Concerned?

[Twiztidlotus17]

I have a medium size ball python, who has been aggressive lately that is missing!:no:
He had a feeding about 2 weeks ago, both my pythons have been really ative and somehow escaped today while I was at work. I found one snake ( non-aggressive) but the other is missing, I have checked everywhere possible. I know he will show up sometime but I am concerned about him "attacking" me or my 4 year old son while we sleep.

What do I do?
Can he hurt my son, struggling? I am very scared of this now because we have just recently lost his father, and the thought of waking up to my struggled son is scaring the crap out of me..
Sorry for my ramble, its just so you know how concerned I am. Any advice would help..

[infernalis]

You have nothing to fear... Never in all my years have I heard of an escaped BP hurting anyone.

You are far more likely to step on the snake and hurt it.

I'm just puzzled why you have them in the same cage to begin with?

[stephanbakir]

Nothing to worry about, check everywhere you can think of, if you fail to find him place a few hot pads on the ground at night and check them in the morning. (snakes are far more likely to follow a wall then cross a room and hide in the middle)

[Twiztidlotus17]

Heh.. I have some mispelling in there but seems you got what I was trying to say. I didnt think so but the more I thought about it the more paranoid I got.

They have always shared a 80 gal tank since before I got them. I never really thought much of it.

[infernalis]

Just saying.. they are a solitary species, and I would wager the aggression you see in the one is a result of "territory invasion" by the other.

It's common standard practice that they are kept solo except to breed.

[Twiztidlotus17]

Thank you, I am new to this site as well I thought I replied but its not showing, and I am glad you understood what I was trying to say, I see I have some mispelling. But I thought it was no biggie until I started to think more about it and the more I got paranoid.

I have them in the same 80 gal tank since before I got them, I never thought twice about it.

And thank I will put a heat pad out tonight, I would otherwise leave the tank open but dont want the other one to sneak out again. It was odd, my other snake I did find was just in my spare room by the door across the hall from my bedroom which is where they are kept.

[Twiztidlotus17]

Sorry for similar double posting. And I see, I have another 50 gal tank I have as spare, I will seperate them, hope to see a change in the snake I will find eventually

[youngster]

This can be the result of co-habitation.
It's rare, but it can happen so it's best to keep them separate apart from breeding.
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/files/3/1/7/6/cannibalisticroyals21zh3.jpg

[infernalis]

good luck, when mine got loose I was lucky, the klutz knocked things over making it easy to find him.

[lady_bug87]

its scary when they escape my bp did once it took me a while to find him, look in all the hot spots in your home like where you have power bars, and look in really teeeny spots they like to hide my boa got loose too now everyone has a lock on it

[mattchibi]

Look for the smallest spaces possible. Starting from your snake's tank all the way to the other side of your house. Look under your refrigerator, look in your couches (be careful he could be in between cushions), look anywhere that produces heat. Also, for the time being, I wouldnt turn on any electrical appliances, in case he's hiding in them/around them.

Also like others have said, if you can afford it, please house them in seperate 40 gals in the future, if theyre adults. Also, regardless of what you do, get a locking top! Being "lost" for a ball python is really stressful and unhealthy. In terms of your son, you'll be fine. Good luck , keep us posted!

[alessia55]

1. Your ball python probably isn't big enough to strangle or hurt your 4yo child. He is even less likely to climb the bed to get to him in the first place.
2. Place a heat mat in the corner of the room and place his hide over it. He might find that spot and go into his hide and you'll find him there the next morning.
3. Search behind and under all your furniture. He's probably gone to a small, cramped, warm place.
4. Please separate those snakes! As others have said, ball pythons do not do well living together, and the aggression of one of them might be due to having to live with another snake. Hopefully the snake will calm down when he has his own stress-free place.

Good luck!! Keep us posted!

[millertime89]

separate those snakes, at the very least put a solid divider in the middle of the tank so they can't see each other or come in contact with each other.

[Lankyrob]

If you leave a heatmat out overnight for it then make sure it us THERMOSTATTED!!! No good finding your lost snakey just to cook it overnight! ;)

[vendettaseve]

If you leave a heatmat out overnight for it then make sure it us THERMOSTATTED!!! No good finding your lost snakey just to cook it overnight! ;)

Sounds delicious.

[Twiztidlotus17]

Ha found him! He was sticking half way out from under the door of my spare room, same room I found faith my other snake

[Gungirl]

Ha found him! He was sticking half way out from under the door of my spare room, same room I found faith my other snake

Very happy to read this... now you need separate them and figure out how they are getting out and fix it.

[mistersprinkles]

An escaped reptile ALWAYS returns to its escape location for some reason within 2 to 14 days. Keep a very close eye and low noise. One day you'll be reading, look down, bam, snake.

[mattchibi]

Very happy to read this... now you need separate them and figure out how they are getting out and fix it.

This.^ if you're tight on money, at least use some books or something heavy to stack on top of your cages so they cant get out. Personally, depending on the sizes of your snakes, I would just setup a tub for each of them & put straps or binder clips to secure them. Full tub setups can be bought for under $100, heres a tutorial on how Vypyrz Tub Set-Up, The Basics...*DUW* (http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?139156-Vypyrz-Tub-Set-Up-The-Basics...*DUW*)

[stephanbakir]

An escaped reptile ALWAYS returns to its escape location for some reason within 2 to 14 days. Keep a very close eye and low noise. One day you'll be reading, look down, bam, snake.

always? sounds unlikely.

[Wolfus_305]

when my BP escaped (i was new to snakes, got him with the tank his previous owner kept him in, sliding glass doors, no locks, i figured he couldn't open it) he managed to get on top of the piano, break a crystal vase, knock over a plant, break a lamp. my mom heard the commotion, thought it was the cat, went downstairs (as this was 3am) bent over to pick up the belt on the floor, only for the "belt" to slither away. we caught him, put him back and got a lock.

I'm so glad you found your snake :)

[vendettaseve]

when my BP escaped (i was new to snakes, got him with the tank his previous owner kept him in, sliding glass doors, no locks, i figured he couldn't open it) he managed to get on top of the piano, break a crystal vase, knock over a plant, break a lamp. my mom heard the commotion, thought it was the cat, went downstairs (as this was 3am) bent over to pick up the belt on the floor, only for the "belt" to slither away. we caught him, put him back and got a lock.

I'm so glad you found your snake :)


Lol Night of the Living Belts



Glad you found your snake as well, hope this is a lesson learned so you dont have to learn it the hard way in the future.

[alessia55]

LOL Wolfus that's a funny story. The two times I've forgotten to close the lid on one of my ball pythons he didn't escape :eek: I was lucky ;)

[vendettaseve]

LOL Wolfus that's a funny story. The two times I've forgotten to close the lid on one of my ball pythons he didn't escape :eek: I was lucky ;)

More like he was Lazy. "I could Escape..... or I could take a nap........... Im gonna go with the nap"

[alessia55]

More like he was Lazy. "I could Escape..... or I could take a nap........... Im gonna go with the nap"

That too. He's a lazy beast for sure. Only moves when it's absolutely necessary :p

[candyraver69]

The few places I have found snakes that have gotten loose in the past have been behind my computer (heat), inside the couch like where the coils and boards are (dark), behind a dresser (dark), and in a leaky sink (water).

You might try setting out a water dish for him too in case he gets thirsty.

[KORBIN5895]

He has been found.