Please help lost bp???

my boy has been working toward shed for the last few dyas and i hadnt checked on him but I decided to peek today and he was GONE. last night in bed we heard a 'thump' but assumed it was nothing but now I know it was him escaping? ? I'm tearing apart everything please tips and tricks or anything that could help???

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Originally Posted by sufficio

my boy has been working toward shed for the last few dyas and i hadnt checked on him but I decided to peek today and he was GONE. last night in bed we heard a 'thump' but assumed it was nothing but now I know it was him escaping? ? I'm tearing apart everything please tips and tricks or anything that could help???

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Legit, behind ur oven, refrig, dryer (if they’re close) typically they won’t go very far! If you doubt that they can fit there CHECK AGAIN! they can fit in the smallest of places. Triple check everything probably within a 10ft radius and surrounding rooms. I’ve never had an escapee...this is just from past accounts ive heard. Just think dark small spaces


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so to set up our room is like this.

against the wall is the snake tub on a small table. along that wall is a baseboard heater(off) and beside the table are our 2 computers (checked behind and around them). across the room is the bed, I pulled it back and checked along the wall but nothing. across the room is the entry way to the kitchen...unsure if he would go there as it's much colder. then the bathroom is attached. the door to upstairs has a VERY small gap against tile so i doubt he would fit.

the places i could see him go. under the table he is on...checked. the baseboard heater, checked. the bed, checked. under desks. checked. inside desks. checked. currently am heating a rat in the room in hopes that it brings him out. he is a ravenous eater and it is feeding time. please give me your well wishes. I cannot lose this snake.

Oh no, so sorry to hear, nothing more frustrating than playing "hide & seek" with a snake! Don't give up, keep looking! Most BPs don't go very far from
their cage...and they want to hide, some place snug, & hopefully warm. Snakes go into upholstered couches & chairs, or under mattresses/beds...they go
into the bottom & back of stoves, refrigerators (for pilot light or motor warmth) & washers/dryers/dishwashers...they go into closets, piles of laundry...just
anything. Did he shed first or is he traveling in blue? Maybe you'll hear him shedding or he'll leave you a clue where he went? Sorry, I wish there was one
easy way to find a loose snake, but they excel at hiding!

Remember that a snake looking up from the floor sees the room differently than we do: from the floor, is there any holes in the fabric under beds or couches?
They'd love to go inside there... they also find crawl-spaces under kitchen cupboards, into walls if there is a hole for plumbing, etc. Good luck! I hope he wants
& comes "running" for the rat smell...

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/g2pkvfj.png


could a bp fit through this small of a gap??? I can barely fit my fingers in, and a pencil for scale. he is a big boy. have not weighed him but you can see photos in my gallery.

Can't tell if he'd fit..."maybe"? They do squish themselves thru openings when they want to...where does that go?

BTW, you might be able to rent a fiber optic mini-camera (to fit into such places before ripping out a wall) used by plumbers etc.

Got any bookshelves? they'll get into those, behind the books even...and drawers in desks or dressers...can usually enter from
underneath in the back, where there are gaps in the backing or from the floor.

thank you for the responses, sorry I'm quite panicked! he was in a few days before blue. I thought the same that he wouldn't wander far- but the only warmth near his tub is his bulb + uth, otherwise the nearest warmth would be the fridge way far in the kitchen. also, we would have been sleeping ~5 feet from his tub, I wonder if he would have gone toward us? but no snake in the bed from what I checked. Gosh I just fear so bad moving something and squashing him. I';ve had nightmares like that. please come out you little jerk!!!!

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that doorway leads to our mess of a closet...stacked to the ceiling with junk. I really hope he didn't go in there. but I did pull out a bunch and check the floor and saw nothing

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Originally Posted by sufficio

...that doorway leads to our mess of a closet...stacked to the ceiling with junk. I really hope he didn't go in there. but I did pull out a bunch
and check the floor and saw nothing

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Probably time to clean the closet all the way (carefully of course)...that sounds like a snake-haven, lol...

Mine escaped and I freaked out. She went really far too. Under her tank actually. I thought she was done in by my cats or had gotten some where I would never find her. She just went to the heat. Security and warmth.

ok i checked under the stove...nothing. he couldnt go under the fridge because there's no gap but behind is a potential?? if he would go that far...seems awfully long to travel across a cold cold tile floor. but how would i move the fridge to check???

sorry for the panic and quick replies. checked the closet 1/2 and it's no luck. have had the rat on an air heater for 20 min in this room with no luck...going to put it in the kitchen by the fridge

ok question. if he found our screen door, would a snake purposefully go outside into the freezing cold weather if he had the chance??? our screen isn't SUPER tightly secured and we left the door cracked overnight. I really really doubt they would willingly go into super cold temps..right???

"How to move the fridge to check?" very carefully! but use a mirror to look behind if you can, first. Kitchens are very dangerous for snakes, let's hope he's
not there. Remember that snakes instinctively avoid being out in the open...are you sure you looked all around his cage? someone recently found their snake
(BP, I think?) in an ENVELOPE under the cage...LOL! Very creative creatures...

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Originally Posted by sufficio

ok question. if he found our screen door, would a snake purposefully go outside into the freezing cold weather if he had the chance??? our screen isn't SUPER tightly secured and we left the door cracked overnight. I really really doubt they would willingly go into super cold temps..right???

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No, I don't think so...they ARE attracted to outside fresh air, but don't think the cold would appeal one bit.

I'm pretty sure there is nowhere for him to go immediately out of his tub. He is a VERY brave and adventurous snake. When I have him out, he doesn't ball up..he goes exploring everywhere. Not even to dark spots. I've always loved him for that but god damn if I'm not wishing he was shy now.

please excuse the mess. here are photos of his tub and surrounding area.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/18lLIPi.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/sEiHvf5.jpg

I have checked everywhere around the tub I can think....

Those floor heaters you have that front actually comes off and thier is a bunch of open space for air to move over the coils cause it’s heat by hot water. I’d pop that off and have a look in thier lots of space In thier for him to get. Just be careful lots of sharp metal in thier.

god all I can think is. what if he got inside the oven. god knows why he would but what if. and then today I used the bloody oven. of all days. I just want to find him alive and safe...

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Originally Posted by Direpython

Those floor heaters you have that front actually comes off and thier is a bunch of open space for air to move over the coils cause it’s heat by hot water. I’d pop that off and have a look in thier lots of space In thier for him to get. Just be careful lots of sharp metal in thier.

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really?? will do that...the space heaters are off but I can imagine he might be enticed. will check

Yes, I'd head for the floor heater if I was a snake too- ;) I sympathize with your panic, hope you find him soon, and SAFE, the little brat. :snake:

no luck...does not seem ours come off. and I checked the whole length...for once I'm kind of glad we SUCK at cleaning because the whole thing is covered in dust and spiderwebs(like I said, have not used the heaters this year yet) so I don't THINK he went there. the dust would be disrupted, no?? still looking :(

Any luck?



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warmed up the mouse again.,.. have it sitting in front of the fridge/oven in case he got in there

stupid question but would he know to escape when I turned the oven on if he was in the oven ??? I'm just freaking out at the possibility..I heard nothing when I preheated it

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I'm truly running out of ideas. god dammit.

There's no better way to tear your house apart than when trying to find a lost snake...:( it's been years for me but I remember the panic too, they're much
better at this than we are.

I’m at a loss for suggestions god speed and I hope I find him!


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Originally Posted by sufficio

warmed up the mouse again.,.. have it sitting in front of the fridge/oven in case he got in there

stupid question but would he know to escape when I turned the oven on if he was in the oven ??? I'm just freaking out at the possibility..I heard nothing when I preheated it,,,

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No, probably not, sorry....that's how & why some snakes get horrible burns on "hot rocks" or other heat sources that aren't regulated...they over-stay & seem to be
clueless until it's too late.

ok minor good news?? i pulled out the stove and looked with my face against the floor. NO HOLES in the stove for him to climb into. that's win #1. so I don't think he's in the stove and died. I hope.

second good ish news...there are cobwebs blocking the space to behind the fridge. old undesturbed webs. maybe that means he is not in the kitchen. or at least not in the appliances??

still looking. all your good vibes and thoughts are so appreciated.

Yes that’s good, like I said scour the initial area more times then u care to tbh


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yes definitely...if I don't find him by nightfall flour is going all over the kitchen to track if he IS in there...
I wonder if our mattress has a hole we havent noticed. I have the rat sitting by the edge of the bed now. our bed is just a boxspring and mattress on the floor. if he wanted to go for warmth, he would go there as we were sleeping there last night. I can't pull out the boxspring and mattress myself so I'm going to have to wait until my partner is home in 1 hr.

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Originally Posted by sufficio

ok minor good news?? i pulled out the stove and looked with my face against the floor. NO HOLES in the stove for him to climb into. that's win #1. so I don't think he's in the stove and died. I hope.

second good ish news...there are cobwebs blocking the space to behind the fridge. old undesturbed webs. maybe that means he is not in the kitchen. or at least not in the appliances??

still looking. all your good vibes and thoughts are so appreciated.

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The other good news: this counts as your exercise "work-out" for today, lol... let's hope he stays out of the kitchen...any way to block it off? Never thought a cobweb
would be "good news" eh? ;)

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Originally Posted by sufficio

yes definitely...if I don't find him by nightfall flour is going all over the kitchen to track if he IS in there...
I wonder if our mattress has a hole we havent noticed. I have the rat sitting by the edge of the bed now. our bed is just a boxspring and mattress on the floor. if he wanted to go for warmth, he would go there as we were sleeping there last night. I can't pull out the boxspring and mattress myself so I'm going to have to wait until my partner is home in 1 hr.

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Can he get between the mattress & box spring? Suggest you look before turning in tonight...also look under any couch cushions & such (before sitting!).
Glad you'll have help in a little while...

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Can he get between the mattress & box spring? Suggest you look before turning in tonight...also look under any couch cushions & such (before sitting!).
Glad you'll have help in a little while...

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just looked. no luck. I am currently crossing my fingers that he is IN the box spring...I don't think there's a hole in it but you never know...I just wish I was strong enough to lift the damn mattress and box spring out. ack. going to keep trying.

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Originally Posted by sufficio

just looked. no luck. I am currently crossing my fingers that he is IN the box spring...I don't think there's a hole in it but you never know...I just wish I was strong enough to lift the damn mattress and box spring out. ack. going to keep trying.

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Snakes seem to find holes in things...like the fabric lining under the bottom of beds or couches...don't know how they do it? Have you looked in shoes & boots sitting
around...they like those too, lol.

Just don't hurt yourself trying to lift too much, that won't help any one...if he's there now, he'll still be there in a little while...

well used my adrenaline rush to lift the mattress and box spring. no luck. ripped a big hole in the bottom of the box spring and looked but NOTHING. crapola.

we have no couches and only computer chairs..i tried shoes but will go thru in case I missed one. god damn I just want to find my buddy. please come out!!!!

Check even in places where you think "there's no way" because they can squeeze themselves more than you would think. I found my girl had partially squeezed herself underneath some boxes and between some heavy frames. I hope your find yours soon!!

I am truly at a loss. I just can't fathom where else he could be. no holes in the walls. no way to go upstairs. three tiny rooms and he's VANISHED..

This might seem stupid but what kind of substrate do you have in his tub ? Newspaper ? Have you made sure he isn’t hiding somewhere in the cage and you didn’t over look him


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He's probably wearing a lampshade...or a purse, maybe a coat pocket???

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Originally Posted by Direpython

This might seem stupid but what kind of substrate do you have in his tub ? Newspaper ? Have you made sure he isn’t hiding somewhere in the cage and you didn’t over look him


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If he's still in the cage, I bet we hear the scream all the way from Canada...:rofl:

aspen.. yeah when I was a kid I 'lost' a young corn but he was just tucked in a hide...no way he's in the tub. he is a big boy. and I believe we heard him escape last night and dismissed it as nothing..we heard the styrofoam propped around his tub fall over(it happens often) and dismissed it. why didn't I just check!!!! ack. Hindsight. you can see in my gallery on my profile how big he is compared to his enclosure.

oops. nvm about the gallery. here he is a few months ago. forgot my pics didnt upload to the gallery correct..https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/d1axm1z.jpg

so you can see...he is a big boy. no way he is lost in the enclosure sadly :(

Maybe you'd better put a tracking collar on him when you finally get him back again? How long is he, about 3'?

You also need to make SURE he cannot get out again...

I think so...around that. and quite chunky. always a good eater. heck. I'll install a gd microchip on him. I just REALLY hope he didn't get outside last night...if he did, he is dead without a doubt...it is SO cold at night already...but I'm telling myself that 1. he wouldn't go for the cold and 2. we would hear the door rattling...ugh! just come out little guy.

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and yes that's for sure...I can only imagine the heat from his lamp that's been on recently made the clips loose enough for him to push up. from now on when he's back...a giant heavy weight will be on top.

I've never heard of a snake heading for cold...I don't think he'd have done that, but he wouldn't have gotten far if he did...they quickly slow down & can't move-
did you look outside? When I lived in the desert southwest, temperatures drop fast sometimes & snakes have been found stuck in the open, unable to move to
get back to their hiding places underground...not dead, just unable to move, but easy pickings for birds & other predators.

yep I looked outside, we have a little entry way and then 4 stairs that go up to the ground level. looked all around, there are some hiding places(recycling bin, old shoes) out there immediately outside the door so I hope?? if he got outside he would go for one of those. I think I am getting myself worked into a "worst case scenerio" thing when I bet I'm gonna find the bugger in a closet I already checked...

well. tonight I'll be staying up and keeping quiet with flour + bags EVERYWHERE. right now I have the rat and heater in the kitchen...will set up his old small tub + uth on the floor in case he changes his mind about this big escape plan. maybe will leave the windows open and let the house cool down so he HAS to come out and look for heat? :s

I wouldn't leave the windows open...he might just stay wherever he is now. If you want him to move & come get his rat, he has to be warm enough to do so.

If you stay up a while, you might turn out the lights, or very dim only, and just LISTEN for him. And yeah, the bugger is probably in your closet...:D

that's true. if the windows were open they do have full screens so no way to escape...but the house does get cold enough on its own to maybe make him come out. thank you for all your help and suggestions, I really really appreciate having someone to talk to through this!!

I know how frustrating it is to search for a snake...I sure hope you find him tonight. And tell him he's GROUNDED! :colbert: hahahaha!

WE FOUND HIM WE FOUND HIM!!!!! HOLY COW. My partner got home and we set about to empty the closet again. And he just exclaims, THERE HE IS! And THERE IS THE LITTLE :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:. on a SHELF in the closet over 5 feet off the ground!!!!! inside a rockband drumset tube of ALL things. Omg. he was just poking his head down like "hey, what's up?" cold as ice but he's in his warm hide now and recovering from his adventure.

so what have I learned?!!? we are buying a heavier duty tub lid for SURE. til then weighing down the tub with books and weights.

also learned that his fat butt can fit in a 1/2 inch gap under a closet door!!!

also learned that apparently! I have an arboreal ball python who decided to not go on the floor, but over 5 ft up!!!! omg.

thank you all SO MUCH for the support this has been a nightmare but I am SO RELIEVED.

HOORAY! You found him & he's safe!!! :gj::carrot::dance::pinkele: I just had a feeling he was in the closet...:rolleyes: especially when you told me how much stuff
was in there...snakes love closets...and maybe drums too? :D

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

HOORAY! You found him & he's safe!!! :gj::carrot::dance::pinkele: I just had a feeling he was in the closet...:rolleyes: especially when you told me how much stuff
was in there...snakes love closets...and maybe drums too? :D

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You had some kind of premonition! Hah. Thank you for sticking with me through it all!!!


And now that he's all cuddled up, I offered the rat I'd been using as bait and of course the little garbage disposal took it. Figured it would be good to get some warmth + water in him. He's always hungry after all.


Thank you to everyone who helped me, thank you so much!!!

Are you kidding? I love a Happy Ending! ;)