Where is my snake?

[Noh]

Okay so I recently moved my lady into her new enclosure - she had well outgrown her ten gallon so I moved her into a new bioactive vivarium I set up.

She's a california kingsnake, and she was active for the first four days or so. Now I haven't seen her in as many days whatsoever. Heard nothing, seen nothing. There's no new tunnels visible on the surface or the sides of the tank - that doesn't mean they aren't there, but for what it's worth there's none visible.

Warm side of the tank is 78-84 fahrenheit, cool side is 72-76, I use a temp gun and thermostat to keep track. She has water and hides. And lord knows, places to dig. Humidity is about medium, the recommended level for calkings. Microfauna are doing ok.

What am I supposed to do if I never see her? How do I know if she's still alive? I could easily go digging for her in her old aspen substrate but somehow I think digging through the dirt in her new enclosure would be a futile effort, plus a massive effort and overreaction. As I'm sure we're all aware, snakes can curl up into the tiniest of spaces. Finding her that way would be hell.

How am I even supposed to feed her? She's not exactly the type to come calling whenever I put mice, dead or alive, in there.

[ClockwerkBonnet]

Stuff like this happens whenever a snake is getting ready to shed. Wait patiently, and maybe you'll see her in a matter of days.

[craigafrechette]

Not to throw more panic your way, but Kings are also fantastic escape artists. Are you 100% certain the new enclosure is escape proof?

[Noh]

I'm pretty sure it's escape proof. I never leave it open, and it has locks. It's a very simple affair - glass tank with locking screen top.

Either way, I DID see her earlier today. There was a cold snap and the house doesn't have central heat, so I woke up to see her smashed as close as she could get to the uth. At least she's alive.

[craigafrechette]

Originally Posted by Noh

I'm pretty sure it's escape proof. I never leave it open, and it has locks. It's a very simple affair - glass tank with locking screen top.

Either way, I DID see her earlier today. There was a cold snap and the house doesn't have central heat, so I woke up to see her smashed as close as she could get to the uth. At least she's alive.

Ok awesome. But I wouldn't roll the dice on "pretty sure". I unfortunately lost a juvenile King that way years ago. They can escape through the tiniest of holes.

But anyway, Kings will burrow and stay hidden, especially when they're young. My adult Cal King still burrows occasionally.

[BentSwordDino]

Not to freak you out, but Kings are amazing escape artist its honestly quite remarkable, however, I saw your post that you saw her a while ago which is good she may be going into shed or she is just borrowing kings tend to stay hidden. When I had a king I saw him every once in a while and one day he escaped his enclosure and we found him dead behind the couch. Just make sure your enclosure is escape proof to prevent her from escaping. Hope this helps!

Sincerely,
BentSwordDino