Escape!!!

[dkatz4]

Don't worry, I found her. Many thanks to this group and all of the similar posts that informed my search and led to me finding her in about 5 minutes all of about 3 feet away from her enclosure I'm not sure how long she was out, she was cold but not freezing, lively and moving around and such so I'm not worried about any ill effects.
This is both frustrating and embarrassing. I know exactly how she got out, there is a gap in the door of her enclosure that she often uses to sneak into a sort of inner cavity of the enclosure, but has never actually made it out before. Remedying the problem has long been on the back of my mind, but she hasn't utilized her little escape route in a long time so I thought perhaps she's gotten it out of her system – obviously I was wrong.
But now I have a question: I was going to feed her today, already have the mouse thawed and everything – do you think I should? I don't know if she is stressed out or too cold or what? She seems completely fine in terms of long-term health, but do you think feeding her in about an hour would be able advised??

[EL-Ziggy]

I'd probably wait a day or two but she could very well be fine now as long as she has heat and hides. Did you seal off her escape route?

[Meerna]

If you already have it thawed I'd go ahead and offer it. If she did get cold while out she can warm herself up to digest if she chooses to eat.

[dkatz4]

I'd probably wait a day or two but she could very well be fine now as long as she has heat and hides. Did you seal off her escape route?

For the moment i used a squeeze-clamp to tighten the gap. Long-term, i think i am going to need to add some structural element to really close it off. Its hard to describe, but basically the gap has been only been sealed off with soft foam, effective for insulation but she figured out quickly that she could wiggle her way under it. I'm going to replace it with, well... more foam, but rigid foam board rather than the squishy stuff. I just need to figure out the best way to apply it and ensure a tight fit. LOL, I wish she would just hurry up and grow so that this wouldn't be an issue, the gap is incredibly small!

[dkatz4]

UPDATE
She ate like a champ, although butt-first its an improvement considering last time she struggled for a half hour trying to take it sideways. but she's happily digesting in her hide per usual. Thanks for the advice, folks, you're the best.

[Sauzo]

Haha welcome to the club. I havent had a prison break for years but last one i had, Caesar managed to get out of a tub that the boas havent figured out in years. I found him curled up sleeping under a swivel chair by his cage. He acted like nothing was wrong and just looked at me and laid back down when i flipped the chair. Grats on finding her.

[Ogre]

UPDATE
She ate like a champ, although butt-first its an improvement considering last time she struggled for a half hour trying to take it sideways. but she's happily digesting in her hide per usual. Thanks for the advice, folks, you're the best.

My RTB also used to eat things sideways and backwards, it was funny and worry some at the same time. He hasn't done it in awhile though.

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[Zincubus]

So glad you got him back !!

Don't beat yourself up though , these things happen .

[AbsoluteApril]

Make sure to seal/secure the gap really well. Once a boa finds an escape spot, they may be relentless trying it out again.

[dkatz4]

Make sure to seal/secure the gap really well. Once a boa finds an escape spot, they may be relentless trying it out again.

I replaced the seal with a tighter fitting foam, but then I went a step further. in an earlier comment i joked how i wish she would just grow faster so that the gap would be too small for an escape, well i ended up switching her with my larger boa who was in a totally escape proof set-up.