Escape at school!

I also agree you should get a cage with locks. AP and Boaphile both make nice PVC enclosures with locks. You might think it is overkill, but you can't trust everyone unfortunately. It isn't about the safety of others as much as it is the safety of the snake. Having a snake on the loose is a very frightening experience for a snake owner. I only had one escape and it was for less than one day. I wouldn't sleep until I found the snake. It was very stressful for me and not something I would want to go through again.

Put yourself in a position where this will never happen again and trust me you will be much happier :) and so will the snake! Get that keyed lock!

The snake will show up eventually. Are you allowed in the school at night to sit and listen for the snake moving? Its very possible that it has found a nice spot to curl up already and won't be moving anytime soon.

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Originally Posted by Capray

This sucks, but don't give up. Howabout a heat pad along the wall with a towel underneath with a tight hide box ontop?

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I might set that up. Not a bad idea. I can also start leaving the rat tank open in the lab all day for him in hopes he gets hungry (and not just at night). I am definitely very sad about this whole thing...

I wish you luck on finding the snake, seems like your doing everything in your power to find him

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Jeez why all the drama? :colbert:
I agree locks or latch lids are awesome but what's done is done.

I hope you find you snake soon man.

Did you find him yet?

No luck yet :(

I have tried corn starch in front of the doors two or three times and have left the rats in a tank with no lid at night. I am really sad about the whole thing.

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Originally Posted by Talae

No luck yet :(

I have tried corn starch in front of the doors two or three times and have left the rats in a tank with no lid at night. I am really sad about the whole thing.

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Um...no lid? Really? Have you learned nothing? Just put them in a wire cage or even a plastic tub with holes.

Ask maintenance to let the temp drop at night and set up "hot" spots with a rat, secured in a wire cage, and some hides. Pythons can sense the heat and will seek it out.

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Originally Posted by 3ofSwords

Jeez why all the drama? :colbert:
I agree locks or latch lids are awesome but what's done is done.

I hope you find you snake soon man.

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I like my snakes. I like taking my snakes into schools educating kids. I like to be able to purchase a snake from all over the country. Oh...wait...I can't do that anymore with some species. That's right. Something called the Lacey Act got passed by a bunch of law makers pressured to do something drastic to quell the fears of the ill informed. The public doesn't care about all the good we do. They only hear about the bad. You know, snakes getting loose in our schools terrorizing poor defenseless children. Why all the drama? "Jeez", I don't know?


Talae, this isn't directed at you. I've said my piece to you and I think you've heard me. You know I respect your efforts and your desire to educate not only the kids in your class room but also their parents and other faculty. My ONLY issue is not putting locks on the enclosures.

I really hope you find the snake soon.

I understand your comments and plan to put a lock on the enclosure for all future animals in my classroom. I think that bringing that part up over and over is kind of beating a dead horse. What is done is done and others should learn from my mistake.

As for the rats having no lid, I don't understand the issue. They can't scale the tank and the snake can find them. I don't understand how to make it so he can get to them, but also enclose them...or is your issue a different one?

The rats are in a room where no kids can get to and is locked at all times. The door is 15-20 feet from my classroom door and the intent is for the snake to be able to find them, but for the kids to not have access. This has been discussed with administration, maintenance and the cleaning crew. Also, the temp is set by the district and can't be changed, but hot spots are being used.

Do you guys think that there is a decent chance he would go down the stairs despite me making water, food and hot spots available? I realize that he is capable, but it seems like such a big effort when he could hopefully smell the rats nearby.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Talae

I understand your comments and plan to put a lock on the enclosure for all future animals in my classroom. I think that bringing that part up over and over is kind of beating a dead horse. What is done is done and others should learn from my mistake.

As for the rats having no lid, I don't understand the issue. They can't scale the tank and the snake can find them. I don't understand how to make it so he can get to them, but also enclose them...or is your issue a different one?

The rats are in a room where no kids can get to and is locked at all times. The door is 15-20 feet from my classroom door and the intent is for the snake to be able to find them, but for the kids to not have access. This has been discussed with administration, maintenance and the cleaning crew. Also, the temp is set by the district and can't be changed, but hot spots are being used.

Do you guys think that there is a decent chance he would go down the stairs despite me making water, food and hot spots available? I realize that he is capable, but it seems like such a big effort when he could hopefully smell the rats nearby.

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First of all I didn't bring it back up. 3ofSwords did.

Second, rats can jump...quite high actually.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmaEJpf98mw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMsS0TuKMHY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aioxUxFqI0

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_high_can_a_rat_jump

I'm really starting to think you should just keep the animals at home. You haven't thought much of this through. Before you say you have, you already have had an escape around children you are responsible for and now you are doing things to cause another possible escape of rats. Beating a dead horse? Maybe. Maybe some people just have no business bringing animals into the class room. You are definitely not responsible enough and I can honestly say that I would not trust you to have animals any where near my child.