Could you elaborate on what I should do with the rats? I really do want to do this the right way. I am unsure as what you mean by wire across the top. I figure that they should be open enough for the snake to get in and eat, but closed enough to prevent escape. I could use the help of people here to accomplish that.
What has worked for me in the past is just leave the rat or mouse in a wire cage or a plastic tub with a lid and a bunch of holes in it. You don't necessarily want the snake to eat. If it eats it could easily retreat to a cozy spot and stay there for weeks. You'll come in one day to see the snake near the rat container trying to find a way in or in a hide near the container. The snake will be able to smell the rat just fine with holes in a plastic tub. I personally would use a small wire cage on the floor next to a heat source like a heating pad. Put hides close to the rat and the heat source so that the snake wants to stay there and not leave to find a safer warmer place.
I helped a friend find his missing ball python after his son left the tub slightly pulled out of the rack. We set 3 empty cereal boxes on their wide sides and the wire cage with a few mice on top of them. We set a couple of heating mats near the boxes and a night heat lamp shining on the floor near by. The floor was tile. We also set a bowl of water out.
The next morning the snake was in one of the boxes.
I got on him for not locking his cages and racks way more than I got on you.
Last edited by cecilbturtle; 09-22-2012 at 01:55 PM.
"you only regret the risks in life you DON'T take."
I will definitely modify what I have been doing. Thanks for the advice. This combined with the occasional corn starch test and constant searching sounds like a decent plan.
I went in today and found both rats still in the tank with no signs of the snake. I cleaned their tank (rodents are fairly gross) and got them new food and water. After school I moved them to my classroom, keeping the lid on this time. I noticed that one of them died at some point today
They had constant food and water with places to burrow and hide. Not really sure what happened, but the other one is still in the tank.
I also laid down a UTH with a thermostat and a hide with water nearby. I will be honest, I am losing hope...but I will continue this all year if needed.
About a year ago I met a guy at a reptile show who had a corn snake go missing for almost a year. He found it one day just laying in the open. Vet said he was really dehydrated but otherwise fine. He made a full recovery.
"you only regret the risks in life you DON'T take."
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