Escape Artists?

[JubJub]

Did a little bit of reading on here. Jub Jub ate again, my second fed (was a slightly bigger mouse this time too). I have become a quick expert on feeding a BP, which I have been doing by hand wonderfully. One thing that surprised me is a reference to BPs being good escape artists.

I have one of those tanks that has the screen on it, and I rest my lamp right on top of the screen. There is no latching mechanism on the top of the screen, but it does slide in only one way. Is this good enough for having Jub Jub not escape, or will he thwart my plans? I havn't seen him throwing a ball against the wall of his cage, so I don't think he is planning an escape...hehe.

[Wizill]

if there is a way out, any ball python... ANY one of them is going to find it. trust me on this one.

[Smulkin]

You got what sounds like a critter cage - and yep they can rub their noses against the lid in the right direction and (without latching) it will slide open - just because it hasnt happened or doesn't look real probable doesn't mean you're in the clear hehe.

[wolfman38]

I would have to agree. If there is a wy they will find it. I also have the same kind of enclosure, but I keep a lock on my sliding screen tops. Although the locks are not locked at least I know that they can't slide the tops open and get out. If you don't have some kind of locking mech. I would highly suggest it.

[JubJub]

hmmm, amazing, I will be on the look out for this. But, I have not seen him be able to move up to where the sliding part is yet. And with the lamp on top, the towel drapped over the front and back even I have trouble moving the screen. I take those two things off before I open it up. But I will try to rig something that will make it impossible for him to escape

[Hoomi]

I'm sure you've noticed if you've handled your BP that they are quite muscular. For their size, they are very strong. Add to that they are inquisitive and persistent, and you have a great formula for escape.

My BP's are in three different styles of enclosures. Phil is in a 20L reptile enclosure with a swinging latch on the hinged end. I've tie-strapped a piece of plexiglass beneath the screen side so that he cannot rub his nose raw on the screen, since this is a much shallower enclosure than my other two. Magellan is in a 29 gallon aquarium with a single piece screen top. The screen does not have its own latching mechanism, so I have a beefy bungee cord going up across the top of it, and hooking on either side to the wrought iron stand the enclosure is on. Dixie is in another 29G aquarium, with a hinged screen top. The top came with two spring clips to secure it to the tank; one for each end. I drilled the one end and used two screws each on the front and back to secure that end, and use both spring clips for the opening end. I tend to make a habit of double-checking the tops to be sure that they are properly secured because I know they won't hesitate to go exploring if they find they can get out. Since my son's cat is in the same part of the house with the snakes, I don't want to risk either the snakes or the cat being hurt by "meeting".

[ffollett]

We had ours get out when they were little. We got all three of them at the same time and put them in a breeders tank with the sliding lid. One of them figured out how to open the top and that started the hunt.
We eventually found all three of them. Since then we keep the lid locked

[Smulkin]

Hehe - never underestimate the limbless.

[Sassafrass]

Yep....I had the same kind of lid on an old tank....Atreyu escaped from it twice.

[led4urhead]

I just had an escape last week from a rubbermaid. I had to clean Andy's tank at about 11pm and didnt put the extra locks back on it. Went to check on him in the morning, and he had escaped. Andy seems to remember the weak spots where the extra locks are. He tests them almost every night i see him out.