Urgent and mildly scared

[TSCole]

Hi. I am not a ball python owner myself, but my best friend is, and I have an issue that's come up that I figure would be best directed here.

Over a break from college, my best friend was staying at my house, and chilling out in my basement with her ball pythons. Now, the basement itself isn't the warmest of places in the world, but there wasn't much other choice for places to go. thankfully, we managed to keep her babies warm during her stay.

However, we had an issue crop up about a day or two ago--Her mojave morph escaped from its tank. Naturally, we freaked out at the realization and started ripping the basement apart as much as possible. There's a lot of junk and clutter down here in which the snake could hide, but after hours of checking every possible place and pertty much emptying the entire basement, there was no sign of the little one.

Now, there's a problem here. My friend had to return to college from her break, and unfortunately, wasn't able to find her snake in time. The responsibility of locating the little one falls on me, now, and I turn to these forums for help. As I said, the basement itself isn't the warmest place in the world, and I live in the northern regions of the United States--Meaning it's not liable to get warmer any time soon, and from what I understand.. That makes finding her as soon as possible rather imperative.

We've looked everywhere we could in the basement--The logical thought was for her to curl up around the water heater or the furnace, or possibly inside them.. But after checking them as thoroughly as we could, there was no sign of the critter. We'd ripped through every box down here, even going so far as to move the boxes upstairs one by one while we searched, and there was no sign of the snake.

I really am beginning to get worried. I don't want to see the little lovey wind up dead, and any help in locating her in as hopefully swift a fashion as possible would be greatly appreciated. I've got an idea to possibly pick up a mouse from the local pet store as bait, but is there anything that could be done to further enhance the chances of drawing her out? The weather's slated to get colder yet in the next couple days, and I'm scared of what might happen if I don't find her soon.

I think the snake is around five or six months old, but I could be wrong regarding the age. If that information helps out any, then please take that into account.

Please, any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

As a last note, I'd like to throw out a question--What's the likelihood that a snake might crawl into an open drainage pipe? Water flows through it regularly from further up in the house, and it's not a warm place at all. It is dark, but it's also not very tight an area. All of this leads me to think she probably didn't hide in there, but I still wonder about the possibility she did.

Again, thanks for any and all help. If nothing else, any hope sent out for finding the little one is good.

[xdeus]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend's snake.

If it is that cold in the basement I doubt the snake will be looking for a meal, so luring it with a mouse probably won't work. The snake will probably be looking for a heat source and place to hide. Your best bet, then, would be to set up some warm areas with hides around the basement. It could be as simple as a lamp over some small cardboard boxes or crumpled paper... just be careful that it isn't too warm. You wouldn't want to create a fire hazard.

Other than that, just keep looking. These snakes can fit in some remarkably small areas.

Good luck!

[muddoc]

Lawrence said it best. I would set up some type of clamp light about 12-18 inches from the ground, and check that spot often. Put something like an empty cereal box under the light, and my best guess would be that the snake will find it's way to the much desired and needed heat.

Keep us up-to-date on your search.

[TSCole]

The temperature down here is around 70-77 degrees. Yeah, I know that's a large range, but it really does vary that much depending on what the temperature outside is.

There's a heat lamp upstairs that I think I can try using down here for that idea. I'm heading out shortly to go pick up some boxes and such--I'm going to try going for a live mouse, as well.. Even if she's not looking for food at the moment, it still might draw her on out. Or I could just be indulging wishful thinking.

Any other possible ideas for hunting her down? Or things I should be aware of? I'll try to keep the thread updated with what happens in the hunt for her.

[fishmommy]

I recommend checking at night with a flashlight - they are nocturnal.

Definitely set up a warm hide (or several if you can)

You might try sprinkling flour on the floor - you might be able to follow it's track if it moves from place to place.

[mischevious21]

I recommend checking at night with a flashlight - they are nocturnal.

Definitely set up a warm hide (or several if you can)

You might try sprinkling flour on the floor - you might be able to follow it's track if it moves from place to place.

I did that once- and it worked in that I got 'tracks', but it didnt work in that he wasnt where the tracks led to.. lol.. If there is a dryer down there, have someone come and pick it up, and look under it with a flashlight. That would probably be the #1 place to find him.

And the other ideas are dreat, too. Except for mine wouldent go to the heat lamp- but he was drawn to a heat pad... But I really hope you find him- and wow, a mojave- goodluck!!

[Entropy]

I recommend a heat pad over a lamp. They like dark so a bright light isn't exactly ideal.

[mischevious21]

Yea, I agree. Like I said, mine wouldent come near the light- and it was a 'night light', so to speak (red). But I had the heat pad sitting for a day, and my boyfriend found him.

[TSCole]

We found her!

First of all, I'm thankful for all the help people sent out through the thread--Thank you ever, ever so much.

Secondly, I didn't get to put much of it to use. We foudn her through pretty much dumb luck while ripping the basement apart once more. When she was located, my god.. She was a kind of clammy cold. Now, I don't know a lot about snakes, but I know that ain't good.

Thankfully, though, she's back with her owner. She's been warmed up, and taken care of since she was found, and she should hopefully be fine and fair from here on out.

Thanks again for the support brought forward, people! Greatly appreciated, and I'll keep the advice in mind for any possible future break-outs.

[771subliminal]

congrats... dumb luck always seems to be the best way to find anything your hunting for i guess