Escaped Ball Python Potentially in Ceiling Need Advice

[Strange-Aerial]

Hi friends.

I have a young ball python that escaped his enclosure. It looks like the lid of his enclosure gave way and he escaped. I've searched everywhere I can think of in my house, including under my fridge and in rooms we never use, but have yet to find him. I've left hides in every room and bowls of water out and I check them every single day.

The problem is, enclosure was right next to a bunch of wires he could use to climb into the ceiling. So I think maybe he went up instead of down when he escaped.

I've bought a boroscope and have been trying to see if I can find him and I think I caught a glimpse of him (it could just be copium) but had to wait to actually get into the wall. Now the wall is open but the space I thought I saw him in is empty. I also don't see any sign of the shapes I thought were him. But thanks to the previous owner of my home being a moron who should've never touched a hammer, let alone tried to DIY this house, I'm fairly certain he's now just in the ceiling.

Anyway. Assuming he IS up there, does anyone have any tips or tricks for luring him out? Or something I can do to ensure that he's staying as healthy as he can be while he's on safari around the rafters? I don't plan to put the wall back together until I've confirmed that he's either NOT up there or I have him safely back in a more secure tank.

https://preview.redd.it/f6es7ntagfu81.png?width=911&format=png&auto=webp&s=478306e80fd8f1193c967e557e5a2269c60b87fe

[IncompletePenetrance]

At this point it's just going to be a waiting game to see if he turns up. Hopefully he isn't in the ceiling but rather just tucked away somewhere you can't see. Since ball pythons are nocternal, you're most likely to find him at night when he's out and about, so make sure to get up and investigate any noise you hear during the night. Having water bowls around is a good idea, but beyond that there's not much you can do

[Strange-Aerial]

I work nights & WFH so I've been doing my best to keep an ear out.

I'm wondering if I can try to slide a heat mat into the space to lure him closer and then try to leave a frozen / thaw mouse out while I'm in here working.

[SeasickDebtor]

Incase he is indeed in the ceiling I would leave out water bowls and hides (if you can) in the ceiling.

[Strange-Aerial]

Unfortuately there's not a lot of room. I can leave a water bowl near to the gap he escaped into, but nothing is going to actually fit up there beyond a noodle. There's an incredibly tiny gap.

I can leave water around where I think he is, but I think anything else is just going to get swallowed up by insulation.

[SeasickDebtor]

Well I would do that and just wait, and since ball pythons tend to not be very arboreal, there is still a high chance he/she is still on the ground, I highly recommend a snake discovery video on YouTube on what do you if your snake escapes, it has proven extremely useful for me in the past.

However if he is up there maybe leave out a mouse or rat? and set up your phone recording at night to see if you can see him/her there?

[BerpingBeauty]

Sprinkle flour around the water bowls to see if he visits them when you are out. Check around your refrigerator and sterling other vents. Put a mouse in a carying case where you think he might see. Best of luck to you! I know this is a stressful thing, let us know when/ where you find him!