In desperate need of advice- my BP has likely escaped down a pipe

[JBird]

My 1.5 yr old BP escaped while I was out of town and I tore my apart,met apart trying to find her as soon as I got back. I checked thoroughly, everywhere, anywhere and consequently learned a lot about how many hidey holes are actually present in my apartment! But no luck. She was missing and I couldn't find her. I put out heated pads and blankets, hoping to lure her out during the cold winter days. I put out a rat in a cage near her enclosure, hoping she would smell it and come out hungry. I had that smelly little rat for a week, and nothing. Her enclosure has been on the floor for easy access with water and heat and hides and she's not once come back in.

Yesterday (now about a month since she's been missing) I was thoroughly spring cleaning and armed with a good flashlight and camera for tight spaces, and I cleaned out the disgusting water heater closet. I had checked there previously, but I hadn't gone elbow deep in it. After removing the huge piles of dust and old dirty rags the maintenance men left there, I found a poop!!! A snake poo! It was like finding gold. I found another one as well, meaning that's where she'd been hiding out for at least a while. But this room is a disaster. It's got more than one exposed, possibly disconnected pipe, and a couple of holes in the floor and wall where maintenance has slacked on quality construction. I've checked as far as I can see in all of these spaces (and the floor/wall holes are limited spaces thank goodness) and I'm pretty sure she's crawled down this large PVC pipe. I don't know where it leads, it's some sort of half hearted drainage pipe, but I have downstairs neighbors and a slew of tenants in this apartment building whose pipes she could have crawled into.

what should I do? I am at a loss, I want my snake back and I really don't want her to have drowned and died in this pipe. If she is dead, I at least want to find her so I will know for sure.

Ive considered asking my downstairs neighbors if I can check out their water heater closet, maybe say I dropped my ring down the pipe and hoped to find it, lol. I also thought about asking a maintenance man to tell me where the pipe leads and what the likelihood is of finding her, but I don't want to cause alarm or panic by saying "a snake could crop up in your toilet or tub". They know I have the snake but I don't think they'd take kindly to knowing it is loose in their apartment buildings.

Please pleeeaase give me any advice you can!! I'm desperate.

[Sonny1318]

Sometimes the truth is your best route.

[C2tcardin]

Sometimes the truth is your best route.

Agreed. It sounds like she has gone in that direction and is most certainly in the walls/pipes.

[Albert Clark]

Stay positive about finding her. One month is a long time but since you found evidence of where the snake might be is great. Unfortunately you are going to have to tell the neighbors so they can be on the lookout and help you find it. Some people are deathly afraid of snakes and it would be unfair to not be truthful about it being a reptile! They could be extra sets of eyes for you. If you don't tell them and they see it they might kill it out of fear. Stay vigilant and contact a plumber. Consider making it a project and include friends and relatives. You have to get down inside those pipes. Good luck and stay in peace and not pieces.

[Darkbird]

Got a friend with a gopro? I agree with the others, but if you could get hold of a gopro or other sports camera, and the pipe is large enough, you could attach a line to it and lower it down the pipe. Might let you see where she got to.

[noob.with.ambitions]

Have you tried baiting the cupboard? Obvious question but who knows she might only be using that as a hide especially if there are 2 separate poo droppings, if you have already tried I would definitely advise other tenants and consult a plumber as they will have a camera that will manage the pipes and hopefully lead to a happy recovery best of luck


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk