Cleo is an escape artist!!!

Unsung-melody · 11-18-12, 11:24 PM

So I have done everything to keep cleo in her enclosure! I've switched enclosures (all with locking openings) three times, and she she has now escaped for the third time, and I can not find her anywhere!! The first two times, I found her less than a foot from her enclosure. This time, I have turned my house upside down, and with her tiny size, I'm afraid she's managed to get outside where I stand no chance of finding her. I am making a snake trap with a water bottle right now, but considering she has been off food and staying on the cooler end of her enclosure for a few weeks, I'm worried she won't even be bothered by it! I'm beginning to think I'll never find her before the cats or the cold get to her.

I discovered she was missing yesterday morning after the cats had been in all night. I can't keep the cats out at night because its cold out there. So I have searched everywhere yesterday and today before and after I had to be at work. I'm running out of options here. I just want to sit and cry because I'm not sure she can survive the cold even if she stays out of reach of the cats. :/

EmbraceCalamity · 11-18-12, 11:57 PM

And what are we supposed to say? Get your crap together? Once is unfortunate, twice is a mistake, three times is idiocy.

~Maggot

alessia55 · 11-19-12, 12:05 AM

The snake escaped again because you did not adequately secure the enclosure. You might want to consider investing in an enclosure that can be locked with a key with no way of escape.

**millertime89** · 11-19-12, 12:05 AM

In less harsh terms, yes, you need to find out why she's getting out and correct it, asap, three times is unacceptable. Can you post pictures of the enclosure so we can get an idea where problems might be?

Unsung-melody · 11-19-12, 12:13 AM

I honestly don't know what else I can do to keep her in the enclosure. Is there some magic secret? As I said, the lid locks. All of them have. I've tried three different types of enclosures. I understand why you would say what you did, but in all honestly I sincerely don't know what else I can do. My other snake has not escaped once, and she is much bigger and stronger than little Cleo, and in the same enclosure Cleo was in first, so if she can't get out of it, I don't know how Cleo did. I still don't know how she has managed to get out.

Unsung-melody · 11-19-12, 12:16 AM

If I can find my camera, I will post a picture. Thank you for the tips about other enclosures. I will look for one if I find her.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-19-12, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unsung-melody

My other snake has not escaped once, and she is much bigger and stronger than little Cleo, and in the same enclosure Cleo was in first, so if she can't get out of it, I don't know how Cleo did. I still don't know how she has managed to get out.

DERP.

The snake's not magic. She's getting out somehow.

~Maggot

**millertime89** · 11-19-12, 12:19 AM

Smaller snakes are better able to squeeze through small spaces. You might be surprised what they can get through. What species and how big is she?

alessia55 · 11-19-12, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unsung-melody

I honestly don't know what else I can do to keep her in the enclosure. Is there some magic secret? As I said, the lid locks. All of them have. I've tried three different types of enclosures. I understand why you would say what you did, but in all honestly I sincerely don't know what else I can do. My other snake has not escaped once, and she is much bigger and stronger than little Cleo, and in the same enclosure Cleo was in first, so if she can't get out of it, I don't know how Cleo did. I still don't know how she has managed to get out.

Smaller snakes are usually the better escape artists. You would be surprised to see what small spaces snakes can squeeze through. Keep searching and look into a key-lock enclosure to prevent future escapes. Keep us updated.

Unsung-melody · 11-19-12, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millertime89

Smaller snakes are better able to squeeze through small spaces. You might be surprised what they can get through. What species and how big is she?

She's a suspected baby Stimson's sold to me as a spotted. Either way, she's only about a foot long. I thought I had solved the problem because she stayed put for several weeks. I built her a custom enclosure and she squeezed through the gap in the glass so I put her in a tank with a sliding lid that locks in the front.

I will look into an enclosure like the one pictured.

**millertime89** · 11-19-12, 12:41 AM

oh yeah, you might be surprised how small of a space a baby Stimson's/Spotted can fit through.

Lankyrob · 11-19-12, 04:02 AM

When i was new to snake keeping (still am really

) i bought a second hand viv where someone had drilled a hole in the back to put a temp probe through.

I caught my corn snake halfway in/out of the hole one night - never thought he could have gotten through it if i hadnt seen it myself

**Pareeeee** · 11-19-12, 06:22 AM

Look everywhere warm. Under/behind the snake enclosures, your refrigerator, computer, literally anything that can produce heat. Snakes are drawn to warmth.

As for the enclosure, I have no idea unless I see a photo of each side. One of us may be able to see a flaw if you post a few pics.