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Cerberus escaped

Nova_C

Nova_C

New member
Even with the top clamped down and the door locked (In fact, the door is impossible to open with the top clamped down since the locking mechanism is jammed against the plastic rim of the aquarium) Cerberus managed to get out.

My apartment isn't exactly high quality - so there's a very real chance he's just gone. So many little spaces and crevices for him to get out. He's too small to try to trap him in a pop bottle with a mouse, so I left one of his hides out with a couple pinkies last night hoping at least the pinkies would be gone so I'd know he was still in the apartment.

As of this morning the pinkies are still there. This weekend I plan on doing a thorough search by dismantling everything but my aquarium in the hopes I can find him, but I feel pessimistic as to my chances. For all I know he got outside.

And even if I do find him, how do I prevent another escape? He got out with the top secured, which means there's something not right about the top I bought. It has a space somewhere that he can get out.
 
OR perhaps he is hiding really well inside the tank? I've seen stores of escape and later the person finds the snake inside a hollow branch in the tank.....or under the aspen.....under the water bowl.....etc.

What kind of top is it? is it one of the metal aquarium lids? the sliding "critter keeper" type lids? Pic?
 
It's a metal aquarium lid.

I removed all the stuff in the vivarium (Three hides, checked, no snake and the water dish, checked, no stack) and searched through the aspen three times. He's not there. I was wishing so hard that he was, but he wasn't.
 
theres a few things you can try. Check out lost snake threads using the search function. One thing you can try to see if your snake is in your house (like your pinky idea) is to lay down flour or something similar, you can lay it on cling film if you really have to.

I'd still use the inverted bottle idea as your best chance. I know your snake is big but you could catch an adult corn in one, just cut the neck off to make the hole bigger, and the selloptape a plastic bagaround the rim on to the inside, so it can go out, but can't get back out if you know how i mean. Sorry i dont have time to explain better about the bottle.

To make you feel better, i read one post on here that described a snake being lost for months and ending up being found outside their front door at the height of a scottish winter i think i recall :shrugs: I just mean keep your chin up mate theres always hope even if your house does have cracks, and get round to tearing your house apart ASAP!!! :crazy02:

regards and goodluck
Tom
 
Thanks, garland. I'm seeing what I could do.

When i said the bottle thing wouldn't work, I meant my snake was too small, not too big. Cerberus is only a few months old and even with just eating I can't think of a single bottle where the neck is small enough to prevent him from just leaving once he's eaten.
 
Nova_C said:
Thanks, garland. I'm seeing what I could do.

When i said the bottle thing wouldn't work, I meant my snake was too small, not too big. Cerberus is only a few months old and even with just eating I can't think of a single bottle where the neck is small enough to prevent him from just leaving once he's eaten.
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It's always worth a try. At least if the pinky is gone you know he's still in the apartment, and he knows where to go for food (probably). Yeah, flour and Saran Wrap is good... Best of luck with the search.
 
I think I know the top you are talking about.... when you have a tiny snake... it can squeeze between the tank and the top on the side where the 'lock' is... there is just enough of a tiny gap that they can get out... it took me loosing my baby blizzard to find that out :( I hope you have better luck.
 
Check on the outside of the viv but close to it. Maybe she didnt go far. You could be worried she out of the apartment already and she could be under the table where the viv is or something.

My friend lost her hatchling and we looked for days EVERYWHERE. Only to find her right underneath the fish tank she got out of. :shrugs: Sometimes, they dont go far, especially when their tiny. They just want to curl up and hide.....if its daytime she should be curled up sleeping somewhere.
 
Yeah, I already moved the couch and took down the viv and stand to search. He's not near the tank. We'll see what happens over the next few days.
 
I think your best chance is check in and under everything, high and low, repeatedly. Missing snakes turn up in places you have already checked. Check piles of laundry, inside shoes and purses, anything that can be hidden under or in. Then stake out the room the viv is in in the evening. Also, check out your whole apartment by flashlight after dark. Keep trying- take action- don't give up!

Nanci
 
Nova_C said:
Yeah, I already moved the couch and took down the viv and stand to search. He's not near the tank. We'll see what happens over the next few days.
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Keep looking is right. Itd be very surprised if it was that young and it went that far.


Think of that tiny hole it got out of in the first place, you didnt think it could.....keep that in mind when your looking in places so you dont overlook small hidden areas.
 
My plan is on the weekend to start at one side of my apartment (The side with the viv) and literally take everything down. All my dvds, move the shelf, check my box of cds, dismantle my home theater, etc. Slowly moving from one side to the other.

This will also be a good time to properly clean my place. :p

I'm not giving up, but until Friday night, there's not a lot I can do. Just don't have the time to thoroughly search.

I'm going to check on a replacement viv, though. Or something. Gotta find a way to make the tank more secure.
 
Nova_C said:
My plan is on the weekend to start at one side of my apartment (The side with the viv) and literally take everything down. All my dvds, move the shelf, check my box of cds, dismantle my home theater, etc. Slowly moving from one side to the other.

This will also be a good time to properly clean my place. :p

I'm not giving up, but until Friday night, there's not a lot I can do. Just don't have the time to thoroughly search.

I'm going to check on a replacement viv, though. Or something. Gotta find a way to make the tank more secure.
Click to expand...



Good luck, let us know!
 
Mine was only 4 months old when she escaped. After 1 1/2 mos
I gave up and replaced her.. 3 month and 5 days after she escaped
she was found in a hallway.. a bit thirsty but otherwise ok..
So don't give up.. they are hearty little things..
GOOD LUCK in your search..
 
Okay, I saw him just a little while ago. He was sticking his head out from behind a bookshelf. So, by the time I took everything off the bookshelf and moved it he was gone, but at least I know he's till in the apartment. I've got a pinky set up near where he was so hopefully he'll come out and I can get him while he's eating. Anyway, I feel a bit better now that I've seen him. :p
 
Okay, I got him. He couldn't resist the lure of a dead mouse. I saw him sticking his head back out so I used a hemostat to grab the mouse of I was trying to bait him with and put it right in his face. He went for it and I moved it out putting him basically right in my hand.

When grabbed him he made like he was gonna tag me, but he never did. I was surprised. Hopefully this little adventure out of the viv won't make him more aggressive like it seems it has to some peoples' snakes.

Oh, and I taped up the viv. Temp solution until I find either a new top or buy a whole new viv. If he gets out now it's gotta be voodoo.
 
hey thats great news you found it!
first of all dont worry about your snake getting more aggressive because its been lost. Im sure it was just abit in shock hehe.

Second of all, I've heard you should never use tape in a snake vivarium, it can cause skin damage easily
 
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