immediate help needed

[BCollie]

Excuse any spelling mistakes, I have a snake wrapped around one hand so I'm typing with the other
I just went into my house to see my foster cat starting at something on the ground. I looked closer and there was my $130 King Snake, tail rattling, striking at the perplexed cat. The cat, thank goodness, did not kill him. She's such a good girl. She probably saved his life, I don't think I would have found him if she hadn't been watching him.
I immediately picked him up and thought "oh my god I left his enclosure open"
Went to check and it was closed. I have no idea HOW he got out, he's been living in there for almost 2 weeks and has tried his hardest to escape, to no avail. He is nowhere near big enough to push the top open.
Help! What do I do?? I'm afraid to put him back in his enclosure for fear of him getting out again

[BCollie]

I cannot find any hole that he may have slipped out of. I am stumped

[EL Ziggy]

Hey Adri. I'm glad you found him, it really hurts to lose a snake. Is he in a glass tank with a secured screen top? If he got out once he'll definitely get out again if you don't find and seal his escape route. Best wishes.

[millertime89]

Pics of the setup?

[BCollie]

He is NOT small enough to fit through the crack in the middle of the screen top, I made sure of that when I first got it. he slithered along the crack but couldn't get through

[millertime89]

Probably pushed up on an edge. You need clips or weight to hold it down.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

What's securing the lid down? I have 4 clips on all of mine.

You can stack heavy books on top to make sure things stay down if you need to, for now.

ETA: Get outta my head, miller.

[BCollie]

He's just a baby, there's no way he could lift up that heavy screen top

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by BCollie

He's just a baby, there's no way he could lift up that heavy screen top

That is most likely how he got out. He doesn't need to lift the screen up all the way, just push it slightly to make an opening. You need clamps/locks or weights to keep it closed.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by BCollie

He's just a baby, there's no way he could lift up that heavy screen top

You'd be surprised. Many a keeper has lost a snake because they didn't think the snake could do that. Snakes have massive strength for their size, and it's just a matter of getting their head under something and leveraging the gap apart. I'd make sure there are absolutely no gaps between the lid and the tank. Once you've done that, I would find a way of securing the lid. Some people use clips, others use straps or bungee cords. You can also just weigh the lid down with books or scrap wood.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by BCollie

He's just a baby, there's no way he could lift up that heavy screen top

you would be surprized how strong a snake can be even a young one

the only way he could have got out was by pushing the top up enough to squeeze out

until you get clips.lay some heavy books on the top to weigh it down



cheers shaun

[BCollie]

I will make sure to do that...but what if that isn't how he got out, and ends up getting out again? I'm terrified of losing him

[EL Ziggy]

I'm thinking he got out through the top, unless there's a hole somewhere in the tank.

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

I'm thinking he got out through the top, unless there's a hole somewhere in the tank.

I agree. Looks like he could squeeze through the slot in the middle.

[toddnbecka]

You do need to secure the lid/s, but the new screen clips don't actually have much tension on them. I'm using Oasis Tera Tie Down straps, 2 on each screen top, ordered them from Amazon. In the meantime a couple of bricks on the corners should contain your new wee Houdini.