BP still missing...

My BP escaped a couple of weeks ago, and I still haven't been able to find him. I honestly have looked but appearently he is a champion hider. Our local snake guy recomended I put painters tape accross the doorways at night so we could see what rooms he might be crawling around in, but so far none have been disturbed. This doesn't surprise me though as he was allready in blue. According to my calculations he should be finishing his shed in the next few days. I admit though I'm really getting worried. It's been pretty cold here (snow blach) so I'm almot positive he wouldn't have ventured outside even if there was a way I was not awear of. We also keep fish so there is fresh water available in just about every room,I have a fat rat waiting for him in his tank (and stinking up the computer room) It's just been soooo cold...I could realy use some reassurance that he's ok. If he were truly thirsty or cold he'd find an appropriate spot right? He's alway pretty ravinous right after a shed and that stupid rat is the only game in town, so just how far can snakes smell them? I don't have a very big house( 3 10x10 is rooms connected with open door ways then a hall with 2 small bedrooms and a bath). The rat is in his tank with the heater on under the table it s normally on for easy snakey acess. I miss my snake. Any advice on lring him out of hidng?

I would use a line of flour instead of painter's tape. Tape typically isn't a good idea around snakes.

Put a water bowl on the floor with a hide set up next to it. If your house is as dry as mine you may find him soaking in it.

I urge you to check behind the washer and dryer, behind/ under the fridge, and even behind the oven or washing machine. The ring neck snakes (yes I am aware of the size difference) go under my fridge if they get in the house because it is very warm underneath. I've heard stories of people with ackie monitors who always find them under and behind the washing machine and dryer. If you have a water heater, check behind that. Check in the wood part of your beds and INSIDE the couch.

Also do be careful moving some of the things like the fridge, I've had friends who have squished hamsters this way.


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I lost my first bp, that was around 20 years ago(he was a wild caught). But we found him 3 months later, he had gotten into the walls of the house and happened to stick his head out of a cut out place near our heater duct. So dont give up, he may show up yet.

Also, I lost my ball python the week after I got her because I underestimated their ability to squeeze through spaces (I took the lid off the tub for humidity purposes) and in the most frantic five minutes of my life I looked all over my room. The last place I was going to heck before going to other rooms was under the rack, and all the way in the back she was curled into a ball.


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We've checked all the appliances, I have carpet almost everywhere so no flour. The snake guy recomended painters tape because it really doesn't stick worth anything. Th idea is when he trys t crawl over it to get into another room the tape falls because it's so low tack, and you know where to concenate your search. Regaurdless he' not crawling around so I'm guesing (hoping) he 's hole up somewhere dark and quiet and finishing his shed. I've tried to check all the cabinets, close,t ect but so far no luck. Mostly I'm wanting reassurance that he's not gonna allow hmself to freeze with in 10 ft of a heat source, starve or dehydrate rather then come out of hiding... please.

Think of the least likely place in your home and check there. I had a corn snakes escape before. One I found directly under his Tank curled up, the other.....found its skeleton years later inside a wall during a remodel, 2 floors from where his tank was. Keep looking and stay positive.

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I had a corn escape once and I found it in the dryer vent. So check there.

Your computer tower, if it's anything like mine is warm and dark behind. Do you have other pets? I say put a rat on the middle of the floor of each room (who cares about stench when your snake is missing?) and try that. Have you seen those videos where cats/ ferrets get into dresser drawers and pop in and out? Check dresser under all clothes. You can also keep the lights off or dimmed as often as possible in an effort to comfort him. Do you have old purses in your closet? If also check the room where his cage is a few more times because if it has a good enough hiding spot for him, he may have just stayed there
I'm having too much fun with trying to think of places for a snake to hide.


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I would look in shoes, under the box spring of your bed (or in it, it's possible!) under the sink in your bathroom, in plastic grocery bags, near lamps or other warm spots. Have you looked in any of your vents yet? If it's been snowing I can only imagine you would have the heat on ( yay warm air! ) I would also consider putting something on it's side with a little heater under it and put some old hamster bedding or something in it. Maybe do it in each room? I know others have gotten their snakes to feed thanks to old hamster bedding!

My wife's pied went missing last year for a week. We removed EVERYTHING from the room he was in without luck. Checked around the house every night as well. One week later, about 2:00 am, I heard a noise in our bedroom. I almost didn't get up, but something told me to check. Sure enough, he was on the floor next to the computer tower.

Don't give up. As many have posted he may show up weeks from now.

Good luck!

All my hope! :hug:

Whenever my girl is out and about, she always travels along the walls(baseboards), never across the room.

So if you get up in the middle of the night to get a drink or go to the restroom, take a flashlight with you and scan the baseboards.

Best

How big is the snake anyway?


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Hey I just remembered something and realized it could help you and a lot in that matter with missing snakes.

As a child I would catch the reptiles I wasn't allowed to keep- all of them. Aside from the obvious methods of flipping stones and logs, I would make these simple traps. Specifically, a funnel trap. This trap is used for catching herps, fish, and even rodents.
The idea is that you have a closed space with one or more funnels, funneling inward. The animal has no problem getting in, and is actually guided in by the shape of the funnel. However, getting out is not so easy. Because the funnel is a funnel, the animal has a hard time just finding the hole let alone get through it.
When I would catch fish bait, I would chum the inside and then would find bait fish the next morning. I never was successful with catching the everglades racer snakes in my backyard, but I'm sure that if placed in the house with a food item (live or dead, though live MAY escape) it would work. Try placing it against a wall, with funnel lined up against the wall. The reason for this is snakes and other herps tend to travel along walls when they come across them in hopes of getting to the other side.

There are many ways to make these traps, with chicken wire, large plastic water containers, or with cloth. For your purpose, I'd recommend flexible, not likely to scratch and cut window screen. Just sew a cylindrical shape with one open side, and sew a funnel with the smallest part just wide enough for the widest part of your snake to get through. Make sure the cylindrical shape is long enough that your snake has to go all the way in to get the food, not halfway. You may want to consider putting a funnel on both sides to increase odds. You can also make a box/ pocket for the prey item so the snake really goes inside to get the thing. Though a little unsanitary, rubbing a prey item along the moulding leading up to the mouth of the funnel may be a good idea.
I'd even go so far as to make several traps and place them all around the house. A good spot other than just against a wall could be under a bed, against the wall or in the middle, a closet, or near warm appliances.
For a final touch, I would put this with a heat pad in the middle and turn the lights off, and even cover the funnel with a towel so if the snake is not hungry he is at least encouraged by the dark hiding spot/ warm spot. If the snake is in shed, consider making a moist funnel with a wet towel or some moss.

Funnel traps are effective with catching small animals and herps, but only if created and deployed correctly.


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I have a friend who's snake for loose and after looking absolutely everywhere ended up taking apart the dryer to find it up in the top within the shell.

Id check your appliances..

They usually pop up when you're not expecting them to at all, and not looking. I had one go missing for four months and my mothers boyfriend at the time found it in the sink late one night. Also had a corn snake go missing and it randomly emerged from a nightstand while I was watching tv.

Sampson is a 4ish year old BP, and is a little over 3 1/2 feet long. I don't belive he can fit through the vent covers (thankfully), but there are no shortage of containers, boxes and dressers he could be in. I'm checking all the appliances dayly. I'm trying to keepmyears open for him at nigh, but sofar nothing

I have been thinking that the best approach might be to find out what room Sampson is in. Try thawing out several f/t mice or rats and drag them around the perimeter of the rooms. Make a really good scent trail for the snake to follow, then leave one rodent in each room on a plate covered with a hide. Then turn the lights off. Check the plates every few hours. If one of the rodents disappears, at least you know what room Sampson is in. He might even stay in the hide. At most, it will cost a few bucks for the mice.

David

Check every opening along all baseboards . think warm and humid.

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Home at last! Sampson came out of hiding this evening!! I looked behind me and there he was staring at the rat that had taken up residence in HIS tank. He looked so confused. He still had shed stuck to his head, it's not to bad in the house atm, but not where I'd have his tank humidty-wse. He ate his rat, which is a good thing, my hubby was about ready to make me take it back. I got his tank de-moused (yuck!), and put him back, he refuses to settle though he seems desperate to get that shed off. OC he had to poopin his freshly scrubed tank too. I"m just happy he's OK.

Great news! :)

Excellent!

O.K. Cheer up! Even though 2 weeks is a long time there is still hope and positive thinking. I think its time for you to have a bp recovery party!! First, get rid of the smelly rat in the computer room. Use a fresh one. Invite some friends and family over for a overnight stay. Your best chance of recovering your bp is looking for him with as many extra eyes you can assemble. Definitely be prepared to stay up most of the night and remain quiet throughout. A night search with all invitees participating, fresh rodents placed in each room strategically. Turn off all the lights and make sure everyone has a flashlight, maybe just use plug in nightlights as a supplemental light source. Quietness is paramount. Turn the tv volume down or off. All noise and talking to a minimum! 2 people per room, aternate checking the bathrooms. Remember bps become active at night. Keep your eyes open, flashlights ready and scanning the floors, baseboards, and underneath all fixed objects in all the rooms. Happy hunting!! Good luck. This should go down asap, tonight! The clock is ticking !!!!!! Stay in peace and not pieces. You will find him. A.C.