Help!! Ball got out last night!

Woke up this morning to an empty tank, my bp got out sometime during the night. I have no idea where ge could be and I'm freaking out. Any ways to find him?

Check the closests first. Imagine if you were a snake and follow along the walls until you get to some kind of cubby or hide. Ive heard of people putting a baby mouse in a tank in the center of the room and baiting that way. Best of luck

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Originally Posted by Jessssica

Woke up this morning to an empty tank, my bp got out sometime during the night. I have no idea where ge could be and I'm freaking out. Any ways to find him?

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They usually don't go too far. Check any dark areas and check under everything. And if it looks like a spot that's too small for him to get into, check it. Is this in a single room or did he have free roam of the whole house?

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Originally Posted by sho220

Is this in a single room or did he have free roam of the whole house?

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The bedroom door was closed and I am pretty sure he could not get out of the room. My concern is that it is relitively cool in here.

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Originally Posted by Jessssica

The bedroom door was closed and I am pretty sure he could not get out of the room. My concern is that it is relitively cool in here.

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I've heard of some people sprinkling flour around floorboards so that if the snake passes through the flour you'll see his "tracks" or at least it will give you an idea if he is still around or not. There's really not much you can do other than continue looking. You may have better luck at night. Can you darken the room? Or create some kind of warm/hot spot to maybe attract him?

Dark and warm spots, usually tighter in size, are where I would start looking. I usually find mine on the same rack it escaped from, tucked in the side of another tub.... they don't usually go to far in one night.

Just in case the snake got some distances, block off the door to the room and put a towel down. If he's in the room and you can't find immediately, at least keep it from getting out to other parts of the house that would be impossible to find.

Leave no stone unturned, especially if a smaller snake, working outward from the cage. When I was younger I remember having a snkae get lost in the dressser and we still have no idea how he got in there to begin with.

If you have a cold room and little heat sources, create a warm spot with a hide. Never worked for me, but apparently has worked for some customers of a shop I used to go to, so thought I would throw that out there too.

Best of Luck!!!!

Search by heat sources. I found my missing BP after 3 weeks of being lost downstairs trying to cuddle with the cat on top of the boiler. If you think he hasn't gotten out of the room and it's cool in there, maybe try putting out a heating pad to attract him?

wow, in the time it took to write what I just wrote in previous post, a couple extra posts popped up in here saying what I was saying.... it's proof we have all been there :D

One other thing, the tank is on top of an entertainment center, what are the chances he would get hurt from a fall?

Always a chance, but don't worry about it until you find it and there is a sign of something., The good thing is you didn't find him below the tank, so not injured enough to not keep on moving.
I think you're alright though, so don't worry about the problem until there is a problem. Focus on finding the lil guy and getting back to the warm enclosure

How high up is it? Usually they are fine with short falls, especially if it's carpet.

Praying you find him!

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Originally Posted by Jessssica

One other thing, the tank is on top of an entertainment center, what are the chances he would get hurt from a fall?

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An entertainment center with electronic giving off heat?
1st place I would look right there in a cool room any dark tiny spots around those it can wedge itself into.

You could also place a live mouse or rat(whichever you are currently feeding) in a container the snake can't get into in the room to attract the snake.

Moved almost all of the furniture and still no snake... is it very likely he could have squeezed under the door?

If you have night stands or any other furniture like that sometimes they have areas in the bottom where they are not completely solid and they will curl up under there, my corn got out one time and I couldn't find him. I thought my night stands were solid but I lifted them up and he was curled under it not five feet from his cage!! Good luck

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Originally Posted by Capray

How high up is it? Usually they are fine with short falls, especially if it's carpet.

Praying you find him!

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Its about four feet and onto carpet. I am praying he is still in the room, because this is a big house. I need him to be in this room and find him before my room mate does!

Is there a gap under the door?

Check the nooks and crannies of your entertainment station, he may be there. Especially if it's warm.

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Originally Posted by Jessssica

Moved almost all of the furniture and still no snake... is it very likely he could have squeezed under the door?

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Sorry I didn't see your post first. How big is he and how big is the crack? I don't think it would try to get out of the room unless there was absolutely no where for it to go!

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Originally Posted by jhotch

How big is he and how big is the crack? I don't think it would try to get out of the room unless there was absolutely no where for it to go!

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He is about three feet long, and there is about a 3/4 inch gap, I am betting he could get under it, but praying he didn't... :O

I mean nothing by it, and don't want to be too harsh, but to be frank and straight forward with you: the time spent describing your house and setup here, and back and forth about doors and having to clarify size, this is all valuable time that you could be finding the snake before he moves deeper into a nook you cannot find.
Unless you find one of us to be a neighbor in your locale to come over and help search, we're not going to be able to help you find your snake.
For the sake of having the best chances of being found, get off the computer and search every nook and cranny, drawers in dressers (don't just move furniture, look indide it), undersides of thing... EVERYWHERE big and small, infront of and behind things.
This just feels like when a person posts a question about a sick snake, every response says "go to the vet" and teh poster waits until the last minute to make a vet appointment thus the snake has to wait another day to be treated. In that case time is health, in your case time is health (due to cold) and is time the snake can spend hiding better than it is now.
Like I said, I don't want to be harsh, only straight forward for teh sake of the snake and for the best chances of you finding your snake, but go search for your snake.

Still no sign of him... :(

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Originally Posted by WtGreg

I mean nothing by it, and don't want to be too harsh, but to be frank and straight forward with you: the time spent describing your house and setup here, and back and forth about doors and having to clarify size, this is all valuable time that you could be finding the snake before he moves deeper into a nook you cannot find.
Unless you find one of us to be a neighbor in your locale to come over and help search, we're not going to be able to help you find your snake.
For the sake of having the best chances of being found, get off the computer and search every nook and cranny, drawers in dressers (don't just move furniture, look indide it), undersides of thing... EVERYWHERE big and small, infront of and behind things .

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Don't worry I haven't stopped looking I am on mobile and am currently in the floor of the closet as I type

What types of hides do you have?
There's been a few accounts of snakes getting themselves jammed up inside of hides and people thinking they were lost like this: http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/sho...=109391&page=2

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Originally Posted by Jessssica

Don't worry I haven't stopped looking I am on mobile and am currently in the floor of the closet as I type

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Terrific! As long as teh search is not inhibited by posting, then you are doing exactly what needs to be done. :gj:
Best of luck, and our fingers here are crossed for you.

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Originally Posted by Kat_Dog

What types of hides do you have?
There's been a few accounts of snakes getting themselves jammed up inside of hides and people thinking they were lost like this: http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/sho...=109391&page=2

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I wish that was the case but you can tell where he moved the screen lid to get out. :(

I would guess the snake is most likely still in the room. Double and triple check everything tight and warm. I have had 2 escapes both were stupid mistakes. Both times the snakes were close to their enclosures and in the warmest spot the could find. BEHIND the PC just loving the tight warm space. So I would look the entertainment center over very well again. Possibly inside the electronics if there is access to the inside of speakers or sub woofers ETC. Best of luck :)

any luck yet?

Still no sign of him. :( I have looked everywhere I could look. I have looked under, behind, and inside all furniture, in boxes, shoes, drawers, laundry basket, etc... is there anything I am overlooking? I have the room cool with a nice cozy hide in the corner on a heat pad hoping he will curl up for a nap. If not I am going to get a rat tomorrow and hopefully he will pick up the scent. I'm worried about him. :(

Are there any vents in the room on the floor? Are they secure? If you have an Tv in the room I imagine there is a couch or something, how many layers or spaces does it on the underside?

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Originally Posted by nachash

Are there any vents in the room on the floor? Are they secure? If you have an Tv in the room I imagine there is a couch or something, how many layers or spaces does it on the underside?

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Vents are closed securely, there is a tv, and it's in my bedroom so no couch but there is a bed. No luck with the hide and heat pad last night. :(

you'll find it!

And now start the search process all over again, since he could have moved since you first (or second or third) looked everywhere. Be patient, and just keep checking over and over again.

Do you have a subwoofer? I remember someone found their snake in one once.

My suggestion is to get on the floor by the tank and carefully look around for any place the snake might have gone. Double check your entertainment center. Most often the snake is only a few feet from its enclosure.

Probably won't find him during the day, he'll be immobile hiding in his spot. Best chance will be late at night when he's active.

Try getting plastic bags and ball them up and put them around places that might be high traffic. The idea is that if he crawls over it, it'll be noisy.
Remember that these guys are terrestrial, so they'll be traveling on the ground.

You can put a bunch of plastic cups (like Solo cups upside down) across a threshold so you can see if he passed through that way.
I read stories about a bp that was lost for 3 months before he was found...the fact that their food/water needs are pretty forgiving is good news.

I wish you luck, let us know where you find him! :)

do you have a box spring to the bed?

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Originally Posted by nachash

do you have a box spring to the bed?

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Yes, and I'm pretty sure the lining is intact but I am going to get under there and double check.

I tried visualizing this problem in my room, and then thought about what you might have going on there. Maybe if you have a ton of shoes or boots. Or bags purses maybe the items in your closet extend close to the floor. Do you keep musical instruments in your room or sports gear or stacks of books? How close is your room to the bathroom?

Also those were all rhetorical questions. Hope you find it!

I always have found escapees in the dirty clothes pile! Double check all clothes and the bottom of the vacuum.

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Originally Posted by nachash

I tried visualizing this problem in my room, and then thought about what you might have going on there. Maybe if you have a ton of shoes or boots. Or bags purses maybe the items in your closet extend close to the floor. Do you keep musical instruments in your room or sports gear or stacks of books?!

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I have pretty much all of that and then some lol, he has way too many options...

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

And now start the search process all over again, since he could have moved since you first (or second or third) looked everywhere. Be patient, and just keep checking over and over again.

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Yeah, knowing my luck he will most likely pop up somewhere I have already look ten times :)

Found him!!:D in the back of the closet in the bottom of a box full of stuff lol, I don't know how he got to the bottom.:rolleyes: I looked in the closet twice, and missed him. I'm just glad he is ok! :). Thanks everybody that offered tips!

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Originally Posted by Jessssica

Found him!!:D in the back of the closet in the bottom of a box full of stuff lol, I don't know how he got to the bottom.:rolleyes: I looked in the closet twice, and missed him. I'm just glad he is ok! :). Thanks everybody that offered tips!

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Yayay!!! :D :D :D

Awesome! They're way too good at hiding! I guess for bp's, they don't move all that far initially, so you just gotta CSI the area 15' around his tank lol

Very glad you found him quickly! :gj:

Good to hear that you found him!

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Originally Posted by Jessssica

Found him!!:D in the back of the closet in the bottom of a box full of stuff lol, I don't know how he got to the bottom.:rolleyes: I looked in the closet twice, and missed him. I'm just glad he is ok! :). Thanks everybody that offered tips!

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Awesome!! So glad to hear it. This saga was pressing on me all day. So I am sure you are how Phil Robertson says, "happyhappyhappy Jack!"

Then Sy says, "hey!"

Glad to hear your snake is back home and OK :)

Great!! I didn't think he would leave the room:)

Make sure you know the error you did that let him escape so there's no more stress on her :)

leave your tank all set up with the heat lamp on and put a mouse in there or if you can get your hands on some used gerbil or rat bedding for extra sent..... if it is cold he will return to the tank and also he might be hungry and go back for the food. I lost mine and he came back 4 days later and i found him crawling back into his cage... they dont go far from the cage just be patient they dont go further than about 15 feet away from there enclosure. check the same spots every day, i must have check my dresser 100 times and sure enough i found him in the dresser crawling to his cage

Now it's your turn to hide..