Adalae is loose (for the hundredth time)

and this time I don't know what to do. It's really cold outside and I can't figure out why she would have wanted to leave her warm enclosure. She'd been refusing food so unless she suddenly got hungry, it wasn't the urge to hunt. It definitely wasn't in search of a warmer spot. I just don't know. She just really likes to explore -- she always has.

I checked all of her usual spots on our screened in patio and found a small hole in the screening, low to the floor, that she could have gotten out of. We are on the 6th floor so if she went through the hole ... all she found was a 6 story drop. We went to the ground level and checked for a body but didn't find one. Although that's not to say that buzzards didn't find it first. We've had a lot of them around here recently.

I don't have a heating pad to lay out for her, just a heat bulb but it's a small wattage and gives off next to no heat. Plus, she probably won't want to go near a light. If she's even still out there ...

I have found her before but this time it's really looking hopeless. I need ideas and well wishes. I am so depressed...

Well if you find her, maybe it's time to rethink what you are keeping her in?

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Originally Posted by piper

Well if you find her, maybe it's time to rethink what you are keeping her in?

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x2

I try to make it a point to never say anything disrespectful to anyone...but after the first time she got out you should have fixed it where she couldn't get out again. That is part of being a responsible owner.

It's not really the enclosure's fault. It's mine entirely because when I feed I latch only one latch - since I know I'll be coming back momentarily to check on them. If I forget to latch it again when I'm done, Adalae can get out. I'm really furious with myself because I know that this is entirely, 100% MY fault. And that is part of why I'm so upset. Whatever has happened or will happen to her is the direct result of my negligence. Honestly, when that thought dawned on me, I had considered rehoming my other two snakes...

Ok, yes, thank you guys. I understand why you're saying what you're saying. But trust me, I'm beating myself up 1,000 times worse than any of you ever could. I need a little positivity or an idea right now. I have all the negativity covered. Really.

Hang in there! I am sure you will find her soon! I wish you luck with finding her!

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

I need ideas

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escape proof enclosure would be a start...
think you need to re-examine your husbandry techniques

I hope she turns up soon. Did you look behind your fridge?

If you find her, you may want to look into a wind-up cooking timer. Set the timer for five minutes or so when you feed the first mouse.

I don't know what kind of building you live in, but it sounds like an apartment building. Maybe check with the people who live below you and see if she ended up on their balcony or something. Good luck..

There's a very good chance she's still inside the apt somewhere. They can climb so well and hide in such small spaces. Don't give up! Try putting out a bunch of plastic grocery bags all over the place...then sit VERY quietly without any TV or radio playing. Read a book or something....and keep your ears peeled to listen for rattling bags. Flour on the floor at night can also give clues to possible paths she might take for explores after you've gone to bed. Even if such a trail doesn't lead you to her, if you see one, you'll know she's still in the apt. Good luck!

I know what you mean--sometimes, no matter how careful you are they end up finding a way to get out anyway and you really get angry at yourself for it--why didn't I double check, why didn't I discover it sooner, etc. (I have a rack, and sometimes even if I think I pushed a tub in it wasn't completely in.)

I would say the chance of her going out through the screen into the cold like that is very low, but I'd cover the screen hole and do exactly what JLC said. Might be messy, and takes a few nights, but it is the best way you'll find them. That's how I found mine after my dad left the tubs slightly open 3 weeks after she escaped. I'm still waiting for my other one.

It's really frustrating, but keep your chin up--if you truly love something, sooner or later it'll come back to you, it might come disguised as luck, fate, fortune, it might come quickly or slowly or almost not at all, but it will come, and it'll love you back.

(but I'm obnoxiously optimistic when it comes to escapees.)

Lots of luck. ;)

I know you've probably looked, but I have been called to houses to look for snakes and we've found them in a pile of clothes on the floor. In the bed sheets, under a pillow too. If you have full length drapes, look there too. Inside furniture. Then you can look in/under/between anything that generates heat. Grab a bright flashlight and start looking inside,next to, under, anything that you can think of. However, don't jump from room to room. Take one room at a time and start in one corner and completely inspect all areas of that room. Only after you've checked everywhere in that room, should you go to the next.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

Borrow a cat. They can home in on a snake if it's moving around but you have to watch it so it doesn't get to the snake before you do.

If you can, put your snake in a room with a door. That way if it gets out, it's confined to that room.

they normally don't go far from the cage check the corners or really tight places. she is probably heading to the nearest "hide"

If you're gonna get a cat, get a good one. My useless felines (4 of 'em) didn't find the her, and after 3 weeks, it was my sister who finally noticed she was roaming around the bathroom.

-_-;;;

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Originally Posted by p3titexburial

If you're gonna get a cat, get a good one.

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A bloodhound, then. ;)

Young cats make better hunters. Once they get to a certain age, they get kind of lazy.

Ohhhh no! Good luck in finding her. I would search anywhere warm and tight. When my BP escaped he was inside a box in my closet. Good luck and hope he comes home soon!

I'd get a mouse/rat and have it in a feed box. Sometimes the sent of a rat/mouse will attract them to come out. Unfortuanately I have cats so I know my little meow meows would kill anything they could find, so a mouse wouldn't work for my needs.

I do agree since is the 2nd time this has happened, that a little more "baby proofing" is needed. I hope you find her.

I hope you find her. I would go back and recheck everyplace you have already checked. Try spreading some flower on the floor next to the walls. That way if she crawls through it you will know. I would get a box cut a small hole in it (one she will just fit into) get one of those live trap mouse traps and put the mouse in it and put it in the box. Good luck finding her and don't loose hope, sometimes they can be gone for a long time and just suddenly show up.

Look where you found her before, maybe she made a return trip!:grabbed:

I had my ball python get out a couple years back, I cried for a week! I searched and searched and couldn't find him! until one day he was trying to get BACK IN HIS CAGE!!! I was so relieved!

ive seen on the web different traps involving mice to lure the snake back.

Ill keep you in my prayers to find her! good luck

Thank you everyone for the good ideas - and they really were. I'd never heard of putting plastic bags on the floor to listen for noise but that was BRILLIANT. Thank you for suggesting that.

I have to admit I haven't checked on this thread since I made it because I was afraid I would get more people jumping on me.

The good news is: I FOUND ADALAE TODAY!

She was in the same spot I found her in the last time she was loose. Obviously, I'd checked there 30 times before today and she wasn't there, but today something just told me to go look again and there she was! She likes to hide in this big box of junk stuff - extra cups, plates, an old blender, etc. And so I took everything out of her cage except for her two hides, and piled all of that stuff from the box around her hides and randomly in her cage. Maybe she'll be happier now.

I am going to try again to feed her tomorrow, though it's been a month since she's eaten and I don't know if she'll refuse again.

I am wondering if I shouldn't try to sell my enclosures and set up something more ... fool proof. :oops: But I don't know what else would make a nice enclosure for her. A 40gal tank would work, but they are so expensive. Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe I could get my dad to add two more locks on her door, just in case... Yes, I think I will do that.

I'm SO glad you found her! Now do something about making the enclosure more secure! And get in the habit of always fully locking it, even if you'll only be a couple minutes!

Ever think of keeping her in a tub? She may like that better :)

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

And so I took everything out of her cage except for her two hides, and piled all of that stuff from the box around her hides and randomly in her cage. Maybe she'll be happier now.

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lol i love that!!!! that is probably the most inovative thing ive ever heard! congrats on finding her. i know youve been having a heart attack!

She was kept in a tub when she was younger. I don't agree with keeping large snakes in small tubs. I know many people do, but I am not one of them. (unless they are currently breeding.) ESPECIALLY since Adalae is determined to roam and explore. She's always been like this. When she was younger I'd find her pushing on the roof of her tub to get out. She never sits still!

And I know nothing is wrong with the husbandry because I triple checked it all again today before putting her in the cage again. She just wants to be out. I guess she thinks she's a boa.

Glad you found her! :) I've noticed that mine always head for the same spots when they're out (having "floor time"), so it makes sense she headed for that hiding place. If you don't want to switch to tubs, I'd suggest a cage with sliding/locking front doors... I used to have one that cost a pretty penny, but it was pretty much escape-proof. Here's a photo of the one I had, which was used for geckos:

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1999.jpg

I apologize for my previous comment, I guess the title just got to me a bit "(for the hundredth time)" ..

Congrats on finding her!

If you keep a steady supply of rodents, and a waterfall in its cage it will never try to escape. Im glad you found Adalae, how will you be punishing her?

Congrats on finding her!

congrats on finding her, please make sure it doesn't happen again.

python1024, where in PA are you?

:gj:I was right! Glad you found her!:banana:
:strong:Time to work on that cage!!! lol

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Originally Posted by juddb

If you keep a steady supply of rodents, and a waterfall in its cage it will never try to escape. Im glad you found Adalae, how will you be punishing her?

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I was thinking ... broom? Either that or the microwave. Mmm, microwave is sounding better now. I'll go with that.

I was also just thinking of letting her be a free-range snake. Y'know, just leave her cage door open 24/7 so that she can go in and out whenever she likes. At least that way she won't feel stuck, and then maybe she won't be so worried about leaving again.

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

I was thinking ... broom? Either that or the microwave. Mmm, microwave is sounding better now. I'll go with that.

I was also just thinking of letting her be a free-range snake. Y'know, just leave her cage door open 24/7 so that she can go in and out whenever she likes. At least that way she won't feel stuck, and then maybe she won't be so worried about leaving again.

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You know most snakes feel better about coming home after a hard days snooping around, it makes them better feeders:gj:. But seriously, go ahead and pick up the zoomed waterfall, bp's cant get enough of them, it only runs you between $70-$90, no biggie. I was thinking "aquatic" setup for my bp, its hot in Europe right now!