Ok- I have a problem

So last week, my little ball got out of his locked aquiarium... I couldent see how he got out, but I got him a new one any way, just incase. So I went out and got a brand new cage, new heat pad- the works. So I go down there today and what do you know- hes out AGAIN. The locks in place, theres nothing wrong with the cage at all, the tops perfect and not removable, and no one had even been by the cage.
Im waiting to find him under the dryer again, for the third time in a week, and Im am VERY confused.. So, the only thing I can think to do is put him in with my girl. I know people that keep more then one ball to a cage, but I was never for it, but now I feel like I have no choice. I had him in there for awhile before because of some 'problems', and he didnt get out- and she didnt eat him... And thats the only thing that I can think to do now.
Im just worried because Hes a couple weeks old, and shes 13 months old.. Therefore, BIG size differnce... But for some reason its IMPOSSIBLE to keep him in a cage unless hes with her... He just like, vanishes out of thin air and ends up out of his cage.. I just cant get it!!
Some help, please?

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He just like, vanishes out of thin air and ends up out of his cage

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Hmmm....I'm not being sarcastic or anything but there must be something you are over looking. These little guys are escape artists so if there is a way out they will find it. Scan that cage 10 times over if you have to to find out what he is doing.

I hope you find him soon. :)

Are you using aquariums with screen tops and those U shapes clasps to lock it? What does the setup look like?

They also make some tanks that have sliding tops with nail holes that can be used to lock the cage... you might want to look into one of those.

Can you post a few pictures of your setup? This may help us in determining what is going on or where he is possibly getting out at.


You really don't want to put him in with another snake...Ball are solitary animals and will stress when housed with others...regardless of what others do it isn't a good idea.:)

Yea, Il post a pic in a few minutes- but no, I know Im not looking over anything. The top i screen, and is unremovable. Unless I use a exacto blade, which Im not, and theres no rips or holes in the screen. The Lock I have is for the sliding doors- and when Its on the dorrs CAN NOT open- unless I unlock it and slide the lock off. And the glass is perfect. Ive taken everything out and inspected everything, and theres absolutely nothing wrong with it, and no one had been in the house for the past 12 hours before I got home.. It just makes no sense at all..

as they asked are you using one with a screen top or one with the sliding glass doors in the front? when i had to show case cages before i went to racks i had the same problem my little male was able to go inbetween the glass door even though it had a lock on it.

The ones with the sliding doors, but theres a lock on the doors, and it was locked at the time. Theres no possible way he could have gotten out that way... and no, cause the gap is litterally 2mm.. The lock is tiny and the snakes is too big to get through a gap that small..

Remember that if the snake can fit its head in somewhere, even sideways, it can fit its whole body through.

Could the snake move any parts of the cage to slip through?

Setup your video camera? =-P

Nope- cant get his head throuh.. Ill have the pic up in about 2 min

I don't want to be rude... But regardless of your looking over, there is quite obviously a weakness in the cage. They can squeeze through very small openings. The video camera might be a good idea, if you're not going to buy a new enclosure. That way you could see exactly what's happening and rectify it.

sounds like thats what happened. look around the cage from the mesh tops wher air vents to the sides give it a good cleaning and inspect all areas. if there are not gaps or holes anywhere you know how he got out...through the gaps.

and yes my het pied was 300 + grams at the time and i found him in my closet.

when you find him set up a video camera like Rascal said and see if he does it again. when a ball find a way out you will see it trying to get out of that same place over and over again.

Ok, heres the lock: http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...rrent=lock.jpg
And heses the cage: http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...rrent=cage.jpg
I have the doors out in the picture of the cage b/c I had just moved it on to the ground. I did that when I lost my other snake before and it had worked.. And Im not sure if you can completely tell my the pic of the lock- but its too small for him to squeeze through.

And yea- I might just have to do the camera- b/c the gap w/ the lock IS way too smal for him to fit through.. But theres no holes- hes a magic snake :) but seriously, Im so lost on this.. My other ball was never able to get out- aside from us (the humans, of course lol) messing up.

Oh yea- and I already DID buy a new enclosure. Its the one he just got out of. AND he got out of the old one.

15qt tub, undertank heater/thermostat, bedding, 2 hides, water dish and bungee cord(for the middle). You would be set for quite awhile with that tub, and I highly doubt he would get out.

Ya if your all for buying ANOTHER enclosure, I'd go with the tub. But if not I really would set up a video camera if I was you. I personally am very curious as to how hes getting out. The only thing I could point to is that tiny gap in the glass but I know you've said its way to small. Another thing you could do is get an enclosure thats actually too high for him to get out of, and since you said hes what a couple weeks old, that shouldn't be too high. But than that comes with a bunch of problems like maintaining humidity and temps.

But ya if/when you find out how hes escaping, please let us know.

I will- because its GOT to be something good that other keepers should be warned about.. lol- only mine.... Im still lookin for him...

Any possibility that he "snuck out" while you had the cage open, like when you're getting fresh water...???

Steve

No, what happend was I was leaving for the night yesterday, and before I left I checked in on both of my babies, and their aquariums (His, mostly) and left. I had changes their water about an hour earlier.. But when I got home, it LOOKED like the same it did when I had left.. Only without Jack.. ? No idea..

The pictures are too small for me to see a weak spot, but I did notice that your signature is backwards. 1.0 means 1 male and 0 females. 3.5 means 3 males and 5 females. :) There has to be a way that he is pushing on something that has just enough give for him to poke his head through and get out.

Oh- thanks. lol, didnt notice. And yea, I know thr pic is small- it wouldnt let me do a bigger one.. With the old cage there was a weak spot in the tp, but I had tape over it- and when he got out of that it wasnt through the tape.. And with my new cage, theres nohing.. Me and a few others have gone over it, including the store owner from the place I got it, and.. I dont know.. Just confused..