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Philramsay

New member
OK me friends.
I never thought it would happen, but it has, and what to do? It's been suggested that I leave some piles of clothing around for him to find and settle in, so I'm trying that. I've also tried making little humane traps with pinkies in and left them around the place, but no joy there. Have you any realistic suggestions, apart from ripping the place appart as he's only a youngster, or am I going to have to treat this as a very upsetting learning curve?! If you think you can help PLEASE DO.
 
You have to rip the place apart, not only once, but 2-3 times. Star closest to his viv and work your way out. And don't forget to look high and inside things.
 
You can try leaving a heat lamp suspended above the floor near a wall(they like to cruise perimiters) and leave him a hide under it and hope he goes for the warm spot. Just make sure the heat lamp is high enough to not make it too hot in the hide or to start a fire.

Some people have dusted the perimeters and doorways with flour so they can see where the snake has been and get an idea of where to look with that.
 
Over the years, I have had close to 20 corn snake escapes, and I have located the snakes every time. All but once, they have been within 3 meters from where they escaped. Loose clothing laying around close to where he escaped would probably be a good idea. I have also had success several times using a tape trap constructed using upside-down tape laid along the wall (and secured on both ends) close to where the snake escaped from. It works well to bait it with a live pinky mouse and have the tape leading up to the pinky on both sides or into a corner of the room. Just make sure you check the trap pretty frequently, as staying stuck on such a trap for a long time can be hard on little snakes.
 
Also, when you make the tape traps, be sure NOT to use duct tape, its too sticky and can injure a snake. Use something less sticky like masking tape.
 
Or if you do decide to use a tape trap (know they can cause injury) an even better tap is painters tape, specifically meant to not be excessively sticky. If you catch your snake in it, cut all extra tape away from the snake before you try to remove the stuff stuck to it. When you go to remove the stuck tape, lather the snake in vegetable oil, it helps to make them slippery and helps to loosen the sticky part of the tape.

Then rinse of your snake, pat dry and check for any injuries.
 
You already have great advice here, I just wanted to chime in and say I hope you find him! For some reason, my escapees seem to gravitate to my bathroom.
 
Wow guys some real good advice. I've only tried the humane traps once and no luck. But I've left clothing, towels etc. in places and so far no luck. I'll give the heat lamp and hide a go tho'. But as he's a small fella, as much as I wanna find him it isn't looking good. He was last seen in his viv last Thursday and it's Monday now! I've even come down in the dead of night with a torch and crept around, not a good image I know! Never say die tho'. No carcass which is good as we have 6 cats and 2 dogs, so the little dude, I'm hoping, is one step ahead. Thanx again guys and gals. I'll keep you posted.
 
Phil not to be a pesimist BUT I sure hope your cats aren't good hunters. The little one that got out on us and that we used the heat lamp and hide, and water bowl, and a ramp to the viv(on the floor), I mean we tried everything except flour and tape, never was found.

Here is what we surmised though, my son had taken his cat(the hunter cat of the 2 we own) to bed with him the night the snake got out. He even went so far as to lock the cat in the room so it had to stay with him. After trying to find the snake for 3 wks, we conceded to the fact that most likely the cat had a midnight snack!

I sure hope that is not the case for your little guy.
 
I have to say, I was thinking along similar lines. with so many animals... :eek:
anyway. i hope thats not the case! thinking positive thoughts for you and your little one. :)
 
Did you find him? As a former cat owner everything they caught they never ate it just malled it to death. Such as my gerbil and my 2 escapee birds. Even praying mantis were just bit to death. If your cat got it I would say there would be parts left. They seem to loose interest after the creature is dead. I really hope you find him!
 
Yellow your cat sounds like one of my cats...but the other one of our cats ...all out hunter...stalk, catch, kill and eat!! Nothing left.
 
Wow~Asbit, out of all the cats I have had not one has eaten anything whole besides a fly. Guess it happens though. I had a cat a few years ago who killed a baby hawk and put it on my pillow. True love is what I chalked it up to be lol~ feathers ALL over my bed!
 
Here's a cat story for ya.

So I am having a small dinner party and my cat is scratching at the door. I let it in and it comes and sits at my feet and gives me the strangest look. As I look down at it saying "What Bear?" I notice what appears to be a small thin stick hanging out of it's mouth.

Now you have to understand this cat acted much more like a dog than a cat and generally if you told it to do things it often listened. So I just said "Spit it out Bear" and he did, he spit out a live baby MOLE. Well it went running all over the place like crazy, my female guest started screaming and jumped up on her chair, my 3 yr old son said "Can I keep it?", I was scrambling like crazy to catch the thing and all the while Bear just sat there and looked as proud as could be.:roflmao::roflmao:
 
Thanx for your concern girls, but as yet no luck. I've tried masking tape traps (painters tape) with no joy, 3 humane traps with pinkies in, putting down small piloes of clothing etc. for it to curl up in, hopefully! Even coming down stairs in the middle of the night with a torch (flashlight). Checked through a whole shoe cupboard of shoes, just in case. I hate the idea of giving up, but he could be ANYWHERE, even under the floorboards, or as you suggested in one of our 6 cats. They will bring in slow worms in the summer months, that's a kind of legless lizard we have over here, but usually they shed their tales to escape so therte's a lot of stumpy slow worms around here! I would have expected a corpse to be honest knowing our moggies. Never say die as Black Sabbath said. I'll keep ya posted.
 
Sad news. Apart from taking the house apart brick by brick I have found myself having to concede to Sid getting one up on me. Unfortunately that means he's VERY hungry or dead. I HATE this kind of learning curve but hey it's a dirty job....R.I.P Sid. Hopefully there will be more for me to have for a little longer, like for ever!
 
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