Escape #9 for Houdini -- suggestions welcome.

Nafun · 08-02-10, 11:02 PM

Today was feeding day. I had two snakes left, and decided to feed them at the same time. I put Houdini (Desert Phase California Kingsnake) in a feeding tub with some rat pinks, I sat there for at least 10 minutes watching him. He showed no intention of escaping (trying to get him onto rat pinks, from mice pinks) or eating. I gave him his hide and put the lid back on, and then went to the living room and put Berber (Jungle Carpet Python) in her feeding tub with a mouse (Didn't thaw enough weaned rats, so she got 2 mice this week). As soon as this was done, five minutes, tops, I went back to the reptile room, and no Houdini. He escaped through an air hole in the lid.

I tore the room apart. I followed my own advice, I started at his feeding tub and went in a spiral outward. I tried to think like a snake but nothing. He could be anywhere.

I'm worried about my tegu hatchling. He's far too big for Houdini to eat, but I don't know that he's too big for Houdini to try. He's in a 75 gallon aquarium without a lid.

I'm thawing some mouse pinks right now to set a bottle trap. Looking around for more bottles so I can set more as well. I'm not sure if he's in the reptile room and just really well hidden, or if he slithered under the door, in which case he could be anywhere.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to entice him with food, since the reptile room has the rat and gerbil colonies in it. It's basically a snake buffet.

spavdude2400 · 08-02-10, 11:07 PM

escape # 9!? jeez. no clue man. search thouroghly everywhere.

Freebody · 08-02-10, 11:16 PM

gl i hope you find him

Nafun · 08-03-10, 12:11 AM

In other news, I was feeding Snuggles, my wife's ball python today. I forgot about her for 2 hours. When I remembered, and ran in, she hadn't moved.

Feebo · 08-03-10, 03:28 AM

Improve your tubs or feed in the viv is all I can think to suggest there. Hope you find the little bugger !

percey39 · 08-03-10, 03:31 AM

Good luck finding him. It sounds like you might need to pay more attention at feed times, im not having a go as its easy to do when you start building up a collection. I have always been sure to feed in their enclosures for this reason and i have never had an escapee.

mykee · 08-03-10, 08:49 AM

Mayber he'll be in one of the places he was the other EIGHT TIMES he escaped......

citysnakes · 08-03-10, 09:15 AM

dont leave snakes unattended inside any insecure enclosure because they will find a way out.

one snake and nine escapes in how many months...? im sure theres keepers out there with multiple snakes and less than or no escapes within many years. my suggestion would be to research secure enclosure options.

Nafun · 08-03-10, 04:51 PM

The snake is named Houdini because he escapes from secured enclosures, not because I don't house him securely. Three of his escapes have been from secured enclosures. The rest have been cases of him spontaneously bolting when being moved from his enclosure to a feeding tub, or to a temporary tub during cleaning. I never leave him in a container without the lid secured, even if I'm watching.

He was in a feeding tub with a locking lid, and it was secured, he squeezed his way out an air hole smaller than 1/4 inch.

In the event I catch him, he will get a feeding tub without air holes from now on.

I was looking for suggestions on catching him, not suggestions on how to shut the door after the cows have already escaped.

.: Laura :. · 08-03-10, 04:56 PM

Lol Nafun, you're always such a ray of sunshine

Sorry to hear about the escape

i hope he turns up soon for you

citysnakes · 08-03-10, 11:07 PM

If an animal escapes from what you think is a "secured enclosure", then the enclosure was not secure to begin with and therefore the animal was not securely housed.

its best to learn how to shut the cow's door the first time they escape rather than ask how to get them back inside the ninth time.

mykee · 08-08-10, 02:19 PM

Quote:

"The snake is named Houdini because he escapes from secured enclosures, not because I don't house him securely"

Dude; seriously??!
I've read some of your posts on here and you seem at least half-way intelligent.
That quote though....
A truly "secure enclosure" is one that is escape-proof.
It's your responsibility to ensure that your snakes are secure and quite frankly, I'm embarassed for you that not only he has escaped 9 times, but that you don't seem in the least bit concerned about it.
The way I see it right now, your snake is smarter than you. That's sad.

ineedsoap16 · 08-08-10, 03:29 PM

Not to get off topic and I hope you find him soon, but what are bottle traps?

I have a several snakes get "out" in the last couple of years and do not know of this 'bottle trick". Is it as it sounds," a mouse in a bottle, (like a small ship). I have found my escapees everytime but new tricks are always welcome.

Thanks

Lankyrob · 08-08-10, 05:00 PM

yeah, brain a mouse - put it in bottle on a regulated heat mat - hope is snake gets in cos of teh food and then thinks "nice and warm, i will just curl up here". You get up in morning and have a snake in a bottle (in theory!!)

shaunyboy · 08-09-10, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ineedsoap16

Not to get off topic and I hope you find him soon, but what are bottle traps?

I have a several snakes get "out" in the last couple of years and do not know of this 'bottle trick". Is it as it sounds," a mouse in a bottle, (like a small ship). I have found my escapees everytime but new tricks are always welcome.

Thanks

you tape a bit of say a finger off a rubber glove inside the bottle neck so it hangs inside the bottle.you have already cut the end off the finger creating a rubber tunnel.the snake can squeeze through it to get in.once its in the rubber glove will not stay open but go back to its original shape and sit closed.so the snake cant get back out as it cant hold the rubber apart while it gets its head in to squeeze back through.when it entered the bottle neck it was taped to was holding the rubber open as the snake goes down your home made rubber tunnel its head opens the rubber up as it pushes through.theres nothing holding the other end open inside the bottle,so it cant get back out.so it will be sitting in the bottle when you check in the morning.

it would have been easier showing you a picture but i dont have any.i hope you get my drift from the explaination.

cheers shaun