Thought my retic was dead - she wasn't - just hibernating

[jamesa2580]

So I went down last night to feed my dwarf albino retic and dropped the F/T rat in like always. I closed the door (sliding glass) and went up to bed around 11:30 PM est.
I went down to check on her this morning and she was gone. When I shut the door on the right, it pulled the left door open a smidge. I didn't use the sliding lock I have because I was tired and just forgot to put it on.
I frantically looked everywhere for her. She's bright yellow and over 6 feet. Our basement where her cage is located is small, but there are plenty of places to hide.
After an hour, I opened the hatch to a crawl space we have down there. It's all concrete base and open rafters. She was laying on the concrete in the middle of the space. I crawled in, got her, and was devastated as she was limp and lifeless. I was completely distraught. I read on here a few times that keepers in the same situation still replaced the animal in their cage to ensure that the snake just wasn't in a state of hibernation.
I placed her back in her enclosure, which is plenty toasty, and took my daughter to school. I came back, checked on her and her body was still in the same position but I could see muscled in her mid-section twitch a little.
Then, an hour later, her tail was a little more scrunched up. I reached in and touched her. She was still cold, but started moving! I could NOT believe it. I seriously thought this animal was dead.
She's warming up now and I'll be sure to watch her closely the next day or two for signs of an RI, but at least for now, she's alive. I'm beyond shocked and, of course, very happy to still have her in my care. She really was 100% limp and lifeless. I would have bet the house that she was gone. I'm amazed at the resiliency of these animals.

Trust me when I say that I will NEVER leave the cage without first making sure it's locked again. Anyone who's experienced an escape knows the anxiety.

[Mike41793]

Gald to hear shes ok! And yea i suggest using that lock from now on lol!
I dont get why she would go into a big open cold space though? Like whenever a snake gets out people find them, live or dead, usually near a dryer vent, in a drawer, or any other warm place or dark and tight place...Also thats weird that she just completely ignored the rat and decided that would just weigh her down in her escape lol

[Mike41793]

Oh wait i read kinda fast, did she actually eat the rat first?

[jamesa2580]

She did not eat the rat! It was still there this morning. You are right about seeking heat. My only guess was that she was already fired up and at her optimal body temp. Because that crawl space is empty, we sometimes get mice back there. I'm guessing she followed her nose (or tongue) and smelled the mice. For all I know, she may have caught a few!

Regardless, thanks for the post

Jim