Now what do I do?

[Scubadiver59]

I don't even know how to start this off...somehow, within the last 24 hours, my Corn Snake got out of it's enclosure. I just had the snake delivered yesterday!!

I searched the tank over, under, everywhere, leaving everything in the enclosure just in case, but she's nowhere to be found.

Now the question is...how do I find her? Two floors, a basement, a Doberman, German Shepherd, and a Lab/Rottie mix to figure into the equation.

Oh, and I checked the tank...there was one suspect area in the Zilla Critter Cage where she "might have" squeeze through, providing she could stretch 18in straight up the corner.

Any suggestions would be welcome...any.

[RAD House]

Do you have any hides or decorations that it could have climbed into a hole?

[regi375]

Do you have any hides or decorations that it could have climbed into a hole?

^ could still be in there. They tend to burrow into the substrate as well. If you're sure the snake isn't in there, then looks like you're on a snake hunt.

[whistlepig]

That sucks. I don't know how you would find*her outside the*tank, but my first instinct would be to double check the*enclosure, removing each item and inspecting it thoroughly*as it's removed until there's nothing left. *Good luck. I hope you find her.

[Scubadiver59]

The King is quite safe, due to its size, but that skinny little Corn could be anywhere.

Heat is on downstairs so I hope she doesn't come down and get into the ventilation system. Upstairs it's cooler since I don't turn on the heat and let the downstairs heat rise upstairs.

I'm beginning to wonder if getting snakes was such a good idea after all. :no:

[Scubadiver59]

^ could still be in there. They tend to burrow into the substrate as well. If you're sure the snake isn't in there, then looks like you're on a snake hunt.

No substrate, just paper towels

[GyGbeetle]

Try a plastic tub with either a fresh kill or live mouse for her to come after. It might come out for a treat. My albino burm got out our first night, and I had a full blown panic attack. She had managed to slither under my bed past 3 cats, and burrowed under the nightstand on the opposite side of the room (she had to pass by another exact same nightstand before slithering under the bed to the other one). She's slithering on my belly now. Don't panic. She could still be in the enclosure. Or she could be relatively close to the room. Look under furniture and places you wouldn't think to look. She probably hasn't gone far.

[Scubadiver59]

False alarm...she's still in there.

Good advice...don't panic (ha!). Look in all nooks and crannies, etc. (I did). I'm just glad I didn't take out any of the "hidey hole" furniture, I put a new one in last night, but left it in the cage, sealed up all the holes I spoke of earlier, and went and fixed dinner for my three boys (dogs).

Well, lo and behold, after searching all over the upstairs, narrowly missing my finger and almost peeling it with a very sharp knife while cutting up some rotisserie chicken for the boys' dinner (I did take off part of a fingernail...to the quick), I checked the enclosure and there she was at the top of the plant looking at the back side where the top slides into, looking for a way out. What a relief!!!!!
:crazy2:

Now I need to put my mind at rest and seal the top up a bit better either with silicon bead or something else. In the meantime I have tape over the openings and a piece of cardboard JAMMED in the one opening at the right, front, top corner I thought she made her escape from.

I'd have a beer but I'm on antibiotics right now so I think I'll go to bed instead.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and advice!



Do you have any hides or decorations that it could have climbed into a hole? Yes, but I looked in it with a flashlight and couldn't see her...she must have jammed herself WAY UP in the one "faux" branch.

Try a plastic tub with either a fresh kill or live mouse for her to come after. It might come out for a treat. My albino burm got out our first night, and I had a full blown panic attack. She had managed to slither under my bed past 3 cats, and burrowed under the nightstand on the opposite side of the room (she had to pass by another exact same nightstand before slithering under the bed to the other one). She's slithering on my belly now. Don't panic. She could still be in the enclosure. Or she could be relatively close to the room. Look under furniture and places you wouldn't think to look. She probably hasn't gone far. I had heard of this method, the live kill, but didn't have anything to offer other than the chicken above (the feeders I ordered won't be here until tomorrow). I did fire up an oil space heater in the hall, and put two rolls of wrapping paper down near the heater to see if she would get in them to get warm, but as you can see above, not necessary.

[GyGbeetle]

Hahahah! You're officially a snake keeper now! If you're heart's not pounding at least once a week....

[RAD House]

I think we have all done something similar. You can tell as our first instinct that the snake was still in its enclosure. When I acquired my first snake I would freak out and dig up the entire enclosure trying to locate the little guy. You will become more comfortable with time and they are easier to locate as they get better. I am glad it is all fine.

[Scubadiver59]

I think I just need her to grow up fast so she can't hide like she does. She's about the size of a #2 pencil, girth-wise, and can squirrel herself away in the darndest places. She seems to like it in that plant...she was there last night and again this morning.

Now the King is nowhere to be found...the hunt is on!


I think we have all done something similar. You can tell as our first instinct that the snake was still in its enclosure. When I acquired my first snake I would freak out and dig up the entire enclosure trying to locate the little guy. You will become more comfortable with time and they are easier to locate as they get better. I am glad it is all fine.

[afsgr88]

Have you considered moving them into tubs or something that would allow you to locate them easily, without the risk of a heart attack? x) Just until they get a bit bigger and easier to see.

[Scubadiver59]

Have you considered moving them into tubs or something that would allow you to locate them easily, without the risk of a heart attack? x) Just until they get a bit bigger and easier to see.

That's a thought...but which one(s) and would I need a small UTH to keep them warm? I have a space heater, mentioned previously, and the room is small enough I can keep it at any temp I want.

[whistlepig]

Glad to hear she's ok and secured.

[eminart]

Glad you found her. That's always a panicky feeling when you can't find them.

In the meantime I have tape over the openings

Obviously I can't see what you've done, but be very careful with tape. It can be a snake trap.

The first snakes I was allowed to keep as a kid were little ringnecks that I'd caught. Not THE first one I kept, but one of the first - I covered some cracks around a fish tank lid (Shut up, it was the early 80's and I was young). It was a 20 gal tall tank, and my ringneck was maybe 5 inches long. I never thought it would get to the top of the tank anyway. But, you guessed it, I found it stuck to the tape, dead. I later figured out young ringnecks are so light, they can sort of stick to wet glass and climb up the corners.

[afsgr88]

That's a thought...but which one(s) and would I need a small UTH to keep them warm? I have a space heater, mentioned previously, and the room is small enough I can keep it at any temp I want.

Since it is a temporary solution until they get some girth to them, I would go for a simple storing plastic tub. I think you can get them at Home Depot or something like that. Just make sure it is one that has a safe and secure lid. I would advise a specific heating solution for the tub, instead of the whole room, since it is easier to control. A small UTH would be enough, I guess.

[GyGbeetle]

Since it is a temporary solution until they get some girth to them, I would go for a simple storing plastic tub. I think you can get them at Home Depot or something like that. Just make sure it is one that has a safe and secure lid. I would advise a specific heating solution for the tub, instead of the whole room, since it is easier to control. A small UTH would be enough, I guess.

I agree with this heating recommendation, and the tub to give you peace of mind. I have boas and pythons, some are getting bigger. My heart still sinks every so often when they bury themselves in their substrate and I can't find them. Just wait when you put them on substrate!

[Scubadiver59]

I agree with this heating recommendation, and the tub to give you peace of mind. I have boas and pythons, some are getting bigger. My heart still sinks every so often when they bury themselves in their substrate and I can't find them. Just wait when you put them on substrate!

As long as they keep coming out at night, and I think I'm past the panic stage now, I'll let things be.

Their food is being delivered today so I'll try and see if they will take anything tomorrow or Sunday (they were delivered on Wednesday morning).

BTW, this is the hidey-hole they have taken to now. The one limb, extending up to the left into the plant, is where i think they are hiding.

[GyGbeetle]

As long as they keep coming out at night, and I think I'm past the panic stage now, I'll let things be.

Their food is being delivered today so I'll try and see if they will take anything tomorrow or Sunday (they were delivered on Wednesday morning).

BTW, this is the hidey-hole they have taken to now. The one limb, extending up to the left into the plant, is where i think they are hiding.

That's a really nice setup. Corns are slender, and can blend in well, so I see how she was able to hide from you. If they appear acclimated to their environment, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to feed them when food arrives. Every single one of my snakes has been fed within 2 days of coming here, and only twice have I had a problem, and those were specific reasons. Same with handling. Everyone says don't handle for the first week, but every snake is different, has different needs, a different personality, etc... You'll figure it all out.

I'm still chuckling inside about how well they hid from you. they've initiated you into their tribe

[Scubadiver59]

Food is in. I removed one large pinky (King) and one small pinky (Corn) and put them in ziplock bags in the fridge to defrost overnight.

I'll take them out tomorrow evening and warm them up...but to what temp? I read that the body temp of a mouse is almost like a humans, but really closer to my body temp, 97.7 (I run a little cold :rolleyes:).

So what temp should I warm them up to? 85F? like that of the hot end of the enclosure?

That's a really nice setup. Corns are slender, and can blend in well, so I see how she was able to hide from you. If they appear acclimated to their environment, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to feed them when food arrives. Every single one of my snakes has been fed within 2 days of coming here, and only twice have I had a problem, and those were specific reasons. Same with handling. Everyone says don't handle for the first week, but every snake is different, has different needs, a different personality, etc... You'll figure it all out.

I'm still chuckling inside about how well they hid from you. they've initiated you into their tribe

[EL Ziggy]

I completely thaw my feeders and heat them up to about 100F before serving them to the snakes.

[GyGbeetle]

I let my smaller rats defrost in like warm tap water for about an hour; the larger ones take longer. Everyone has a different method for defrosting. As long as the rat is close to its own body temp, your snake won't have a problem digesting. Hopefully they'll acclimate to frozen/thawed too.

Happy feeding!!!

[Scubadiver59]

Got the snakes from BHB and that's all they feed, as far as I know, is frozen feeders.

I can't wait for the Corn to feed...she's so skinny and the small pinky looks so large (for her).

I let my smaller rats defrost in like warm tap water for about an hour; the larger ones take longer. Everyone has a different method for defrosting. As long as the rat is close to its own body temp, your snake won't have a problem digesting. Hopefully they'll acclimate to frozen/thawed too.

Happy feeding!!!

[Jocarp]

Sorry to go back to the "missing snake" part of the thread, but thought I'd throw this out there. A buddy lost his ball python when we were growing up and we couldn't find him for something like 2 or 3 months, if I remember correctly. We were all (parents included) convinced the snake passed away in a hole or got outside and died (Kansas winter). Eventually, Elliot the BP was found while cleaning the kitchen. He found a nice warm spot under the refrigerator. Moral of the story, look at anything low with a heat source even if you think "there's no way it could ever fit there." Elliot ended up living a great long life so it was a happy ending. Glad yours turned out happy too!!!
Cheers,
Jordan