Escape!!

i've been keeping ball pythons for years and have 30+ of them. i have never had an escapee, but yesterday i realized that my calico was missing. i live in a apartment and i have literally searched everywhere and tried everything! i have tried sound traps, i've looked in nooks and crannies, all around the rack she was in, pulled out every tub, baseboards, heaters EVERYTHING. i CAN'T find her. i don't know what to do :(

any tips or suggestions would be much appreciated. i know there have been other escapee threads but like i said, i live in a apartment and there is literally so many places she can hide and get to and who knows if there are any holes or anything that lead to the other apartments or even outside. i just needed to share because i want to do everything in my power to find her and was hoping you guys might help. but as of right now, i seriously don't know what to do.

any help or encouragement would be great right now.

she has been missing since yesterday. i spent HOURS looking yesterday and stayed up a little bit through the night listening to the sound traps but heard nothing and the continued to look some more this morning. i just can't let this search go but i'm slowly coming to grips that she is just gone.

I would try putting a live mouse in a clear critter carrier in the center of the room she stays in. I would also try to put a heat lamp over her hide near the mouse. Then you have to hope she shows interest in the mouse and if you don't catch her stalking the mouse hopefully she will find her way into the nice warm hide.

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Originally Posted by KMG

I would try putting a live mouse in a clear critter carrier in the center of the room she stays in. I would also try to put a heat lamp over her hide near the mouse. Then you have to hope she shows interest in the mouse and if you don't catch her stalking the mouse hopefully she will find her way into the nice warm hide.

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i was thinking about trying this. thanks!

If you have tile or wood floors you can also lay down flour in lines going from room to room. Then if she crawls through it you will have a direction of travel and maybe even a trail.

Chances are it is in/around/under the rack/enclosures in the room it escaped in. I have had a ball get out once or twice in the past and they were always within 6 feet of their enclosure.

like i said, i was THINKING about trying the critter cage idea but there is a huge problem i left out. she WASN'T eating. i made a payment plan with a breeder like 6 months ago to pay her off. in the ad he said she was 400 something grams, i get her like 5 months later and she is the same weight. so i am thinking he stopped feeding her and now she just doesn't want to eat. so i don't even know if the mouse idea will work [right away]
(and i have now had her for about two months)

i can try to flour thing but my apartment is small. i feel like i would have seen her by now which is why i am slowly losing hope in finding her. she doesn't have many places to really go in here but oh so many to hide so i think the flour thing just isn't my thing.

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Originally Posted by TJ_Burton

Chances are it is in/around/under the rack/enclosures in the room it escaped in. I have had a ball get out once or twice in the past and they were always within 6 feet of their enclosure.

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she is no where near her enclosure. i pulled out every tub in the rack and she was no where. then i pulled out the entire rack completely and she wasn't behind, in, around, near, close to or under the rack at all. that's why i am freaking out because i have seen a handful of ball python escape stories and 8/10 the ball is close to where they escaped. but like i said its now been days since she has escaped and the hope that she's close by is gone.

They usually don't go far as you know, but sometimes they will get far from their cage. When my butter went missing from the rack in the living room, I found her under the kitchen sink which was pretty far away. My cinny went missing for months and was eventually found 10ft from her tub.

Just don't give up hope, sometimes destroying an apartment to find them just makes them go farther or you miss them in your frantic search.

I personally think the flour trails aren't very effective and are just a huge mess to clean up. Take a deep breath, keep traffic in the room low if possible and occasionally check along the walls when it's dark out. They usually won't pass through the center of the room and will move along the walls. That is also a good method for searching, get down on the floor and follow the walls.

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Originally Posted by Kinra

They usually don't go far as you know, but sometimes they will get far from their cage. When my butter went missing from the rack in the living room, I found her under the kitchen sink which was pretty far away. My cinny went missing for months and was eventually found 10ft from her tub.

Just don't give up hope, sometimes destroying an apartment to find them just makes them go farther or you miss them in your frantic search.

I personally think the flour trails aren't very effective and are just a huge mess to clean up. Take a deep breath, keep traffic in the room low if possible and occasionally check along the walls when it's dark out. They usually won't pass through the center of the room and will move along the walls. That is also a good method for searching, get down on the floor and follow the walls.

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thanks for the encouraging words! and yeah, i have literally been checking walls and on my stomach for hours on end. i just feel like i have checked every logical place and probably every illogical place too. i have no idea where this little bugger could be!

Good luck finding your snake.


Was your rack professionally built or did you make it yourself?

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Good luck finding your snake.


Was your rack professionally built or did you make it yourself?

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its a home made one but it isn't like designed like say a freedom breeder. it doesn't slide. each tub has a locking lid but since she wasn't eating, i stuck her in a smaller tub which she must have popped the lid off and got out. its a really long story on how she ended up in the smaller tub. let's just say, she should't have been in there in the first place...

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Originally Posted by adam_c

thanks for the encouraging words! and yeah, i have literally been checking walls and on my stomach for hours on end. i just feel like i have checked every logical place and probably every illogical place too. i have no idea where this little bugger could be!

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It's amazing some of the places they get into. I'm pretty sure my butter was hiding in the wall and came out because she smelt the rats I was leaving out. The little pig wanted to eat. :P

I remember frantically searching for her for a week. She went missing the night I brought my cat home which just made things worse. The cat, the dog and I spent a week in my bedroom. When I found her she was stuck in a sticky rat trap I didn't know was under the sink because my apartment complex puts them there. It put a bit of a damper on finding her, she was fine, but it was scary to see. I thought she was dead at first. :(

You would probably be better off taking a set back and letting her feel secure enough to move around the room. That will probably set off some of your sound traps. Good luck with your search, please keep us posted.

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Originally Posted by Kinra

It's amazing some of the places they get into. I'm pretty sure my butter was hiding in the wall and came out because she smelt the rats I was leaving out. The little pig wanted to eat. :P

I remember frantically searching for her for a week. She went missing the night I brought my cat home which just made things worse. The cat, the dog and I spent a week in my bedroom. When I found her she was stuck in a sticky rat trap I didn't know was under the sink because my apartment complex puts them there. It put a bit of a damper on finding her, she was fine, but it was scary to see. I thought she was dead at first. :(

You would probably be better off taking a set back and letting her feel secure enough to move around the room. That will probably set off some of your sound traps. Good luck with your search, please keep us posted.

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i will thanks a lot! i just put out a rat in a critter cage and now i am just going to wait. like i said before though, she wasn't eating when she escaped and hadn't been for months. so i don't even think this is going to work. plus its day time here so its going to be even harder but i can't just sit down and literally do nothing. so i am listening for the sound traps and watching that rodent haha

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Good luck finding your snake.


Was your rack professionally built or did you make it yourself?

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While I understand that you think professionally built racks are better, not everyone has the money. It's much more economical to build your own. I'm sure there are a lot of hobbyist who would love the have a nice ARS or Freedom Breeder rack but that's not a reality for everyone.

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Originally Posted by adam_c

i will thanks a lot! i just put out a rat in a critter cage and now i am just going to wait. like i said before though, she wasn't eating when she escaped and hadn't been for months. so i don't even think this is going to work. plus its day time here so its going to be even harder but i can't just sit down and literally do nothing. so i am listening for the sound traps and watching that rodent haha

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She probably won't do much during the day, but I understand what you mean. It was hard for me not to look when I was home too. I hope when you find her you can get her to eat too. :please:

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Originally Posted by Kinra

While I understand that you think professionally built racks are better, not everyone has the money. It's much more economical to build your own. I'm sure there are a lot of hobbyist who would love the have a nice ARS or Freedom Breeder rack but that's not a reality for everyone.

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She probably won't do much during the day, but I understand what you mean. It was hard for me not to look when I was home too. I hope when you find her you can get her to eat too. :please:

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me too! and again, thank you so much. i needed some encouragement. i have been super depressed and losing hope since yesterday but i'm not going to give up!

Everyone has already given you great advice so I just wanted to say I really hope you find her! :please:

My daughters corn snake escaped while we were on vacation. She got out Wed night and my pet sitter placed thawed pinkies in all the rooms and stuffed towels under the doors and no luck. We returned Fri afternoon and tore the house apart and I thought it was possible it went down a floor vent and was gone. Sat night was feeding night for our ball python who is kept in my room and after feeding her I went downstairs and my daughter went in my room and there was the corn on the floor! He was pretty thirsty but otherwise ok.

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Originally Posted by Kinra

While I understand that you think professionally built racks are better, not everyone has the money. It's much more economical to build your own. I'm sure there are a lot of hobbyist who would love the have a nice ARS or Freedom Breeder rack but that's not a reality for everyone.

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I'm not looking to preach or anything, I'm literally just collecting data to help me not wake up every 15 minutes at night checking my tubs lol. If after a LOT more data collection I can feel confident that the risk difference is significant, I'll probably do more advocating of proper professional housing.

The argument will be something along the lines of 'so you've got cash for a 500 dollar pet, but not 100 towards proper, escape-proof housing?'

but again... I'm not at all prepared to make that argument at this point.





And I really did mean good luck finding the snake in case that was being read as sarcastic or something.

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Originally Posted by MrLang

I'm not looking to preach or anything, I'm literally just collecting data to help me not wake up every 15 minutes at night checking my tubs lol. If after a LOT more data collection I can feel confident that the risk difference is significant, I'll probably do more advocating of proper professional housing.

The argument will be something along the lines of 'so you've got cash for a 500 dollar pet, but not 100 towards proper, escape-proof housing?'

but again... I'm not at all prepared to make that argument at this point.





And I really did mean good luck finding the snake in case that was being read as sarcastic or something.

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yeah no; all of my animals are VERY well taken care of and have proper housing. i've never had a sick animal and this is my first escape. i think you're really missing the point here.

Oh, dear! I hope you find her!

I personally would go very slowly through the entire apartment, closing every door, and looking room by room. If you can move as much as possible to the center of the room or at least all in one spot, it might help. Try any box with an opening she can squeeze herself into. Go slow and quiet. Think like her. Warm, cozy, dark spots. There was a thread a couple days ago where the owner found their snake in the top of the closet under some paperwork. They're sly little devils!

This may sound funny, but pull out dresser drawers and check both in them, and in the framwork of the furniture. One of the few that got out on me years ago went 2 ft to the dresser beside the enclosure, and ended up in my underwear drawer. Finding balls in your boxers isn't unusual.

Once upon a time one of my snakes got out.... Found her inside my stereo speaker....

RIP Speaker

look in every dark or warm spots in the house, or anything that can be used as a hide...

i have also found snakes under my washer and dryer.... And under my stove and fridge.....


i swear my setup is 100% escape proof now o.o

She is in the one place you haven't looked yet. Crawl around on the ground and pretend to be a snake.

And Mr. Lang, there are ways to make a home made rack escape proof.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7...b077020d_b.jpg


Which kind of professional escape proof rack is $100? I don't know of such a thing.

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Originally Posted by TJ_Burton

This may sound funny, but pull out dresser drawers and check both in them, and in the framwork of the furniture. One of the few that got out on me years ago went 2 ft to the dresser beside the enclosure, and ended up in my underwear drawer. Finding balls in your boxers isn't unusual.

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:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Nice one, man.


And to Kaorte, I love that rack system. LOVE.

Update!?!

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Good luck finding your snake.


Was your rack professionally built or did you make it yourself?

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The first line indicates I do understand the point.

The second line indicates I'm collecting some data to help the community.

That's it.

Of course I'm aware that there are DIY cages that are escape-proof... I'm collecting data in the name of helping people understand the risks they take when they try to save 50 bucks making their own cage. Maybe I find there is no substance to it. The point is, commentary here about how DIY is fine isn't going to bring me to that conclusion. Hard numbers are.

Anything more than "It was DIY" or "It was an AP rack" or "It was a glass aquarium with locking lid" is derailing the thread, which honestly is not my point. I see the frustration coming from a place where maybe it looks like I'm trying to derail. I just wanted to collect 1 piece of data, wish the keeper good luck on finding their pet, and slip off in silence. We can argue the point later if I decide to present it. Right now it's only a hypothesis I simply won't firmly stand behind and argue.

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Originally Posted by MrLang

The first line indicates I do understand the point.

The second line indicates I'm collecting some data to help the community.

That's it.

Of course I'm aware that there are DIY cages that are escape-proof... I'm collecting data in the name of helping people understand the risks they take when they try to save 50 bucks making their own cage. Maybe I find there is no substance to it. The point is, commentary here about how DIY is fine isn't going to bring me to that conclusion. Hard numbers are.

Anything more than "It was DIY" or "It was an AP rack" or "It was a glass aquarium with locking lid" is derailing the thread, which honestly is not my point. I see the frustration coming from a place where maybe it looks like I'm trying to derail. I just wanted to collect 1 piece of data, wish the keeper good luck on finding their pet, and slip off in silence. We can argue the point later if I decide to present it. Right now it's only a hypothesis I simply won't firmly stand behind and argue.

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I understand your point. Maybe you could make a thread with a poll so that it is easier for you to collect data?

I'm almost positive I have heard of escapes happening in professionally built cages as well as home made ones.

No offense, but you can't deny people discussion on certain topics. It is an open forum.

Maybe next time instead of posting directly on the thread you could PM the OP for the information?

That was not the update I was looking for. Haha!

FIND IT YET?

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

She is in the one place you haven't looked yet. Crawl around on the ground and pretend to be a snake.

And Mr. Lang, there are ways to make a home made rack escape proof.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7...b077020d_b.jpg


Which kind of professional escape proof rack is $100? I don't know of such a thing.

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I was jus gonna say, don't freedom breeders cost like 2k? N then shipping is super expensive as well i have heard. Im pretty sure the difference is more like you can spend money on a killer clown, but not a freedom breeder rack lol

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did the seller ever say what the snake was eating like before he apparently stopped? Like mice or rats... Maybe a hopper mouse in a critter cage would be a good idea

I do really like the tub handles you added on yours Kaorte. I think I will be stealing that idea when I get my rack here in the near future. I'm thinking stag handles.

Does your data include if the racks in question were correctly secured. No matter if it is a homemade or pro rack it won't hold a snake if its not secured. That's an error with the keeper not the rack.

I'm not saying that is what always happens. Just wondering if human error is in your study.

nope :( no luck yet. i really have no idea where she is. my apartment isn't big at all there is just a lot of places she can hide. but even then i find it extremely hard to believe she hasn't even made a peep (sound traps) or shown her face once at night. unfortunately, i think she's gone. last night i found a hole near my kitchen sink that was big enough for her to fit in. i couldn't see into it though because it was too dark. so i taped my cell phone to a hockey stick and put on the flash and recorded. i got it as far in as i could and noticed that the flooring to my bathroom got in the way of most of the shot. but when i tilted the hockey stick to the right i noticed that there is a long fall (i am on the second floor) to the first floor. so if she got in that hole then she is more than likely trapped in between floors and will never be able to get out.

for the last 3-4 i have been so bummed out. i feel like i have been totally knocked down a peg and its super hard to come to grips with that she might just be gone forever.

like i said before, i read all these stories of escapees and they don't find it for weeks, months or even a year later but i am in a small apartment and i just find it really hard to believe that within the last 3-4 days i haven't heard or seen anything from here. nothing is different. none of the sound traps are even moved or anything. i have them everywhere. all along the baseboards, behind the rack, under the couch, every dark and warm space has one. i really don't know what to do.

sorry for the long rant. i just can't get over this.

Well that sux, but don't give up. I'm sure she will show up.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Well that sux, but don't give up. I'm sure she will show up.

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i don't want to give up but i just have this odd gut feeling that she got into that whole next to my kitchen sink and will be gone forever.

I agree, don't give up. It's amazing where they hide. It's hard when you don't find them right away but you can't quite give up hope. I thought I had looked everywhere too, but apparently I didn't. They turn up in the oddest places. If you haven't already I would find a way to secure the whole so if she hasn't gone down their yet she won't be able too.

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Originally Posted by Kinra

I agree, don't give up. It's amazing where they hide. It's hard when you don't find them right away but you can't quite give up hope. I thought I had looked everywhere too, but apparently I didn't. They turn up in the oddest places. If you haven't already I would find a way to secure the whole so if she hasn't gone down their yet she won't be able too.

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i also thought about securing the hole. but WHAT IF she is in there but didn't fall down in between floors? i couldn't see over the framing of the bathroom floor. so say she's right behind there and i just couldn't see her. i don't want to block the hole and then have her not be able to get out and have no where else to go but down.

Maybe you could try this snake trap?

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forum...lly-works.html

Don't give up. I was convinced when one of my snakes got out that she was under the baseboard in the kitchen. I ripped it all out and she wasn't there. She was in my closet across the apartment behind a piece of cardboard that was leaning against the wall.

Sneaky snakes are sneaky. She is somewhere!!

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Maybe you could try this snake trap?

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forum...lly-works.html

Don't give up. I was convinced when one of my snakes got out that she was under the baseboard in the kitchen. I ripped it all out and she wasn't there. She was in my closet across the apartment behind a piece of cardboard that was leaning against the wall.

Sneaky snakes are sneaky. She is somewhere!!

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i really hope so. :tears: and like i said, i don't think any feeding methods are going to work because she wasn't eating (for months) before she escaped.

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Originally Posted by adam_c

i also thought about securing the hole. but WHAT IF she is in there but didn't fall down in between floors? i couldn't see over the framing of the bathroom floor. so say she's right behind there and i just couldn't see her. i don't want to block the hole and then have her not be able to get out and have no where else to go but down.

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The hole is probably dusty and dark; grab a flashlight and look inside it - if there are belly tracks in the dust, don't seal it up. If there is no evidence that the snake has gone through there, than block it off. Use your hunter/tracker skills!!!

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Originally Posted by TJ_Burton

The hole is probably dusty and dark; grab a flashlight and look inside it - if there are belly tracks in the dust, don't seal it up. If there is no evidence that the snake has gone through there, than block it off. Use your hunter/tracker skills!!!

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dude trust me. i've tried everything lol its hard to see because you can't see too far. the bathroom flooring blocks your view. so there would be no way to tell if there were tracks in there or not. i blocked it off just in case, but i really hope she isn't in there.

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Originally Posted by adam_c

i really hope so. :tears: and like i said, i don't think any feeding methods are going to work because she wasn't eating (for months) before she escaped.

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maybe not food, but she sure needs water!

Any chance you have a friend who is a plumber...they might have access to one of those fiber-optic cameras used to locate blockages in pipes. I don't see why you couldn't use that system to search the wall cavity...just a thought.

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Originally Posted by snomoon

maybe not food, but she sure needs water!

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that's true.

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Originally Posted by dav4

Any chance you have a friend who is a plumber...they might have access to one of those fiber-optic cameras used to locate blockages in pipes. I don't see why you couldn't use that system to search the wall cavity...just a thought.

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unfortunately i do not.

Check anything that generated heat. Found mine under the fridge, maybe a computer or warm area in the sun?

Not sure what kind of ceiling you have, but in my apartment they are the panels that can be lifted up very easily, even though they are hard to get to its possible that she could be there. I helped find an escapee that went from the snake room to the very top shelf of a bedroom closet! also check pockets of any clothing you have in the closet or just laying around..

good luck! hope you find her!

i have checked EVERYWHERE that's dark and warm. i have turned the apartment upside down looking for her, and sat there waiting for her to show up. 4-5 days and still nothing. there really isn't much left i can do. tonight i am going to leave a heat lamp and a hide with a water bowl close by out and see if maybe the next morning i find her inside of it. i just have a bad gut feeling that she got somewhere that she can't get out and i can't get too (i.e. outside or in between the floors etc) and i wont ever be able to find her. i don't know why i have this feeling, but after doing all i have done with absolutely no luck or trace of her it seems most logical.

i just want to thank all of you for remaining optimistic and giving me all of these good tips and tricks. if she turns up or if i find her i will for sure update this thread letting you all know.

thanks again

Well im on here guess my pastel female got out last night. I left th.e tub slightly open in my rack...:( this happened a couple years ago with the same girl. I understand being paranoid. I was worried shed gone under the sink or we d accidentally threw her away..blah.. I did a bazillion tricks to find her...finally I posted a ad on craigslist asking for someone that had a hunting dog to find her with a shed from her tank. Well the day someone was going to come out with their dog I found her in the top shelf of a bookshelf nearby...I might do it again depending on if I find her today....

Wish me luck..

Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2

Awe I really hope you find your snake!!
She'll probably pop out when you least expect it...Sending positive thoughts your way:)

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Originally Posted by MrLang

I'm not looking to preach or anything, I'm literally just collecting data to help me not wake up every 15 minutes at night checking my tubs lol. If after a LOT more data collection I can feel confident that the risk difference is significant, I'll probably do more advocating of proper professional housing.

The argument will be something along the lines of 'so you've got cash for a 500 dollar pet, but not 100 towards proper, escape-proof housing?'

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That's funny to me because my mentality is I can only afford a $100 snake because I will need $300-$400 for a proper setup.

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Originally Posted by ss10gotanks

Well im on here guess my pastel female got out last night. I left th.e tub slightly open in my rack...:( this happened a couple years ago with the same girl. I understand being paranoid. I was worried shed gone under the sink or we d accidentally threw her away..blah.. I did a bazillion tricks to find her...finally I posted a ad on craigslist asking for someone that had a hunting dog to find her with a shed from her tank. Well the day someone was going to come out with their dog I found her in the top shelf of a bookshelf nearby...I might do it again depending on if I find her today....

Wish me luck..

Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2

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good luck! i still have yet to find my calico and its been what? i week now? :tears: i will just have to wait and see if she turns up one day because spending hours on end searching for her low and high hasn't gotten me far.