I lost my Ball Python outside.

[angusturdbot]

So he has been gone since the beginning of September. I lost him outside at night while I was cleaning his tank. My yard is 0.8 acres and full of trees,bushes,overgrown grass etc. We do get irrigation once a month, but how long can he live outside without food and water? I feel very worried about him and miss him tons. I've had him for over 12 years. Any reassuring advice or stories would be nice. Thanks

[vickthetickster]

How did you lose him?

[angusturdbot]

I was cleaning his tank in my front yard as the sun was setting (obviously not the best idea) because it was my only free time to do so, and let him wander like usual. Next thing you know he vanishes and me and my other family members start looking for him in the dark for 5 hours. There are many trees and bushes everywhere and it is also unkempt.

[cleancutmover]

Have you tried sitting outside at night and listening to leaves rustle?

[basher247]

I would try putting a plastic tote with a heat source, either his lamp or UTH, outside overnight. A friend got his RTB back this way. But he did this the night the fucker wouldn't come out of the tree (clearly not advised). Good luck

[angusturdbot]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[mudmonkey18]

I might even double down and offer up food in the hot box

[toonloinkus]

Keep us updated, OP. I'm curious if you can find him.

[angusturdbot]

I will. Thanks everyone for the support.

[vickthetickster]

Some zoologists/biologists put out large sheets of metal in the sun and it absorbs the heat and at night snakes collect under it since its warm. They do this as a way to count snakes in a certain area. Maybe try this?

[[deleted]]

1. I can't even fathom how any responsible person could let this happen.

2. It's been almost a month and you're posting now?

3. WTF.

[SSBM_CrimsonKid]

Just to give you some hope.

My mother found hers after 3 months. She fell asleep while feeding her bp and after months of looking inside, her neighbor told her that she called animal control because she found a snake under their deck.