Lost...& found our BP!

[Sneksneksnek]

So this is a sad happy story im going to share

Last Christmas after going to look for rats at a petshop, to buy as pets( i really wanted rats for a long time), my bf found a ball python at a petshop, and, after going to see him , oh well we got us a snek.
As weeks went by we upgraded from the small tank he had to a bigger one. One with doors that slide open. Long story short, Snek loved his new tank. 7 days ago when my bf replaced his water, he left the tank open. We didnt go back to the apartment for 2 days!. 2 DAYS. And guess what, how the universe works. 2 3 weeks ago we finally found rats! We ordered two boys. One of the boys i suspect its actually a female (pretty sure I saw her nipppples) and is kinda crazy. So surprise surprise

Arriving home after 2 days. Tank open. Rats escaped. Snek nowhere to be seen. One of the rats is in his cage, the male . Panic panic panic! My bf calls me tells me what he did. I think he is joking... he wasnt

Came to the apartment too, finally found the female rat hidding in the kitchen, but no trace of snake.in the search for the rat i found evidence of Sneks passing in the kitchen.(i saw his poop somewhere behind the oven because he ate not too long before his escape). The horror realizing they are together there snake vs rat worst scenarios ever in my mind.we eventually caught our ratsi.This was 7 days ago, i spent all night searching sites and answers on how to find the snake. I was pretty sure he was in the kitchen bcuz of poop evidence. But time had passed and the kitchen window was sligtly opened for those 2 days and it wasnt hard for him to climb. As days passed i started accepting that he probably took a ran for it...*try hard not to be mad at bf*

Yesterday when we were away, rats escaped again! Just the female, the male.always waits on his cage or hammock chilling . Desperatly trying to catch her since. She is in the oven. I guess? I dont want to harm her so its mostly a waiting game. Anyways we moved the fridge last night to see better behind the counters and we like-triple checked the fridge and ever spot in the house . Anyways I left the fridge moved from his place last night. Today we had to go out for a while, we came back and there is SNEK!!. Under/inside the back of the fridge!! Couldnt believe what I was seeing. Like whaaaaaaat Snek hunn ure back cant believe what im seeing!!!

He is back in his tank chilling on his branch under the light, little basilisk must have been cold!! The first thing he did was go and drink water i think he was really thirsty.

But now, where the hell is the rat?!?!

[rock]

Snake escapes, rats escape, vacant home, window open, rat escapes again... Got a good thermostat for your heat source?

[Craiga 01453]

Something tells me this won't be the last escape.

[JodanOrNoDan]

You absolutely do not want rats loose in your house. A rat infestation will be very expensive. All of my animals would have to get through three escape barriers. I keep my snakes like they are hots even though they are not. I am glad you found your animals but it is time to establish some procedures that minimize the chance of escape. If you cannot do that it would be better that you do not keep exotics.

[rock]

You absolutely do not want rats loose in your house. A rat infestation will be very expensive. All of my animals would have to get through three escape barriers. I keep my snakes like they are hots even though they are not. I am glad you found your animals but it is time to establish some procedures that minimize the chance of escape. If you cannot do that it would be better that you do not keep exotics.

Actually, they live in an apartment so an expensive rat infestation will be the building's problem, not theirs.

Yep, I get it.

[Sneksneksnek]

I know it must have sounded super chaotic!!
The ratsies are both back at their place.

The pet shop workers came to our home and installed the tank for the snake with everything he needs, and re-assured us that it's perfectly fine.
Buuuut, im from Romania Europe so we dont have petshops specific for reptiles.

I wish i could upload a pic with Snek, so you can be the judges if he is okay or not. Im a little bad with uploading pics or i didnt get how to do it here..

[skiajl6297]

I read somewhere that the only way to know if your Snek truly lurves you is to let it free and see if it comes back. Same for rats. Best of luck to all involved.

[tttaylorrr]

The pet shop workers came to our home and installed the tank for the snake with everything he needs, and re-assured us that it's perfectly fine.
Buuuut, im from Romania Europe so we dont have petshops specific for reptiles.

pet-shops do not know what is best for you snake, only what is best for their sales numbers. i would not trust the word of ANY pet-shop employee. you're better off reading the stickied care sheets located in the Husbandry section of the forum.

I wish i could upload a pic with Snek, so you can be the judges if he is okay or not. Im a little bad with uploading pics or i didnt get how to do it here..

if you have a smart phone, download the app TapaTalk. it allows you to upload photos from your phone gallery.

you really need to double down and get serious about your pets. multiple escapes from multiple pets within such a small timeframe is unacceptable. however, i'm relieved this had a happy ending. i know that feeling of panic seeing an empty tank, and i made sure it would never happen again.

[rock]

I know it must have sounded super chaotic!!
The ratsies are both back at their place.

The pet shop workers came to our home and installed the tank for the snake with everything he needs, and re-assured us that it's perfectly fine.
Buuuut, im from Romania Europe so we dont have petshops specific for reptiles.

I wish i could upload a pic with Snek, so you can be the judges if he is okay or not. Im a little bad with uploading pics or i didnt get how to do it here..

Good to hear! Yes, pictures would definitely help. If you go to the tab at the top of the page, Gallery, and then click on, My Images, you can scroll down to, Upload Images, and get any picture from your phone. Even without posting in this thread we could see the pictures in your gallery.

Side note, Romania is a lovely place and the people I have encountered from there have been excellent.

[Kcl]

I know it must have sounded super chaotic!!
The ratsies are both back at their place.

The pet shop workers came to our home and installed the tank for the snake with everything he needs, and re-assured us that it's perfectly fine.
Buuuut, im from Romania Europe so we dont have petshops specific for reptiles.

Glad you got your snake back!

Sounds like the snake escape was due to an error that you guys will probably be very careful not to make again, not a flaw in the tank. How did the rats get out though? Also, if you think the rats might not be the same sex you should really look into that before you have a bunch of rat babies.