Missing

DavethePython · 08-07-12, 09:35 PM

While on holiday , our young all Python escaped some time between last night and this afternoon. I think our sitters may not have secured his top properly and he got out. We have searched high and low and to no avail. Any suggestions to help lure a young 2ft ball python out of hiding are greatly appreciated . Our other concern is we have 2 dogs and a cat in the house . There are not signs of a corpse or evedance he was eaten , but we have not completely ruled out that possibility . I will not give up on him , so any ideas I can lure him out and trap him would help .

FlagonFly · 08-07-12, 09:46 PM

From what I've read, your best odds are in the first 48 hrs. Close off the room as best you can and methodically check under and up in all furniture, especially around the outer edges of the room. You can spread some flour on the floor to watch for tracks. Google "find missing snake" and there are several detailed help pages out there. Figure out what the most typical behavior of a ball python is (ie: going up into trees or down under a log, etc?) and then search that part of the room most closely. Get up in the middle of the night (or when the breed is most active) and check the room. Have read about some "traps" like boxes with a mouse inside with hole at top so after eating may be too lazy to climb out and decide instead to curl up in a warm hide until you find it in the morning. Best of luck!

alessia55 · 08-07-12, 09:49 PM

Look in places you think he WOULDN'T be... like INSIDE the sofa (not just under it... I mean take the sofa pads out!), under the refrigerator, inside furniture drawers, in the AC vent. They can and will squeeze into small, dark spaces.

Put his heat mat (attached to the thermostat) and put a hide over it, in the corner of the room he's most likely in. Hopefully he'll be attracted to the heat and go there.

DavethePython · 08-08-12, 08:02 AM

Thanks . I have checked all the electronics in the room and the appliances . Looked on shelves and closets . I will bait a trap for him today . See what happens .thanks for the box suggestion . I will try that .

MoreliAddict · 08-08-12, 08:12 AM

Under the fridge; it's a warm spot where escapees like to hang out.

Slcburm · 08-08-12, 08:25 AM

yikes, I had this happen once when I first got a snake and didnt secure it very well. Good luck on finding him

bcoop1234 · 08-08-12, 09:20 AM

Ive had this happen twice... One i never found and the other just happened to be climbing down the steps when i noticed... I heard from someone to put a pile of clothes in the room you may think he is in and then from time to time go in and move the clothes to see if he is in there.

DavethePython · 08-08-12, 10:16 AM

First places I looked when we got home was the entertainment stand with all out electrionics. the fridge and stove and water cooler and the basket of laundry on the couch . I also looked in the bathrooms and all the furniture . No way he can get insde the furnature that I could see but he was not under it or in the cushions. Will keep searching.

snake man12 · 08-08-12, 10:19 AM

I found my old corn 3 days after he went lost, he was right on the side of his viv along the side of the viv were the heat mat was. Check all heat sources behind tv's and computers, under freezers and refrigerators. Good luck!!

Hurrok · 08-08-12, 11:09 AM

Oddly I've found most of my escapees on my book shelf because it was a nice tight and secure place to hide, something to consider!

DavethePython · 08-08-12, 11:44 AM

I wish it was colder out right now , it could make it so much easier to find him. It was cool this morning so I have checked all the heat sources I could think of and nothing.

Hurrok · 08-08-12, 11:49 AM

Closets, plants, heaters, under furniture, shelving, kitchen area, anywhere small!

shaunyboy · 08-08-12, 08:26 PM

i have found sitting in,a room in the DARK," listening " for movement was the best way to find escaped carpet pythons

they are very active at night and thankfully, clumsy and noisy with it

i went room to room until i heard them,you need to be patient...

i looked in,ALL sorts of nook's and crannies during daylight hours

at night i turned the tv's,etc,etc off,then listened for the snake...

like some mad old snake guy

kids would ask... " mum,whats dad doing "

mum says...ssshh dads listening for snakes "

kids then... give me a strange look,then leave the room,shaking their heads

cheers shaun

DavethePython · 08-09-12, 08:53 AM

To this point we are going room to room checking as much as possible . I was going to bait a trap as suggested by Alissa but my wife had taken all our boxes to the dump last night before I got a chance . So I am gonna find another idea this morning . I thought I heard him in the living room last night , so that is where I am going to start . His tank is in there as well and there are a billion places for him to go. Of course it had to be the little guy who got out and not our adults

makes it that much harder. But I do keep checking all the possible heat sources every morning as well. Just because he was not there yesterday does not mean he did not move in over night. Off to build a trap . Thanks for all the input everyone.

snake man12 · 08-09-12, 08:56 AM

Please update us when he get's found. Again good luck.