Help. My ball python is stuck in the couch!!

[Nottidredd]

My ball python likes to hide in the couch cushions while I am handling him. Tonight after having him out for a short wile he managed to crawl up inside the couch. He is only partially inside but I am afraid I might hurt him by pulling him out. Anyone have any suggestions on how I may lure him out? I have already put a heating pad close by. Hopefully that may do the trick.

[Mindibun]

Without knowing your couch design it's hard to offer up any suggestions (Not all couches are created equal). You can try to gently work him out by pulling on him bit by bit. He will most likely try to fight you, and you'll need to be careful not to pull too strongly. I had one of mine get stuck in a chair once, and I was able to get her out by gently working my hands up her body and pulling a little bit at a time as I did. It requires a lot of give and take, and a lot of patience on your part.

If you cannot get him out by force, then you'll just have to wait for him to come out on his own. Placing a heating pad nearby (like you've already done) may help, and it also may help to place a rodent in a critter keeper on the couch so that he can see and smell it. He may come out to try to grab it.

Good luck. And I'm sure there's no need to tell you that you'll have to watch him a bit more closely in the future.

[Nottidredd]

Well after about an hour I was able to gently pull him out from his new found but short lived home. I think he may be a little upset with me. He hissed a few times as I relocated him back to the familiar glass prison. Lessons have been learned.

[TimmyG]

The lesson being we should all replace our tubs and tanks with couches becase the snakes like them more?