Ball Python escape, could he have gotten out of the house?

[Homebody]

After another check this morning, he really doesn't appear to be anywhere in the living room, not behind or under any furniture - have any of you had this experience?

I already shared my most recent experience with losing my Children's python, but I'll expand on it. I believe my snake was in the laundry cart the whole time. None of the newspaper I spread out was disturbed because he never moved. The thing is that I looked in that cart. It was one of the first places that I looked. I believe that I didn't see him because he camouflaged so well with all the clothes and because, at the time, I was frantic. I looked right at him, but I didn't see him. He was invisible to me.

So, I advise you to try and calm down. Take a nap. Eat a good meal. Looking for a snake is like one of those hidden pictures puzzles where you have to find the toothbrush or fire hydrant in a picture of a jungle. It's easy enough in the waiting room of your pediatrician's office. Much more difficult when your house is burning down around you.

You bp may never be found. I think it's important to accept that fact in order to get past it. Sometimes, they don't come back, but don't despair because usually they do.

[Bogertophis]

Okay it's morning, there was no trace of movement in the flour, the rat is still uneaten and there's still no sign of him.

Part of me is worried he wouldn't be able to take the cold, it got down to 16 degrees celsius in the night - when we checked behind the furniture fridge etc last night there was no trace of him at all, so I'm genuinely not sure he's even in the house

If your house is cold- remember that floors are colder than higher up- your snake will either be hiding near a source of warmth- something like the running motor UNDER your refrigerator- which can be VERY dangerous for a snake- or he'll be too chilly to move around much at all. Keep looking- many times loose snakes are not found for a few days or more- you've only just started. I get your frustration- most of us have been there, & once you have, you'll be much more motivated to never allow a snake to escape again.

[Animallover3541]

If your house is cold- remember that floors are colder than higher up- your snake will either be hiding near a source of warmth- something like the running motor UNDER your refrigerator- which can be VERY dangerous for a snake- or he'll be too chilly to move around much at all. Keep looking- many times loose snakes are not found for a few days or more- you've only just started. I get your frustration- most of us have been there, & once you have, you'll be much more motivated to never allow a snake to escape again.

Also don't forget that ball pythons can climb! Especially the males. If your little guy had the desire to crawl around and escape, it's likely he also was inclined to climb up high somewhere. Could he have possibly found his way back into his enclosure and buried himself? I had that happen with my boyfriend's White's tree frogs when I was "frog sitting" once. He turned up in his tank the next morning.

[KaijuSpy]

Hi everyone I just wanted to update you all - we found him safe and sound. He had found a back passageway behind our kitchen sink, fridge, draws etc and was hiding behind a layer of insulation - he was cold but okay - i'm just gonna keep an eye on him and if he needs we'll take him to a vet.


Thank you all so much for your help, the panic is now over!

[Albert Clark]

Congrats! They truly don’t travel far from their enclosures.

[Homebody]

Thank you all so much for your help, the panic is now over!

That is absolutely the best way to end the panic. I'm so happy for you.

[KaijuSpy]

That is absolutely the best way to end the panic. I'm so happy for you.

Thanks a bunch to you and everyone else! We're going to see how he goes for a lil while, and take him to our local reptile shop so they can check to see if he's healthy and if they're worried or we see a change we'll take him to the vet - I'm sure he's fine but he has been in a dirty space for the last day

[Homebody]

Thanks a bunch to you and everyone else! We're going to see how he goes for a lil while, and take him to our local reptile shop so they can check to see if he's healthy and if they're worried or we see a change we'll take him to the vet - I'm sure he's fine but he has been in a dirty space for the last day

If there's nothing obviously wrong with him, I'd just leave him alone. His little adventure was stressful enough. I wouldn't add the stress of a trip if I could avoid it.

[Bogertophis]

Thanks a bunch to you and everyone else! We're going to see how he goes for a lil while, and take him to our local reptile shop so they can check to see if he's healthy and if they're worried or we see a change we'll take him to the vet - I'm sure he's fine but he has been in a dirty space for the last day

First- wonderful news that you found him so fast!

I wouldn't worry too much about his brief chill- he's probably okay & just keep an eye on him. An RI would show up as open mouth breathing, bubbles in & around the mouth, & noisy breathing (whistling, crackling, wheezing sounds). IF you don't see/hear any of that, I would AVOID taking him to a vet, or especially to a reptile shop, as he could actually pick something up from them.

He needs most to de-stress- let him rest for a week without handling- stress lowers their immune system just as it does ours. Again, so happy you found him quickly.

[KaijuSpy]

Thanks guys, gonna leave him be for a while and just keep an eye out for any trouble I was just a little worried because he'd been in a place thats dirty - but then again I wouldn't necessarily be sick if I were stuck down there either