How doomed am I?

[dkspftw]

So like an idiot I ripped a small hole in my screen top to insert a probe. I assumed my snake wouldn't be able to get out through it, and guess what.

She's only like 150g (hence the escape ability) and my apartment is full of stuff and has 2 cats living in it. Do you guys think she's already dead or something?

I seriously seriously hate myself right now.

Taking apart/moving everything but I have several immobile fish tanks and no idea what to do. At least I haven't found any evidence of shredded snake.

I don't think I'd be able to do the flour on the floor trick to find her due to the cats, and they could pose a problem with scenting with a mouse as well.

Any advice? Please help if you can, I'm seriously distraught.

[BlueMoonExotics]

I would go through a room really well to be sure he's not in there and then move the cats into the 1 room for awhile. That would solve several problems for you. I've read some people leave a warm spot under a hide for them close to a wall since they tend to travel around baseboards but I've never lost a snake so I'm sure someone else will chime in that is more help with that.

[kitedemon]

Systematically look at everything close to the cage. There is nothing that you should leave aside as say it would never get in there. They can get to the oddest places. The other thing is they often do not go far.

[Kaorte]

Step 1: BREATHE. Everything will be okay.

Step 2: If you can, close of the room where the escape happened to the cats. Chances are the snake is still within very close proximity of its enclosure.

Step 3: Become the snake. Start from where the escape happened and make your way around taking into consideration what your snake do. Get down on the ground and look around for piles of clothes/laundry, warm things, crevices, holes - Any place a snake might go.


Here are a few places to check: Bookshelves, in your fish tank equipment (on the top). Subwoofers, shoes, clothes, closets.

If you can't look behind something, try taking a picture with your camera phone.

Its unlikely that the snake will move much if it has already found a comfy spot, so try not to worry about the cats. I had an escape too while I had a cat and the snake was just fine, she did move to the other side of the room though, behind some pieces of cardboard that were laying against a wall.

Keep calm and keep looking, She will turn up!

[Greekinese]

Definitely lock up the cats somewhere first.
You might try leaving a mouse out and see if the scent will draw him out in the middle of the night (when did he last eat?).

You can also leave plastic bags around areas you think it might pass through so it will make noise if he touches it.
Because of the snake, your cats are going to be under lockdown for a while hehe.

Chances are he's hiding out and might not move if he's found a good spot, so keep searching and do those other steps.

It's a terrible feeling, but hopefully things will turn out okay...just check all the dark/warm spots before calling it a night.
Good luck!

[dkspftw]

Thanks for the advice. Locking up the cats now (they're gonna hate me) and proceeding in a radius out from the tank. Looking in EVERYTHING. Got a bunch of junk lying around and I'm gonna make sure I don't accidentally throw out a plastic bag with her in it haha.

Seriously thanks for the help, reading this was very calming.

[Greekinese]

Also, make sure the tank is clear...meaning eliminate all possible hiding spots.
I thought mine escaped and did all kinds of stuff to find him only to later find that he burrowed and was hanging out underneath a temple (that I stuffed full of paper so he wouldn't go inside). I didn't think to check there cause there was no room...but I just figured leave no stone left unturned and lifted it up and there he was.

One of the things I did when I thought he was lost was also use plastic Solo cups...just turned them upside down and made a perimeter.
Similar idea to the flour minus the cleanup. Idea was that you could see where the cup line was disturbed and it might make noise too.

But never had a chance to test it since he didn't actually get out lol.
Keep us posted! Like others have said, if he's out, he's probably not very far...

[Xaila]

For what it's worth, there are 6 cats living in my house. One of my male BPs escaped at about the same size that yours is and I found him unharmed 3 weeks later. He had actually managed to get himself under the cat's bed and he perturbed reaction was what tipped me off that something funny was going on.

There's lots of good advice here on finding lost snakes. In my case, I found him close to a heat source (under the cat's pillow on top of the boiler). If you have a radiator or floorboard heating in the room I'd look there!

[dkspftw]

Wow OK so that was a good, quick resolution.

As per advice above, she was not far from the tank. She'd managed to wedge herself in between a composite wood board and a book shelf. Like 3 feet away.

Funny thing is I started taking apart the room in the other direction first so I already made a mess. But I can't complain!

When I took the piece of wood she was draped over out she freaked but immediately balled up in my hands for warmth/darkness, which was really adorable.

She's back in the enclosure, and the hole is SOLIDLY plugged.

I will never underestimate her again!

Anything special I should do for her? I made sure the heat is all on in her tank but it lost a bit of heat itself when I opened it up taking everything out. She may have a couple of minor scraped scales from her adventure.

Again, I cannot thank you guys enough for the advice. Seriously calmed me down and got me approaching the situation logically. This forum is great!

[Greekinese]

Great news!

No need to do anything, being back is all she needs...RELEASE THE CATS!! lol