Ball Python Esacped

It happened again.

I forgot to fully close the door to Asriel's enclosure after misting it down, and he decided to go on a little stroll.
Typically I don't panic when he goes missing-he's escaped on me twice before, and I found him in no time. (Once he was nestled in the radiator, the second time he was behind my bed) However I've since then changed rooms, I am no longer in the bigger room and now in the much smaller room. I thought finding him would be a walk in the park-it's a small 7ftx9ft room, the gap under the door is covered, there are no holes in the wall, easy-peasy.
I cannot find him anywhere.
I've ripped that room apart. There is no way he could've escaped the room, as my door is closed nearly all the time. I've checked behind his enclosure, under the stand his tank is on, the entire perimeter (once again, a very small room), in drawers, thoroughly searched the radiator, behind all my plushies against the wall, in any open bags, hell I even tore open a garbage bag. I also went through his enclosure, obviously not there.
I checked around outside the room, but I doubt he got out as the gap between the door and the floor is very small and the house is a lot cooler than my room. I tried the flour and tin foil trick, to no avail.
Does anyone have any other tips or tricks? I'm at a loss, I thought I would've found him by now. He's not a climber, and is quite lazy.
Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you.

Have you looked under any mattresses & in all gaps & under cushions of upholstered furniture (if any)? Emptied the drawers & closets? Looked under & behind all furniture? Escapes are not without harm (being too cool) for your snake, so I hope you find him & soon. For some reason, they often find holes or gaps in linings under furniture/beds, & may end up "inside"- so you might have to pull off the facing underneath your bed (for example) if there was any way (any holes) for him to get "inside" a box springs, for example. Don't give up...they try to hide, & are drawn to dark places where they might feel safe. I once found an escaped hatchling king snake in a boot in my closet...they can get pretty "creative". ;)

I actually have no upholstery/furniture/bed in that room haha. It's more or less like a pet room, where all my caged animals are kept. But thank you for the advice! I know they can be quite crafty.

I'm just bumping this. I'm really at a loss. I searched the entire floor my room is on with no luck. I know he's probably hiding in plain sight, but he's just so crafty!

Three times is a lot, especially if it involves an animals well being. I never had a total escape. Caught one or two in the act over 35 years plus of keeping. But think that you need a much more serious approach to your animal maintenance. It’s disappointing to see your almost “casual” it happened again point of view. I tried not to be harsh. But eventually the animal is the one that will suffer the most. ✌️Best of luck. Hopefully this is the time your luck won’t run out.

Sorry, I was hoping your post was good news. Hard to help you with this...not as if we can see your room. You really need to prevent escapes, snakes are WAY better at "hide & seek" than we are. ;)

Late to the show. Do you have floor vent that aren’t screwed down? If so take a look.


Good luck!

If he's due to feed soon and might be hungry you could try prey warming on a heating pad in the middle of the room with a hide nearby, left in the evening. Might draw him out. I'd expect he's out of that room though if it's that small and has been search as well as you say.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ce89bedd0a.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cd37f8878a.jpg
Pictures of the room, just to give you guys some idea of what I'm dealing with. Sorry that it's such a mess, hay from piggies and bunny gets everywhere and also the fact that you know, I've been tearing the room apart. I doubt he got outside the room but I've been checking outside of it nonetheless. I've been searching daily. I don't have any floor vents, I only have a radiator that is physically in the wall. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

Are these current photos? Is that not a ball python on the top corner of the lower tank in the second picture?

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

Three times is a lot, especially if it involves an animals well being. I never had a total escape. Caught one or two in the act over 35 years plus of keeping. But think that you need a much more serious approach to your animal maintenance. It’s disappointing to see your almost “casual” it happened again point of view. I tried not to be harsh. But eventually the animal is the one that will suffer the most. [emoji3577]Best of luck. Hopefully this is the time your luck won’t run out.

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Oh no believe me, I'm lowkey panicking. The first two times he was in an inappropriate enclosure, this time was completely my fault and I'm devastated. I'm so concerned about him, I'm scared I'll accidentally crush him or I'll never find him. I get through this type of stuff with humor and the like, so I get it may seem like carelessness on my part. Thank you for being concerned for him.

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Originally Posted by MattEvans

Are these current photos? Is that not a ball python on the top corner of the lower tank in the second picture?

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That's a clay sculpture I made of him. I should've removed that before taking the picture. I just took these photos, so they're very recent.

I don't know why a BP would ever leave that room...since you have hamsters & guinea pigs that smell like dinner to him, he may even get injured trying to get at them (either on their cages or by the animals themselves). BPs like to be in tight spaces & he's probably IN your collection of small stuffed animals (higher up), if he's not under the low shelves etc.

Keep looking, BPs are never invisible. Trust me- take ALL your "plushies" out...that's where I think he is...soft & snug in there!

It's obvious that you love animals- it's a challenge for many of us to make sure we don't let it become "too much of a good thing" to take good care of them all. Truly hope you find him, & that he's unharmed. I can't tell for sure from here, but it looks as if the gap under your door is larger at one side- snakes sometimes squish thru tight spaces, so he might actually be somewhere else in the home- but if he is, it's likely that some of your other pets (dogs & cats) would indicate his whereabouts by their intense "interest".

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I don't know why a BP would ever leave that room...since you have hamsters & guinea pigs that smell like dinner to him, he may even get injured trying to get at them (either on their cages or by the animals themselves). BPs like to be in tight spaces & he's probably IN your collection of small stuffed animals (higher up), if he's not under the low shelves etc. Keep looking, BPs are never invisible.

It's obvious that you love animals- it's a challenge for many of us to make sure we don't let it become "too much of a good thing" to take good care of them all. Truly hope you find him, & that he's unharmed. I can't tell for sure from here, but it looks as if the gap under your door is larger at one side- snakes sometimes squish thru tight spaces, so he might actually be somewhere else in the home- but if he is, it's likely that some of your other pets (dogs & cats) would indicate his whereabouts by their intense "interest".

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I'm going to go through the top stuffed animals, it's going to be a pain but at this point I'm willing to do anything. You're actually right, the gap under the door is larger on one side, so I've been checking outside of the room often. I really hope he hasn't escaped out of the room, especially considering I have cats and dogs. I've checked around the hamster's cages and looked inside of one, I'm going to check the other one now. I just cleaned out the guinea pig cages yesterday, so he's definitely not there.


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Ignore this

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Originally Posted by FlipsideRuffian

I'm going to go through the top stuffed animals, it's going to be a pain but at this point I'm willing to do anything. You're actually right, the gap under the door is larger on one side, so I've been checking outside of the room often. I really hope he hasn't escaped out of the room, especially considering I have cats and dogs. I've checked around the hamster's cages and looked inside of one, I'm going to check the other one now. I just cleaned out the guinea pig cages yesterday, so he's definitely not there.


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Just because you already checked the guinea pig cages (or anything else) doesn't mean he can't be there today. Snakes don't always stay put, so you have to keep going back over where you've already checked. And I still say a snake would LOVE to snuggle into those "plushies"- it's higher up than most BPs want to go- but you never know. One reason they'd be an easy "reach" for him is the kind of shelving- those square holes are EASY for a snake to climb thru. Higher up off the floor is also warmer. Keep looking. ;)

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Originally Posted by FlipsideRuffian

I'm going to go through the top stuffed animals, it's going to be a pain but at this point I'm willing to do anything. You're actually right, the gap under the door is larger on one side, so I've been checking outside of the room often. I really hope he hasn't escaped out of the room, especially considering I have cats and dogs. I've checked around the hamster's cages and looked inside of one, I'm going to check the other one now. I just cleaned out the guinea pig cages yesterday, so he's definitely not there.


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Sorry, I haven't read every reply, but I will tell you I've had a 10ft snake slip under the crack of a door, so unless that door is right on the ground, it may be possible that it slipped underneath.

Edit: just saw the pictures. That door gap on the left side looks big enough to slip out to me.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

...Edit: just saw the pictures. That door gap on the left side looks big enough to slip out to me.

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I think so too. But I'm still inclined to think he'd stay nearby, knowing that BPs "love" hamsters...:snake:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...98e22fed01.jpg
Sure enough, little bugger was in with the plushies! I'll be honest, I didn't think he would be able to get in there so I just surface looked. Thank you all for your help!


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:rofl: It's taken a few years, but I pretty much "think like a snake" now. :D Now make sure that's his last "big adventure"- keep him safe.

:dance:Very happy he's been found.

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Originally Posted by FlipsideRuffian

Sure enough, little bugger was in with the plushies!

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Snakes love soft cozy tight hiding places. Many get found in piles of laundry.

After around an hour of trying to get him out (he kept going from cube to cube, making me tear all the plushies out), getting him and putting all the plushies back, he is now safe and secured in his enclosure. I actually figured out how he got up there, there's a small gate blocking off the corner of the room which he most likely used to get up there.

I'd also just like to apologize for seeming like I didn't care. To be honest I was more or less just disappointed that it happened due to a careless mistake on my part. I truly love this guy with all my heart, his fifth birthday just passed in December. I get through intense or sad situations with humor, so I was trying to keep my cool. Either way he is safe and secured in his tank, and that's all that matters. Thank you all for your your help!

I hope you have many more happy & healthy years together & that this is his last "adventure". :snake:

I would love to see a full picture of him, he looks like a sharp guy. ✌️ Best of luck.

Im so glad you found him! This is my biggest fear since we have 4 snakes in the house.

Knock on wood, I have never had one escape, but my neighbour called me in a panic about his daughters getting loose. I initially said "They get loose, find the closest place to curl up, and do so". After spending 2 hours in that room looking, we then went out to look the rest of the house.

I left without finding the snake, and said before I left "I'm sure it's stil in her room". An hour later, found, tucked between the mattress of the bed, and the bed frame. I must have looked there 4 times.

Glad your story ended well. Now lock that :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: up! lol

Glad you found him! Double and triple check those locks every time. Maybe put bright colored stickie index tab on the lock as a reminder.

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Originally Posted by FlipsideRuffian

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...98e22fed01.jpg
Sure enough, little bugger was in with the plushies! I'll be honest, I didn't think he would be able to get in there so I just surface looked. Thank you all for your help!


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Looks a scene from Et[emoji23][emoji23]

Glad all ended well[emoji106][emoji106]

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