Snake escape

I really have the worst luck in the world... the day I bring home a cat I have a snake escape that night. My butter is currently m.i.a. I'm really really hoping she hasn't gotten out of my apartment, but my snake rack is 6-7ft from my door...

What are the odds that she's still in my apartment? I've check around the snake rack with no signs of her, the only place she could really be is in my couch.

I'm going to try leaving a hide out in the living room (near the snake rack) with a rat pup in it and a heat mat under it. Since it's mid day I doubt I'm going to find her soon. I've notified my neighbors that she could have possibly gotten out and call maintence to warn them. Should I call animal control to let them know she might be in someone else's apartment?

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Originally Posted by Kinra

I really have the worst luck in the world... the day I bring home a cat I have a snake escape that night. My butter is currently m.i.a. I'm really really hoping she hasn't gotten out of my apartment, but my snake rack is 6-7ft from my door...

What are the odds that she's still in my apartment? I've check around the snake rack with no signs of her, the only place she could really be is in my couch.

I'm going to try leaving a hide out in the living room (near the snake rack) with a rat pup in it and a heat mat under it. Since it's mid day I doubt I'm going to find her soon. I've notified my neighbors that she could have possibly gotten out and call maintence to warn them. Should I call animal control to let them know she might be in someone else's apartment?

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I wouldnt call animal control. Honestly dont think they will do anything. Ive always found that when one of my snakes got out I always found them on my rack. Sometimes they would curl up behind another tub. If not there I have always found them by placing out a heat pad with a towel over it. Also make sure you check under your couch and entertainment center if you have one. I had a ball python get in the bottom of my couch due to a hole in the fabric. He was all coiled around the springs and such under the couch. Had to cut all the fabric to get him out. Other than that I have always found them so dont really have any other ideas. Hopefully you find em soon.

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Originally Posted by Rat160

I wouldnt call animal control.

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agreed, people usually just FREAK out when you tell them a snake is on the loose and they are rarely nice to them if they find it.

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Originally Posted by Kinra

I'm going to try leaving a hide out in the living room (near the snake rack) with a rat pup in it and a heat mat under it. Since it's mid day I doubt I'm going to find her soon.

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This is about all you can do.
I had my leucisitic texas rat snake loose for 2 whole weeks before we found her. We were giving up hope. Until my dog starting barking in the bedroom and here the snake never even left the room and was up in my closet curled up with my books.
One of my corns just recently got out and I found him that day in the living room just truckin along by the coffee table. Scared me half to death cuz i was watching tv and he surprised me :)
Honestly it sucks when a snake is loose, they can be anywhere!
Just try the heat pad thing and in your free time carefully look in closets and under furniture.

And lock the cat up if you have not already done so.
Good luck! :please:

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Originally Posted by Kymberli

And lock the cat up if you have not already done so.
Good luck! :please:

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Thanks, the cat is currently in my bedroom with my dog. The only room farther from the escape site is my bathroom, but she doesn't shut up when I put her in there.

You might want to check out under or behind the fridge, and the freezer if you have one. Those give off a lot of heat.

So I left the heat pad out with a rat pup and her hide, but no luck last night. Nothing left or entered my apartment either, I setup a line of white rice (I was out of flour) and nothing broke it. Much to her displeasure my cat is still stuck in my bedroom.

I flipped my couch over to see if she crawled up into it, but I really don't want to take it apart. My grandfather built it from scratch and it's probably the last piece of furniture he will ever make.

How long should I leave the rat pup out? It's going to start to stink soon, but I'm assuming that may help. Should I turn my AC on to make the heat pad more appealing? She was hanging out in her cool side hide when I last saw here Saturday night before I went to bed. I feel like a giant moron right now, I knew there was too much of a gap between the tub and the rack and I didn't do enough to fix it. Bella is one of my favorite snakes and she's normally a really piggy so I'm a discouraged and worried that she didn't go for the food last night. :(

check in EVERY hot place. i have pictures of my BP getting out and getting stuck in the baseboard heaters in my apartment. everywhere there is heat, look. also stuff towels into spaces like under doors so they cant leave the room.

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Originally Posted by Mikekrause2000

check in EVERY hot place. i have pictures of my BP getting out and getting stuck in the baseboard heaters in my apartment. everywhere there is heat, look. also stuff towels into spaces like under doors so they cant leave the room.

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I have no proof that she's even still in my apartment so I've been reluctant to put anything under the door. If she's not in my apartment I want her to be able to get back in. There really isn't much that gives off heat in my apartment, the fridge, the snake rack and the TV are about it. My heat has been off for about a month now.

Check the cold dark places as well. It never fails my bp's always go in back of my record shelf. It is not the warmest place but it is low and dark (and hard to get to). Get on your hands and knees and follow the walls. If you see a small place it could get out or hid check it. They can get into the smallest of places. Good luck and I hope you find her.

P.s I would also let your dog (or cat) out on a leash. Watch it closely they might be able to find it for you. Just make sure you can control it. My dogs and cat seem to find anything that gets out (snakes, rats, etc)

Did you check the rack really well?

My son has a corn in a tank that I thought escaped. I went nuts trying to find it for hours. We keep a sea sponge in a water bowl for humidity in the tank to help with sheds. I found the snake under the sponge. He never left the tank and the tank was open for more than half a day. I felt very stupid.

Good luck.

Can you get a live small rat or mouse to leave near the heating pad and hide?

I've had escapes and most of the time, they were found within a few feet of the rack in a dark cramped space. Most often, they are found in the rack behind a tub (just like a previous poster). Don't give up and don't call animal control. No need to get them involved.

There was a story in the local newspaper here that someone sold a chair. The next day the buyer of the chair called the police because a ball python crawled out of it. The people found it on their bathroom floor in the middle of the night. It really caused a shock. If you think the snake is in the sofa, then put the heating pad and hide under the sofa. Also, you could put the heating pad and hide near a wall or your rack - not in the middle of the room.

Don't give up. They come out when you least expect it. Be sure to give us an update.

I did check the rack really well and I keep checking it. It's really not a good place for her to hide though. My bins are clear and the back is still open. I didn't call animal control, but I had to let my neighbors know the snake could have gotten out of my apartment and into theirs. Everyone in my apartment has pets so I'm worried she got out and one of their cats or dogs will kill her.

I plan on trying to get a live ASF tonight or at least I live rat and leaving that on the floor in a kritter keeper. I'm also going to put her bin near the heat pad and open the spare one on my rack. Last night I left the rat pup, hide and heat pad right next to the couch. I'm going to search again when I get home. I know it's only been two days, but I really want to find her. It's all I can think about. :tears:

I'll let you all know if/when I find her. Thanks for all your suggestions.

I still haven't found her. She's not under my fridge or oven. She's not under the sink, and if she did get into that cabinet I'm really worried because there is a hole in the wall by the pipes. I've been keeping my dog and my cat in my bedroom and I have heat pads setup in various rooms with hides. I've left out water for her, bought a live ASF and left that by the snake rack on the floor and blocked off under my door.

I'm guessing there is not much more than I can do other than wait, but I'm starting to get really worried the she has left my apartment. I don't want to panic my neighbors, but I really want her back. How long should I wait before I admit it is likely she's left my apartment?

I wouldn't give up hope yet. I've heard stories of escapees showing themselves several months after they were lost.

Double and triple check EVERYWHERE. The first time I had an escape, she was gone for a couple of days and I found her curled up in an old backpack in the back of my closet. Second and last time, she was hanging out in a chair in my step-daughter's room and I found her before I even knew she was missing... Check inside shoes and boots, pockets of pants you may have hanging, check between shirts in your dresser drawers... I know it's super stressful to have one missing and not know if you'll ever find her, but never give up hope as long as you still live there...

Any news on her yet? Since I read this thread it made me think about all the places they could get into! So many places to hide, hope she turns up soon x

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Originally Posted by Naomiii

Any news on her yet? Since I read this thread it made me think about all the places they could get into! So many places to hide, hope she turns up soon x

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I found her last night. I ended up starting a new thread last night. The full store on where and how I found her is here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-found-Bella!