Please help, I lost my snake in my car :(

I went to Repticon on Sunday and around 4 I bought an albino ball python. The guy handed me him in a bag & I was late to work so I put him on my passenger seat and literally sped home and was focused on the road. I went to grab the bag when I got home and it was empty the snake I just bought got out. I never opened the bag, that's how the breeder gave it to me. She's been missing since 4 pm yesterday. I can't find her anywhere!


I know now this is going to sound awful but I have a cage with a hamster in it I was going to use that as a trap and sit in the backseat of my car and wait for her to come out & grab her. I wouldn't let her harm the hamster. If that doesn't work my next step is going to be a hide with a thawed mouse and blanket left in my car overnight. Tomorrow I'm brining the car to get the dash ripped out but I was wondering if anyone had any other options?


i live in Florida it's in the 80s during the day and the lowest it's gotten at night is probably in the 40s. I know it should be warmer on the inside of my car though and above the dash it's insulated. Is this a lost cause? I'm so worried and couldn't stop crying when I realized the bag was empty please help

So he must be in the car somewhere, right ??

I would take some type of Tupperware container, cut a hole in the top big enough for the snake to crawl into it.
Heat up a mouse, put it into the container, and put it on the floor of your car overnight.
Hopefully he will crawl into the container to eat the mouse, and stay in there.

Wow, the places it could be is endless?:O

If it were me I would thaw and warm a f/t and place it on the floorboard. Near the feeder I would put a blanket, towel, or hide. Doing this I would hope it would go for the feeder and then make a quick retreat into a nearby hide.

I think she's in the center console/dash there's an area she can get into right in front of the passenger seat. I'm definitely going to try that tonight. Should I turn on the AC onto heat and sit in the back and wait for her to come out? It's 45 degrees so i don't know if she would come out unless I had the car warmed up as well.

I would not turn the car on. That will cause plenty of things to get very hot and since you don't know where it is you could be doing more harm than good.

Under the seats and center console of most cars are the tunnels and routes for the wire harness. These areas make it possible for the snake to reach almost anywhere in the veh. Be careful kneeling on the carpet as you hunt as the snake could be under it.

I would go out and sit there dead still. Listen if he moves around or not. Heat up 4 water bottles and put them inside socks. Put a waterborne on each floor board. He may become attracted to the heat. Potentially start your car for a few minutes. If it is that cold it may be bad for him. The biggest thing is slow down. Don't freak out right now. Time is of the essence and if you act calm things may resolve thmself. Slowly take out everything in your car that you can. Look under your seats, behind the dashboard. Reach your hand around slow. Don't worry about getting bit the snake is probably scared. If you need help let me know. I can give you a phone call tonight and we can walk through things step by step. I have so many animals I understand then feeling when they are gone. Remember calm down though. Be slow. Act calm and think rationally. Keep us updated and let me know if you need help or support.

It's not a lost cause yet. Snakes don't move far. They escape then find comfort and stay there. Don't freak out yet. That bugger could pop up in a week like hey where ya been.

DO NOT turn the car on. For me the first place I would look would be under the seats or check if theres any holes where you put your feet on the passenger seat. I wish you luck! keep us updated. Don't give up!

Thank you so much for the help! I have 4 hot water bottles in socks now, I thawed a mouse & I'm going to put it under a heat lamp and then into my car right next to a Rubbermaid tub with a hole in it and a towel inside. Hopefully she comes out! I'll keep all of you updated.

Your in Florida it should be fine over night. They like secure dark places. Don't freak out though. That is the biggest thing right now. If you stop using your head every minute leaves his father from you. I don't think he got out. Cars are usually sealed good. What model car do you own? Get a flashljght a Phillips head screwdriver and a flat head. You can take everythibg out of the front of a car by yourself. Don't wait and paybsomeone. Work slow. Pt all screws in a zip lock and remember where they came from. I am up all night and live in California. If you need someone to talk you through this on the phone let me know. I feel for ya but if you keep faith and a good head it will work out. Keep us updated.

I already drove my car this morning :/ I had to take it to work at 6 in the morning. I've ripped through the car and checked everywhere. I checked everywhere in the hood before I drove it as well I couldn't see her anywhere. I'm getting the dash taken out tomorrow if I can't find her tonight.

I hope you find her! Take a picture of her when you do. She must be beautiful. Good luck.

I own a 2012 Mazda 3 sedan. I searched everywhere with a flashlight as well. I have a friend who knows someone that works at a car shop and offered to do it for free for me.

Like I said too nature has a way to live even in 3 days or a week from now he could still be fine. They can hide and slow their body process down and live for awhile. Keep a good head. We are all hoping for the best here at the farm for ya.

It's still in the car then. That model has a very sealed interior. It didn't escape the car i can almost guarantee.

At this point I am thinking passenger side behind the dashboard probably 6 to 10 inches up. He wouldn't be exploring right now. He's afraid and wants security. He's nestled somewhere he feels safe.

Or under and up inside in the seat. Your heater vents potentially but I see that area being too unnerving for her. Anywhere that you wouldn't think is where she is. Probably no more than 1 ft from where the bag was. Maybe 2.

She's been gone since Sunday at 4 but that's what I was thinking. If she found a warm spot she's going to stay put because she's probably scared :/ I jus put 2 warm water bottles on each side of my car & on the passenger side where she escaped from I heated up an adult mouse and left it next to a hide with a towel inside. Hopefully she comes out it's 45 degrees here now though.

Should I turn the heat on at all? & if this doesn't work should I at least try the hamster cage I know the smell would probably attract her and it's live. I would just watch from outside the car & just snatch her up if I saw her.

Hairdryer! Just thought about it. Or a propane torch. Run an extension cord out close the door and sit inside and heat the air up. That way the car running doesn't scare her. Just trying to come up with anything to help. I think the live hamster is a good choice also. Keep it secured but even leave it out overnight may find in the morning your girl will be caring the cage looking for a way in. Keep us updated we are cheering for you.

get some hand warmer..heat packs wrap up in a towel maybe?.... i'm not sure how hot they get, but walmart has them and maybe put it in the hide,,,if its cold in the car and she is still in it...I bet she will go to the heat packs overnight surely....hope you find her safe

I live in an apt and my car is parked far away :( I don't have a cord right now. I left water bottles & a mouse in the car but everything's getting cold so fast she probably won't be able to sense the heat. I need something that stays hot. I might have to go buy a heat pad. It's going to be hot tomorrow again I might leave the mouse in my car then because the smell would be more prominent then, my cars going to stink lol but I need to find this snake :/

Maybe a cast iron pan heated up and wrapped in a few towels? Go out and light a candle or two and sit for a half hour. The heat from the flame will heat the car. I used to be homeless and you would be surprised how much a candle or two heats a small space.

I would go out. Light a few candles and sit there. Dead silent. Breathe very slow and quiet. If you don't move for a half hour or more you may be able to hear movement from the snake. Good luck.

I have a bunch of candles that's not a bad idea actually, I'm sorry to hear about that. Thank you for all the advice I'm hoping I find her! I have pictures of what she looked like but it says I can't post attachments, probably because I'm new to the forum.

I'm not sorry at all you don't need to be. Thanks for the consideration though. It's nice to come from nothing and be happy and successful. I earned it all with my blood sweat and tears. Go hang outside for an hour or two it's worth it. I spent days searching for my lost dog. I live in the middle of nowhere surrounded in redwoods. He ultimately never came home but I didn't give up. You owe it to the animal to do everything in your power as a human. You have fingers and a brain. It doesn't. Go outside and sit for an hour or two by candle light. GGrab a book. Maybe even pass out. She may cuddle you with you for warmth. If you have work tomorrow it doesn't matter. Drink coffee and deal with it. If you do everything in your power and don't get her back you can't feel bad. Sometimes the universe teaches us lessons when we don't want it to. Don't be hurt though, learn and move on. Candles a book blanket and pillow. Go relax and think good thoughts. Let the snake know you are trying.

Yeah that's true, that's good though. I'm sorry about your dog :( at least you did everything in your power to look for it. I'm sitting in my car now with two candles in the back trying to be as quiet as possibly it was so cold last night and tonight though that's why I'm so worried :( it's 41 degrees right now.

All you can do is try. Give it some time. Relax for a bit. Tomorrow you will be able to get behind the panels. All will work out.

This might sound bad, but are you absolutely positive the seller really put her in the bag? Either way I truly hope you find her

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3rLof2cnzg

The snake salesman.

Yeah I'm positive he put it into the bag right in front of me & gave me his personal number if I had any questions :/

Don't worry. Things work out. Or they don't. Either way you are trying and tomorrow you will be able to look more. Maybe refresh the hot water bottles. Don't stop trying everything.

Any luck yet? I hope you find it!

No luck at all :( I sat in my car quietly and I couldn't hear anything. She didn't come out for the hot water bottles, hide, or thawed mouse. I'm going to take out the dash when I wake up in the morning.

Man, I hope you find it. Good luck!

I hope you find the little guy

Oh I'm so sorry I hope you find her this morning


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On this forum it always seems that people find their missing snakes inside of their shoes. It may not hurt to try, but put some shoes in your car. Maybe she will end up in one of them.

Thanks everyone! I'm trying to be hopeful :/ since it's warmer out I'm going to try turning the heat on in my car and using a thawed mouse. I'm bringing my car to get the whole dash taken out at 6 and I'll let you know if I find her :)

My worst snake escape, she hid where it made absolutely no sense. She escaped her warm tank, went across the freezing living room (crappy non insulated apartment in winter) and went into the not working wall heater (so it was super cold and drafty in there), up it by squeezing through the gap in the wall around it and into the wall. I found her like four days later after I'd pretty much given up on looking. Only way I found her was she fell from up inside the wall and I heard the plop of her landing on top of the heater. All the typical tricks didn't work. Mouse bait, hides on top of heat mats, flour and plastic bags to track movement, sleeping on the floor, etc. A place to hide trumps warmth and food. If you have someone willing to pull the car apart for free, I'd take them up on that. I wish you the best of luck. I know how horrible it feels when they escape.

When you get this snake back, I propose you christen it Houdini for pulling such a thorough disappearing act be fore you even got it home.

I really wish I had some advice for this issue, but I just don't have any idea. I had a corn snake escape his enclosure in my house (that's an interesting story for another thread, or PM)...never did find him, and that was 4-5 years ago. It sounds like a lot of the commenters have good ideas, so I would try all of that. I really hope you find him, as I'm sure he was a beautiful BP, and as an albino, probably wasn't cheap.

Try running a towel through the dryer and put it fresh out of the dryer in the back floorboard of the car.

Where in Florida are you. I am in Winter Springs.

She was gorgeous too, I wish I could post pictures of her. I'm sorry about your cornsnake though :/ all the tricks don't seem too be working here either. I know there's only 3 outcomes either she froze, got out of the car somehow or is hiding in the dash or in the seats & I hope it's he third one :/

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That's not too far from me, I live in Orlando!

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Originally Posted by Laurenmassx

She was gorgeous too, I wish I could post pictures of her. I'm sorry about your cornsnake though :/ all the tricks don't seem too be working here either. I know there's only 3 outcomes either she froze, got out of the car somehow or is hiding in the dash or in the seats & I hope it's he third one :/

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That's not too far from me, I live in Orlando!

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If you haven't left your car door open, she pretty much has to be in the car.
You have a newer car, and there are really no holes, or openings that a snake could escape through.


I hope you find her !!!!!!

Best of luck finding her! :( Hopefully she's curled up inside one of the seats or something.

Any luck with taking the dash apart?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Laurenmassx

She was gorgeous too, I wish I could post pictures of her. I'm sorry about your cornsnake though :/ all the tricks don't seem too be working here either. I know there's only 3 outcomes either she froze, got out of the car somehow or is hiding in the dash or in the seats & I hope it's he third one :/

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That's not too far from me, I live in Orlando!

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I'm in Jax. If you were closer I would have helped you take apart your car. My wife left our male breeders rack tub slightly open and he got out and spent the night in the cold closet and had snot dripping from him the next day. Hopefully you find her soon, good luck.

We literally ripped apart my car and checked everywhere. There was no sign of her :/ the only place we couldn't get too was the front center console of my dash that's the only place she could be. I'm going to head to a Mazda dealership tomorrow and just beg to see if they can check there for me for free tomorrow. I'm gonna go home then turn the heat on in my car and put my hamster cage in the front passenger seat and just sit in the back for an hour or two quietly. I really want to find her I feel so guilty :( I wish I lived closer to Jax for your help, I'm glad you found your snake though!

Did you look inside seats. Like up and in.