Escaped baby Kingsnake! Help!

[trailblazer295]

Good luck with the search.

I agree with the above posts. Story in the news here not longer ago about an African rock python that got out and ended up with the death of 2 young boys. Most of us keep snakes too small to dangerous to people but to people that are scared, hate or don't like them a 6" baby and a 6ft boa is the same to them. Part of the reason I picked PVC cages. No lids to push open and well my cat can't get in.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

Good luck with the search.

I agree with the above posts. Story in the news here not longer ago about an African rock python that got out and ended up with the death of 2 young boys. Most of us keep snakes too small to dangerous to people but to people that are scared, hate or don't like them a 6" baby and a 6ft boa is the same to them. Part of the reason I picked PVC cages. No lids to push open and well my cat can't get in.

Whether or not that snake killed those kids is debatable. I personally don't believe it.

But it goes to show how easy it is to convince the general public that these are evil-man killing machines. Although we can't prevent all escapes, we should try to minimize them, especially larger constrictors and venomous. Not just for our public image, but for the safety of our snakes themselves. With proper enclosures and diligent locking, it's not hard to keep them in their enclosures 98% of the time.

[trailblazer295]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Whether or not that snake killed those kids is debatable. I personally don't believe it.

But it goes to show how easy it is to convince the general public that these are evil-man killing machines. Although we can't prevent all escapes, we should try to minimize them, especially larger constrictors and venomous. Not just for our public image, but for the safety of our snakes themselves. With proper enclosures and diligent locking, it's not hard to keep them in their enclosures 98% of the time.

I don't see the snake actively killing them I could see just the bulk and weight of the animal being enough to prevent them from breathing if it were to crawl over them.

For those of us with specialty built snake cages with locks there is no reason 100% of the time they can't get out. They have 1 door and lock, my 48x24 has 3 locks so there is nothing for the snake to move loose. Partly why I didn't go with a tank and screen lid.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

I don't see the snake actively killing them I could see just the bulk and weight of the animal being enough to prevent them from breathing if it were to crawl over them.

For those of us with specialty built snake cages with locks there is no reason 100% of the time they can't get out. They have 1 door and lock, my 48x24 has 3 locks so there is nothing for the snake to move loose. Partly why I didn't go with a tank and screen lid.

Honestly, I don't even think that happened. I wasn't there, but knowing how crazy people can be I'm more inclined to think the snake was planted there. Maybe my opinion would be changed if I could have seen the scene of the crime idk. But I'm really doubtful, especially when every single story said the snake fell through the roof onto the kids, constricted them, and then tried to eat them, not that the snake falling on them killed them. I really only saw keepers thinking maybe the snake fell on them and then crawled away.

I wouldn't say 100%, but close to it. People can be forgetful, and not locking the enclosure could allow an escape. I know one of the two escapes I had was because I tried feeding my ball python half-asleep and forgot the latch his tub after I threw the rat away. We're only human, you can't expect people to lock the cages every time, just most of the time.

That said, we should take steps to minimize these errors and learn from any mistakes. It's not really acceptable to be having a snake escape every couple of days like another poster claimed. If that's happening, you should be taking steps to make sure it stops.

[trailblazer295]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Honestly, I don't even think that happened. I wasn't there, but knowing how crazy people can be I'm more inclined to think the snake was planted there. Maybe my opinion would be changed if I could have seen the scene of the crime idk. But I'm really doubtful, especially when every single story said the snake fell through the roof onto the kids, constricted them, and then tried to eat them, not that the snake falling on them killed them. I really only saw keepers thinking maybe the snake fell on them and then crawled away.

I wouldn't say 100%, but close to it. People can be forgetful, and not locking the enclosure could allow an escape. I know one of the two escapes I had was because I tried feeding my ball python half-asleep and forgot the latch his tub after I threw the rat away. We're only human, you can't expect people to lock the cages every time, just most of the time.

That said, we should take steps to minimize these errors and learn from any mistakes. It's not really acceptable to be having a snake escape every couple of days like another poster claimed. If that's happening, you should be taking steps to make sure it stops.

I'm not trying to argue, neither of us knows what really happened. A snake that size isn't breaking through drywall but a false ceiling of foam tiles can't take any weight. I haven't heard about a 'try to eat them' part. I haven't looked in depth into it either.