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Escape Proofing a Critter Cage?

S

Snakespeare

New member
My hatchling (ca. 14" long) just escaped her Critter Cage (by All Glass--with the sliding top and built-in clips) only twelve hours or so after she arrived in the mail. I continue to search, and I've littered the house with the usual traps, and hope she'll turn up in the next day or two (though the temperatures here in Virginia are venturing into the 70s, and I fear that it might not be cold enough to keep her indoors). The numerous stories of returned prodigal snakes on this forum have mitigated my bad feelings somewhat--thanks to all of you for this, and for all the information I've gleaned from this forum over the last few months.

While I wait and hope, I want to make sure the Critter Cage is more secure. I suspect she escaped through the only breakout section I removed (for the thermostat cord), though there was barely a 1/8" gap (the recommended size hole for snakes in plastic containers?) with the cord in place. I'm about to visit the hardware store to round up an assortment of weatherstripping and other such things, but my question for the forum is this: Has anyone else had problems with snakes escaping from Critter Cages (especially snakes less than one year old)? My search of the archives suggests that there's a consensus that this is a really secure enclosure--but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has found weaknesses in it. Should I be primarily concerned with closing up the breakout section gap, or are there weaknesses in the sliding rail mechanism, or other parts of the lid (the latches at the back of the enclosure were secure at the time of the escape).

Thanks in advance to anyone who has any thoughts on this.
 
I'm very surprised you had any trouble. I have my 2 adults in 20 long critter cages and I just looked around the top and I can't see any space, even the holes for the cords, that even the smallest neonite could possibly fit through. And did you mean that you cut out a part of the screen to fit cords in, or are you using the slots in the back of the top that it comes with?

The cage seems totally secure, so I'm surprised that your corn got out.
 
Agreed, after throughly examining one of my critter cages, I see no way for that to happen if the lid was latched closed.

Are you sure its not hiding in a piece of decor or something in your enclosure? :shrugs:
 
Lore said:
Agreed, after throughly examining one of my critter cages, I see no way for that to happen if the lid was latched closed.

Are you sure its not hiding in a piece of decor or something in your enclosure? :shrugs:
Click to expand...

I second that ^^. Have you checked under, around and inside EVERY piece of furniture and decoration in the cage?

When I brought our snake home, we left it in the cage for a couple days. When we went to go take it out to play, it was nowhere to be found. I tore the house apart for 3 days looking for the darn thing, and my daughter was extremely upset that Sammi Snake was gone.

After the third day, I had that nagging feeling in the back of my head that I was missing something. I pulled everything out of the vivarium...no snake. But when I was putting everything back in...

I had put an old cow skull that I have owned for years in the cage with the snake. The snake found it's way up through the cerebral cortex opening and lodged itself inside the empty brain cavity where it couldn't be seen. It wasn't until I tilted the skull at an awkward angle to put it back in the cage that the snake moved and stuck it's head out a tiny hole to see what was going on.

The moral of the story is to make absolutely positive that you critter isn't simply hiding away somewhere in th cage...
 
Thanks for your comments. The clips on the back were completely secure--I checked everything very carefully before going to bed because this was her first night in the enclosure (and my first night with a snake). The thermostat cord goes through one of the pre-shaped "breakout" slots in the back--I didn't make it any bigger than the shape (perforation?) that was already there, and with the cord in place, there's maybe space for a little less than half an eraser head (ca. 1/8"). I've been through everything in the cage several times, and have sifted through the aspen carefully. I even put a pinkie in a bowl in it in the hopes of drawing her out in case I missed a spot.
 
What kind of hides do you have in there? Its not uncommon for the snakes to get INSIDE of small holes with the ceramice type hides...

Just a thought...
 
Good thought. They're fairly simple solid plastic hides--I also have some paper towel rolls in there, but they're pretty easy to check.

But I'll keep checking the tank.
 
Good luck finding her.

I thought I lost Choco one time. I looked under his moist hide, under all his hides, took out his plant, branches, water bowl, ripped up his carpet (yeah, he has carpet under his aspen, and he loves to go under it, and his thermostat is adjusted for that) and I couldn't find him anywhere. I was freaking out- then I remembered to look _in_ his moist hide- there he was, like- what???

So really check the viv.

Nanci
 
so to hear of your lose. i have a 40 g critter cage an havent had a problem with it. plaining to get a second one this week end. keep looking even in the cage. an hope for the best. try cutting a pinkie for extra smell
 
I have three Critter Cages and can't imagine how a snake could get out, even a hatchling. Good luck. I hope he turns up for you--safe and sound and in his cage.
 
She's back. I've plugged up the small hole around the thermostat cord--this should take care of things. It's nice to know everyone has so much confidence in the Critter Cage--it seems to be really well designed.

Thanks to everyone!
 
Glad you found your snake! I have never kept the kind of critter keeper you have, so I cant really say anything much about them. I do however own 4,
Lee's Herp Haven
17.75"W X 12"D X 7"H - Rectangle Breeder Box

So far *knock* on wood, I havent had any escapees. They are a good starter size :)

Again, glad you found your baby and goodluck with her. Hope she doesnt escape again on you.
 
I forgot to mention it the first time, but I'm sorry she was gone, no mater how short the time, but I'm so glad you found her. Hope she does well.

My snake, Aurora slipped out through a hole that hadn't been properly filled in the top of her less than perfect enclosure. She was gone for maybe 20 minutes before I found her under a comforter in a closet, but boy was I worried. Know those critter cages are doing there job well.

Again, I'm glad you found her!!
 
Snakespeare said:
She's back. I've plugged up the small hole around the thermostat cord--this should take care of things. It's nice to know everyone has so much confidence in the Critter Cage--it seems to be really well designed.

Thanks to everyone!
Click to expand...
Where did you find her???
 
This is why I don't put any cords into my hatchlings viv. I taped my thermostat and thermometer plug to the underside of the tank, over the heat pad, with electrical tape, and the temp reads exactly what the pad puts out. I then use my temp gun to adjust the temp at and below substrate level. I've found that if I keep the thermometer/heat pad reading about 2-3 degrees higher than desired, the temp on or below substrate level is perfect.
 
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