Nala Escaped! but she was caught in the act

[arajara]

My 2-1/2 year old, Nala... got out of her cage 2 days ago.


Thank goodness she did it while we were watching. It was incredible to see her do it. I'd heard that BPs can be escape artists, but to see it live......

We have a 55gal glass enclosure that she's been in since we got her over 2 years ago. The temps and humidity are good and she eats weekly. This is because I've got a thermostat and a humidifier and all is well.

But wow, she is actually pretty smart. Our cage is kinda vintage. I got it for a deal at a used furniture store. It has a couple of screen segments at either end of the top, and then sliding glass for the rest of the top area. She found a vulnerability on one of the screen sides, and used all of her force to bump into it. From the next room it sounded like something heavy fell on the floor. She was hitting onto this screen and actually forced the glue loose. She started to push into the side of it and it came up off the tank. Then she poked her head out and proceeded to slither out of there. It was amazing to watch.

As she came out, I grabbed here, but it was tough to pick her up because she was clinging onto the inside of the tank with the end of her tail. Once I got her out, we closed the tank and secured it with duct tape. I know that a lot of you think that their brains are so small and that they don't experience emotion, but I swear, you could see the pride in her posture. She was proud that she had managed to escape.

Now it seem secure, but she remembers what she'd done, and has tried striking the screen again on both sides. We've duct taped it well, so hopefully we won't have to ditch this tank, because otherwise it's worked great for us.

[NightLad]

I know that a lot of you think that their brains are so small and that they don't experience emotion, but I swear, you could see the pride in her posture. She was proud that she had managed to escape.

I'm not one of those people! While I am not sure if it is possible to compare the range of emotions, or even the form they take, to human emotions, I do believe they have something more than just base instinct.

When I've missed a feeding day* Salzedo will give me dirty looks. I'll open his viv to mist, and he will poke his head out of a hide and stare at me like, "I know what today is. Do you?"

Anyway, this was a fantastic post. Thanks so much for sharing. I just wish you had it on film! Hopefully her escape needs will be sated for a bit and she will go back to enjoying a pampered life of relaxation and comfort.

Please post picts! (We all love picts!)

Nice website, btw. I liked "That's a Plenty."

* 5 day rotation, so sometimes feeding day happens the day before the store gets in a new shipment and I have to wait an extra day.