Don't understand how she escaped

[marisa]

Hi!

Well my anery het snow female cornsnake escaped yesterday. We went to fed her and she was gone. I am not really worried about her as I know lost snakes turn up eventually....

But I can't understand how she got out and I am looking for input as to how I can secure my other snakes.

She was living in this rack set up for a year, as my other cornsnakes are and I have never had an escape. It was built specifically so you cannot put the tubs away without the lids being snapped. There is like no space between the lid and the shelving. Like I can't even get a pinkie finger in no matter how hard I shove. And my snake was about 35-40 inches long.

Obviously she did get out somehow or else she would be there still but looking at this photo do any of you have ideas how to make it more secure?

<img src="http://members.rogers.com/mattl/rack.jpg">

As you can see her cage is all messy from my frantic search to find her.

thanks for any input.
Marisa

[marisa]

Its not a wooden top. Thats a shelf and another rubbermaid is on top. Its a 8 level rack. The two in the photo are in the middle. The shelves dont lift as its like a bookcase, they are screwed in, and another cage is on top.

Marisa

[vanderkm]

Not sure if I am seeing it correctly but one thing you might consider is that if the side of the rubbermaid tub (where there are no latches) is very close to the edge of the board above it, it may be possible for the snake to lift the lid by pushing the side of the tub outward.

If she was 35 inches long, she is longer than the tub is wide and I have seen mine brace their tail against one side of a tank and force their head along the other side. Their bodies will be in a strong S-shape and just quivering from the effort they are making.

I have one male that was determined to escape and he could put a lot of force into deforming the side of a tub. Once the side is pushed outward the seal at the top is flattened and not as secure. Corns can also really flatten out when they want to, amazing what they can get though. You might want to consider deeper shelves, especially for the longer tubs that are loose in the middle.

What is really suprising is that she made a break for it after having been housed in the tub for so long. Ours usually try for a month at most after going in a new enclosure and then give up and resign themselves.

Best of luck in finding her - she isn't gravid is she?

mary v.

[marisa]

Hi thanks for your reply!

Five minutes, seriously five minutes after posting the message I went in to my rodent room. I noticed the water bottles were all knocked over so I leaned over to right them, and she *literally* crawled into my hand. I jumped! lol but I got her. Stupid snake! hahaha

I see what you mean about pressing the tubs with the end of their bodies, and I am sure this is something like what happened.

I can't believe she stuck around either. When I put her in the tub a year ago she was about 20 inches. So she had ample time to escape. I recently removed her favorite hiding spot so I think this had something to do with it.

Thank you for your detailed reply! I will be putting her into a different enclosure until she gets larger like the other corns. I *know* those fat brats can't fit out! hahaha :)

Marisa

[aqua_demon]

well grats on finding your snake i myself have a lost snake a rough green snake i hope to find her soon grats to you though

[marisa]

Well good luck to you too! They always show up in the least expected places and times. Don't worry. One day you will be walking down a hall way, or cleaning something or whatever and bam your snake will be there! :)

Marisa

[vanderkm]

Great to hear you got her back Marisa. I lost a little striped corn baby on a 6 hour trip back home - still haven't figured how he got his big head through any of the spaces in the critter keeper, but he did. After tearing the van appart and going through all the luggage, I went back for one last look in the vehicle and saw the end of his tail going under the carpet by the accelerator pedal. I managed to grab him and was so relieved! It is horrible to lose them even for a short time. Good luck to you Aqua demon in finding yours,


mary v.