartment the next day he was spotted next door and a week later three apartment buildings down. Six months later I found him in my living room looking pretty fat.

HE WAS LIKE A NINJA - UNTIL MONDAY NIGHT!

WE DID NOT HEAR OR SEE ONE SIGN THAT HE WAS STILL IN THE HOUSE UNTIL MONDAY NIGHT - 8/25 - WHEN SOMETHING WAS KNOCKED OVER IN ANOTHER ROOM WHEN MOST OF THE HOUSE WAS DARK. I SEARCHED THE ROOM, BUT COULDN'T EVEN FIND WHAT HAD BEEN KNOCKED OVER, MUCH LESS ANY TRACE OF HAPPY FACE (HE HAS A PERFECT HAPPY FACE ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD). THE NEXT EVENING WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I ARRIVED HOME, HE HAD TRIED TO WEDGE HIMSELF BETWEEN THE BATHROOM CABINET AND THE WALL WHERE THERE IS A VERY SMALL HOLE UP UNDER THE CABINET. BEING SUCH A HUGE SNAKE, HE COULD ONLY GO ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY IN, SO HIS TAIL WAS STICKING OUT. WE TURNED OUT THE LIGHT AND HE BACKED OUT AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OF TRYING TO WEDGE HIMSELF ALL THE WAY IN TO NO AVAIL.

I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY WE FOUND HIM. THERE IS ONE THING I HAVE FOUND THAT WILL TEMPORARILY WORK TO KEEP HIM IN THE CAGE - I DUCT TAPED THE LID. THERE IS NO WAY HE IS GOING ROAMING AGAIN. IT IS A PAIN TO REMOVE EACH DAY AND REAPPLY, BUT I AM GOING TO A REPTILE SHOW ON SATURDAY AND BUYING A CAGE WITH SLIDING FRONT DOORS THAT WILL LOCK - SO IT IS A VERY TEMPORARY BUT VERY EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSE - IT IS SO HARD TO BELIEVE HE ONLY MADE ONE SOUND IN TWO WEEKS - HE IS A HUGE SNAKE. I BELIEVE HE WAS UNDER THE CABINETS FOR THE MOST PART, BECAUSE SEVERAL TIMES MY CATS WENT CRAZY TRYING TO GET INTO THE CABINETS - BUT HE WASN'T ACTUALLY INSIDE WITH THE DISHES, ETC. - I REMOVED MANY THINGS MANY TIMES OVER THAT TWO WEEK PERIOD. BECAUSE OF THIS FORUM ALONE, I NEVER GAVE UP HOPE - AND THAT IS ALSO MY MESSAGE TO ANYONE WITH A MISSING SNAKE!

Congradulations!

Just believe, it will help more than going stressed over a matter. Brain over matter.

I happy to hear you found him! Also that your getting/got a more secure cage. Please don't ever use duck tape to secure a lid! I used to work for a petstore, and I can't tell you how many people brought their snakes in to be de-taped!