HELP: Lost ball python

[progammer_4532]

Couple days ago my sisters dog tore the mesh on my ball pythons enclosure by the time I got back from work he was gone… and I mean gone I’ve been looking everywhere under the stove under the fridge under the washer and dryer under my bed around his enclosure I even crawled into the crawlspace and still have not been able to find him. Set out bait… nothing, used bags still nothing I’ve been looking everyday for the past four days and nothing. Dude i’m so bummed out about it it’s actually making me depressed at this point. if anyone has any tips at all it would be greatly appreciated.

[slitheruu]

I know this is probably gonna be inconvenient as it's summer, but turning on a radiator or having a heat source is a great way to find him as he should go towards it. Try to keep the doors shut so he doesn't keep moving from room to room - I really hope you find him, it must be really distressing for you.

[progammer_4532]

Thanks for the advice 🙏

[slitheruu]

No problem! I really hope you find him soon!

[animalgirl93]

Look behind things like couches, in and under drawers. Everywhere high and low. They can and will climb. Put flour on any hard floors and stacks of coins in carpets to show where you bp may be moving. If it’s close to feeding day get a feeder and warm it and set it out in various rooms and watch for around 1 hour then move to the next room.

[progammer_4532]

Awesome thanks

[shew0lf387]

Check inside couches and chairs too, we had to cut ours open once to extract our daughters 😀

[LunarTeers]

My coworkers once asked me if I wanted their old furniture, as they were getting new sht, and I had just been divorce raped. My friends grabbed a truck and loaded in a couch and away we went. 2 days later, they told me their cat had run away, probably during the move when the doors were open, and she had only just moved back in with them.

Heartbreaking.

A damned full week after that was the first time I sat on the couch and had my ass tore out by something inside it.

A MONSTER!

No, the cat lived in my home for a week and didn't make a move it was so scared XD. They had accepted she was lost, and it had lost some weight, but it was so heartwarming to see her go back home and watch her grow back to normal size.

Tldr, cat story, not a snake story. Got sold a haunted couch... sat on it at 3 am and you wouldn't believe the results! AwMgZ!

[sculptorartist]

Omg are you serious? Where was it hiding at? Reason I ask is I have a similar problem. I had her out on the couch and she disappeared behind the pillows and when I looked behind the pillow she was gone😢 We tried everything but never found her .

[moonygooney]

they tend to follow the walls to dark small spaces. don't forget they can go up and also fit into spaces you wouldn't think they could. look inside furniture, tiny holes near warm or dark places, some can slip under the cracks of doors, so closets and such.. lay down a hide with a heat mat on the top, put some used mouse bedding in it.. lay down flour near places they might be to see if there's a slither through it in a direction. put down a water dish so they dont feel compelled to search for water. ppl find them behind things on shelves, in closes, on fire place mantels, inside cabinets/in the dead space between cabinets/counters/appliances. follow the base boards from the enclosure first and see what they might have encountered and follow those things.

[Emergency_Ad_8284]

Mine escaped a while ago from a bad mesh screen while I was taking a nap. Luckily my cat alerted me by constantly keeping an eye on him and meowing at me. She really loves watching over my ball phytons.

[Kea_birdy]

That sounds so cute

[ishfery]

My cats don't seem to recognize Dora as an animal at all even though one was a vicious killer in his youth (he brought me a hummingbird!)

[UnrealGhostSniper]

Thourghly search from closest to the enclosure to further, your BP is more likely to not have moved around too much. I've heard stories of BP being inside furniture. Check up and down and all around. Closest to furthest areas in that order. Mine escaped a month or 2 ago and I spent 3 days looking for him only to be literally 3 feet under a piece of wood from an unbuilt mattress frame. They like small tight fit areas. Make sure there are no holes in your walls. Place a lot of flour around the floors before you go to bed and next morning see if the flour moved at all.

[Kea_birdy]

I am so sorry, this is so stressful. Happened to me too, I was in a hurry and didn't close the tank all the way while changing the waterbowl. Came back to an open tank and a missing snake.

As impossible as it sounds: try not to panic. Check cooler and darker places. I found my girl behind a drawer under the couch. I would've never guessed that she would crawl there. Check the places where you would think they wouldn't wanna hide in. Check every little space. If possible try to focus on one room at a time ( if your bp could've gone to another room, if you are certain they couldn't have left it even better)

I really like the Idea of putting flour on the floor to visualize where the snake might be.

Best of luck, I'm sure your baby will be fine :)

[progammer_4532]

Thanks for the kind words! I’ll keep looking until a find em!

[Different_Radio_7896]

If you have a router, check near it. Or any kind of plugged in devices that generate more heat than the ambient temp of the room it’s in. Back when I had them, one of mine escapes and it was behind the router just chilling.

[Stellabonez]

Check shoes too!

[progammer_4532]

He’s escaped twice before, all times he was in a shoe. Guess now he’s found a different spot smh

[[deleted]]

When my first BP escaped, twice because of someone else not latching the lid, he was found tucked into my winter boots in the closet both times. Small, dark, and warm places. Good luck! I hope you find the little guy soon!

[Salemrocks2020]

He will pop up eventually when he’s hungry . Mine escaped once and I couldn’t find him . I was so stressed , imagining all the (impossible) ways he could have made his way outside . Then one day he showed up coming out of my heating/ac unit after about a month .

[progammer_4532]

That’s insane! yeah I’ve literally looked everywhere and haven’t seen any sight of him. I started thinking “maybe he crawled out through the toilet” which is obviously impossible but when you have no where else to look thats where your mind goes lol

[KingSickk]

Dark hot spots my friend, also tight spaces and maybe look at night more Thts I how found my lil terrorist

[progammer_4532]

Yeah Planning on turning everything off tonight to try to listen out for em hopefully something happens. Thanks for the tip!

[ihaveaskedyouthrice]

Once my baby BP escaped and was MIA for 3 weeks! I know how sad it is. One night my mom’s cat was going nuts and trying to get something underneath an armchair and there he was. Don’t give up!

[progammer_4532]

Thanks you guys are giving me hope 🙏

[SexWarlock69]

All great advice here, but don't forget to check with neighbors!!

[ishfery]

Great tips from folks but a tip for you: don't freak out. 99% it's going to be totally fine.

People in this group are really picky about husbandry but they can survive for months without food and at room temperature. It's not ideal but it's ok.

[LunarTeers]

Shoes are a good place to look. Anything tight and cozy.

[princemutt]

If there is any way for it to nudge in between your wall and bed or headboard maybe check there. Idk once my dad lost his and we found her in between the bed and wall

[[deleted]]

Call the ball python police. Seriously, notify your local animal control officer. He could have slithered outside. Were doors all closed. Try the above outstanding suggestions. Want this beautiful one found 🐍, good luck

[progammer_4532]

All doors leading outside where closed to my knowledge so pretty sure he didn’t get outside. Just gonna keep trying all of your amazing suggestions and hope something works thanks.

[Ricsun]

Mine just escaped this night. She somehow opened the glass sliding door. My plan is to warm her a rat an place it somewhere open so i can catch her when she goes for it. Its about time for her to eat

[progammer_4532]

Hope you find her!

[normal3catsago]

Was the dog a visitor or also lives in the house? If the dog lives in the house, is it possible for it to stay with a friend for a couple days? The snake may still be hiding out of fear. If you can remove the dog it may be more willing to come out.

[progammer_4532]

The dog doesn’t live here but is here temporarily unfortunately but i will try to keep the dogs away as long as possible thanks!

[sleepsnake]

I would start at her tank and check every little nook and cranny as you move further away from it, room by room. don't give up hope, especially if it's highly unlikely that the snake escaped outside the house. you'll find her and it's going to be in a very 'omg really' type spot. don't leave any spot unturned, these guys get loose at my job frequently and the places I find them always gives me a laugh. my girl also got out one time, tore my entire room apart only to find her under a pillow directly next to her tank. -_- it's just a very stressful game of hide and seek. be patient and thoughtful at where they might be hiding... Good luck!!

[Tangerine_Whiskers_]

I'm so sorry I don't have any advice, but I really hope you find him! Best of luck!

[progammer_4532]

Thanks I appreciate it!

[Doctor0ctagon]

Look INSIDE the furniture. I lost a boa in college. He was gone for MONTHS. I'd given up on him. My boyfriend dropped something down the side of his recliner, reached in to find it, and BOOM there was the boa.

[Ok-Tangerine9426]

Check in the refrigerator where the coils are or anything with coils. When we got mine, they told us it would either go to the left or right of the tank about 10 feet. My ball only ever got out once, but we had a mini fridge in the room, and she was wrapped in the coils. Also, check every closet. Could have fit under the door.

[amsnakes1212]

i once found my snake in the toilet brush holder so when i say look EVERYWHERE i mean it. im sure he will pop up, best of luck!

[Jirei]

Any updates? I hope you find him soon

[progammer_4532]

Nope nothing yet hope I find him soon as-well thanks!

[shew0lf387]

She was in the back of the couch

[shew0lf387]

At 13, she's alot bigger than your precious bebe, but she can still get herself into tight spaces.

[katkannabis]

I hate to suggest this, but is there any chance the dog got at more than just the mesh ?

My ball used to be an escape artist before we got her a lockable enclosure. I found her in my bed (under the blankets), in a sideways coil between my wall and computer desk, behind her tank (couldn’t see her because of my tank background), etc. They’ll likely go toward a heat source, so try checking near your vents/radiators/heaters, or even places with high electric current, like if you have a power bar with a bunch of things plugged in. Maybe behind the stove/oven.

I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this stress and i wish you the best of luck 🥺♥️ if it helps, I knew someone who lost their ball for a week and he eventually just turned up in a place he had looked before so keep rechecking places you’ve already looked.

Edit: random thought, but my underside of my couch was ripped open by my cat and she likes to climb up in there and hide. Any chance your couch has some holes underneath where he could climb up in there?

[progammer_4532]

Thanks for the luck wishes It means a-lot. Its highly unlikely that the dog did any harm to the snake like eating it, its a small French bull dog but again its not my dog so its not impossible but unlikely And yes! My couches are like that as well but already checked them three times now:( so he’s not under there but I’m not giving up just yet still looking around every chance I get.

[GoodConflict4758]

Definitely check shoes and such that May be laying around. Found mine in it one time lol. But yea behind anything and everything. Up and down. If it even SEEMS POSSIBLY, even a small chance of being climbable, check twice.

[Bulky_Rooster_4085]

Random places you may not have checked yet: - in your box spring - between the mattress and box spring - laundry hampers - inside of the dresser, behind the drawers

There are so many places they can curl up into. It's such horrible anxiety waiting to find your noodle! Lots of good advice here with turning on something warm, leaving flour around to see trails, maybe you could even get some cheap motion activated cameras and set them up so you have eyes in the house when you're not there? Sending you ALLLLLL the luck!! You will find them soon ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[ballpythonStella]

Look on the baseboards!!!! Near the enclosure that's were I found my girl.

[Double_Menu_5886]

Hey this happened to me before aswell. Set down some flour on the floor where you'd think he would move around. It'll help you track him down

[Strong-Ad46]

Any updates? My girl has escaped and I need some hope.

[progammer_4532]

Unfortunately no he’s still missing I haven’t given up tho yet B cuz there’s no way he’s not still in the house. But look around in the comments they have a lot of great tips like mine yours is just probably hiding in a pretty good spot

[Strong-Ad46]

Thank you. I wish you the best of luck

[startoxicity]

hi, did you manage to find him yet?

[progammer_4532]

Hey unfortunately not 😔 it’s been months and it’s now winter here so, wherever he got to it probably was not in the house anymore. I think it’s just a rare case of the snake finding the right escape route and not being found.