King Snake got out...

Bandit · 11-19-17, 09:48 PM

Well, my female Florida King has escaped (again). This is the third time. My record of snake escapes was flawless until I got her. The first time I walked in the room right as she was getting out. The second time took about 30 minutes and then I found her in the dresser drawer a couple feet away from her tank.

This time, no luck after a hard search. She's pushing 4 feet so she's not super small. I left town yesterday morning and got back tonight to find her gone, so there was about an 18 hour window when she could have gotten out. Between the time I left and got back she shed and pooped. The poop was pretty fresh so I'm thinking she probably escaped only a couple hours before I got back.

I live in a small apartment and as far as I can tell there are no ways for her to escape the apartment. Now, her getting into things like the fridge, dishwasher, etc. are still on the table, although I'm not sure she would've made her way out the bedroom to the kitchen (although I'm not ruling it out). I'll be searching intermittently every day, as I have finals so I need to stay focused on that. She loves her food, so I'm placing a couple rats out on the floor in an attempt to catch her while she's searching, and she's always starving after a shed. It's cooling down here in Louisiana (although not getting really cold), so I'm thinking she may veer towards the indoor redfoot tortoise enclosure since it has heat lamps on it 24/7.

Anyway, not really posting this for any reason besides venting. Although I think I'll find her, I'm hoping it's sooner than later.

jjhill001 · 11-19-17, 11:48 PM

I'd try baiting a hide with a mouse.

jjhill001 · 11-20-17, 12:00 AM

Also, what kind of setup do you have?

dannybgoode · 11-20-17, 12:48 AM

I've had a few escapes and they've always turned up eventually. Check *everywhere* - two off mine turned up in drawers that were closed so how they got in I don't know.

Another turned up when I pulled the lever on a recliner chair and she was in the foot rest mechanism (had to be careful with that one!).

Another had gone under the floorboards and then through a hole that carried the plumbing and had got into a small high up cupboard.

They'll get anywhere that they can but they always turn up.

toddnbecka · 11-20-17, 01:39 AM

I just recaptured one of my yearling Dominicans a few days ago. He was roaming the basement for several weeks. I checked the whole basement every night and never saw the bugger, then one night last week when I was putting my largest female back into her enclosure after giving her a few hours to hang out on top of the bookshelves in the living room I found the escapee right beside her enclosure stack. Definitely check around an hour or so after the lights have been off, they're usually active then.

SerpentineDream · 11-20-17, 04:51 AM

I never had escapees until I started keeping kings and milks. A black milk snake spent 2 months or better on the lam in our basement and a Florida king snake is hiding somewhere in our snake room even now. They are little Houdinis.

I suggest baiting a milk jug or soda bottle with a rodent if the animal is slim enough to fit inside. Otherwise perhaps make a tent with some newspaper and bait with both food and water. Place it next to a wall as they like to move along walls. Appliances that get warm will be attractive hiding spots too. I found one in a bookcase wedged between a couple of books once. Snakes are territorial and I have sometimes found them only a few feet from their cages, by all appearances just wanting to go back home.

Bandit · 11-20-17, 09:00 AM

I've checked everywhere accessible...like I said, it's a small apartment. Now I know that doesn't mean she's not somewhere obvious and I missed her. I'm going to be baiting the bedroom and the kitchen. Her tank is in the bedroom so I'm thinking she's still in there somewhere. It's low to the ground, so I'm leaving the tank open with the UTH on so maybe she'll make her way back in for some warmth. The main reason I'm baiting the kitchen is because if she slid under the bedroom door (which is definitely an option), she could travel against the wall through the open door to the living room/kitchen area, and she could be up in the fridge, dishwasher, or under the cabinets.

My concern is that she travelled to the small closet with the water heater. It would've been a pretty tight squeeze for her to get under that door. There some sort of hole behind it. I can't get back there to see where it leads though. I think the chances are slim that she went in there but I'm really hoping she didn't get back there because if she went down that hole, she could be gone for good for all I know.

Bandit · 11-20-17, 11:33 AM

So I was thinking, and I'd like some thoughts on this:

As I said, she loves her food and I'm sure she'll be looking for some food soon. Of course I'm trying to bait her with rats, but those can only be left there so long before they start to rot. I was thinking of moving my gopher snake's tank down to the floor. One side is screened, so I'm wondering if that my peak her interest and I may at least get her into the area. What do y'all think?

The alternative is just leave her tank open and hope she wants to move back in to warm up.

SerpentineDream · 11-20-17, 12:07 PM

Maybe lay her tank on its side on the floor for her?

Bandit · 11-20-17, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

Maybe lay her tank on its side on the floor for her?

It already is. It's actually a vertical tank which I laid on its side to give her more floor space. And she's on the lowest level which is only an inch or two off the ground.

jjhill001 · 11-20-17, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

I've had a few escapes and they've always turned up eventually. Check *everywhere* - two off mine turned up in drawers that were closed so how they got in I don't know.

Another turned up when I pulled the lever on a recliner chair and she was in the foot rest mechanism (had to be careful with that one!).

Another had gone under the floorboards and then through a hole that carried the plumbing and had got into a small high up cupboard.

They'll get anywhere that they can but they always turn up.

Hahaha, my brother found my gopher snake about 10 years ago with the recliner method. He flipped backwards and screamed like a little girl it was hilarious.

I've had two escapees both from me just leaving the top open like an idiot. The baby corn snake (my first purchased snake ever dang near 20 years ago) I never found, it was the middle of winter and we never smelled anything dead, literally no idea what happened.

And the gopher snake from the recliner story.

For those with escapist issues I highly recommend checking out the zilla sliding screen lid tanks. If its closed its physically impossible for a snake to get out of those enclosures which is why I've only ever had the two and both were my fault due to being in a rush.

toddnbecka · 11-21-17, 04:05 AM

I'd use a live mouse or weaned rat in a 10 gallon tank with a screened top for baiting. Worked very well when my IJ carpet python got out once, found her a couple hours later heading for the tank with the mouse in it.

**EL Ziggy** · 11-22-17, 09:02 PM

Best wishes finding your critter Bandit. I had two BPs escape decades ago. One I found and one I never saw again. In both cases it was my own user error. Always double/ triple check those lids, locks, and clips people.

Bandit · 11-22-17, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL Ziggy

Best wishes finding your critter Bandit. I had two BPs escape decades ago. One I found and one I never saw again. In both cases it was my own user error. Always double/ triple check those lids, locks, and clips people.

This was most certainly user error. Still haven't seen any signs of her, but I'm not losing hope. We're out of town for a few days. I cranked the heat up and laid blankets and other items around the floor. Hoping that the quiet and warm atmosphere makes her more comfortable moving around, and when I get back on Sunday I find her.

jjhill001 · 11-23-17, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit

This was most certainly user error. Still haven't seen any signs of her, but I'm not losing hope. We're out of town for a few days. I cranked the heat up and laid blankets and other items around the floor. Hoping that the quiet and warm atmosphere makes her more comfortable moving around, and when I get back on Sunday I find her.

Turn the heat down and leave the tank open but warm.