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Lost snake

DollysMom

DollysMom

It never gets old!
I feel like I can't breathe and I can't think. I went to pick up poo and play with Dolly and the viv was empty.

You all know how much I love Dolly. I've searched the bedroom on hands and knees. I put the water dish and hides on the floor. I'm going to make a trap with a mouse, but I can't find the thread as to how. Could someone find it or tell me how?

Ideas welcome. I've read all this stuff on escapees, but I'm gonna need a few to get it together here and think straight.

I have the Velcro and just hadn't reinforced the latches yet. He definitely pushed the latch aside and pushed up and went out the corner.

Prayers appreciated. This is the third time in 30 years a snake has gotten loose in my family and the other two were found. I'm trying to remember that.
 
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DollysMom!! Good grief. Listen, your buddy is probably very, very close by. As you know they don't go far. Think close. Probably in the same room. Take your time and go through everything.
 
did you look under the tank (Cage)? I had a snake that used to get out and he'd crawl under the tank where the heater was.
 
Karl_Mcknight said:
did you look under the tank (Cage)? I had a snake that used to get out and he'd crawl under the tank where the heater was.
Click to expand...

Yep. Looked under the viv and the repurposed tv stand it is on.

I'm putting out blue painters tape traps along the walls now.

I did leave the heater on and there is room under the viv. I've left the viv open, too.

kdickens said:
DollysMom!! Good grief. Listen, your buddy is probably very, very close by. As you know they don't go far. Think close. Probably in the same room. Take your time and go through everything.
Click to expand...

Yep I searched the bedroom first. Of course my bedroom carpet is orange brown!

I just found junk under the dresser I didn't know was there even though I reach the vacuum attachments to clean under there!

I'm starting to calm down. I know most of them are found.
 
Got my first bottle trap built. Will bait it tonight with a mouse tail. We don't normally buy 2 liter bottles but will be doing that until I can make a few more traps.
 
you said you cleaned out from under the dresser......
Corn snakes are great climbers. Have you pulled out all the drawers from the dresser and checked inside the drawers and inside the dresser frame etc...?
 
I think you have Don Soderberg's book don't you? Page 89 - Escapes, is a good read. Make sure you shake all clothing and check before you put anything in the wash.
 
kdickens said:
I think you have Don Soderberg's book don't you? Page 89 - Escapes, is a good read. Make sure you shake all clothing and check before you put anything in the wash.
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I do have Don's book. Will do. Definitely calming down and thinking again :)

No loose clothes, all in hamper (antique, solid, tall and with lid). Still will shake out and invert pockets before doing laundry, especially since washer is in an unfinished basement.

Karl_Mcknight said:
you said you cleaned out from under the dresser......
Corn snakes are great climbers. Have you pulled out all the drawers from the dresser and checked inside the drawers and inside the dresser frame etc...?
Click to expand...

Not yet. Very solid and enclosed antique Art Deco dressers with less than a millimeter clearance around drawers (hard to explain but the drawer fronts close fush without gaps -can't even fit a knife blade in) but will get on that, lower drawers first.

Thanks both for responding and helping. I don't feel nearly so alone and hopeless as I did when I first found the empty viv.
 
Okay, I'm sure you've done this but ... Have you gone through the Viv again? Maybe hiding really well. Did you take the top off and check the top edge? Mine used to creep up there and lie till I glued a dowel rod all along the inside edge so he couldn't do it anymore. Not sure how big Dolly is.
 
Also look in all the hides, are there any holes or crevices inside of them?

Also wondering, how much time elapsed from the last time you actually saw him, til the time you determined he was missing? Are you reasonably sure he's still in that room? If enough time elapsed he could be anywhere in the house.

And if you're sure he's still in there, can you keep the door closed and maybe stuff towels under the door to make sure he doesn't slither away. Then start on one side of the room working your way to the other, turn furniture upside down, empty drawers, look in closets, shoes, clothing, under books, behind stuff.... etc...
 
For what it's worth-

When I was about 17, I had a Boa Constrictor I raised from a baby. She was now about 5 feet long. I came home from school one day and she was gone. She was able to knock the top off her cage. I tore the house apart looking for her. Never could find her.

Many weeks went by. I was sure she was a goner. Either she had found her way out of the house or she was dead somewhere. I was sure of it.

After about a month, I came home from school one afternoon, walked into the house and there she was just laying in the Kitchen floor looking at me. She was fine.

She lived to the ripe old age of 22.
 
I have no idea where he might be in the house. My son was over and we were doing gardening most of the day. I saw Dolly yesterday around bed time for sure. I may have seen him this morning, but I'm not sure. I often just see scales through the door of the warm hide. He was still digesting so I don't bother him much for 2 to 3 days. What I do know is that I definitely secured the lid after putting in fresh water last evening. I discovered him missing about 4 pm. This evening was 3 days after feeding.

I have one bottle trap but many blue painter tape traps along walls inside and outside the room. No decor that he could be stuck in. Even sifted all the aspen through my fingers. I'm still hopeful. I read what Don said about 48 hours. I'm exhausted from looking so am going to bed and hope Dolly finds a trap in the dark.

All ideas, support and found the snake story mean a lot. I'm just trying not to beat myself up for not getting that extra Velcro on the lid sooner. Hindsight is 20/20. The minute I saw the corner of that lid up my heart sank but still I first searched the viv, then the room and the adjacent rooms. I'm hoping the power of love brings him home.
 
Good luck.... I just posted for the first time the other day, but I have been lurking for quite some time. I have read lots of your posts, and seen your helpful advice to other people. Karma has to bring Dolly back to you! I can see how much you love this little booger and I am sending positive snakey vibes your way!

Also - I thought of something :idea: Place some of your worn clothes/shirts/what-have-you strategically in corners and under dark, hidden areas? See if your scent and a warm cloth hidey place will draw him in? Maybe this seems silly but... is it worth a shot? :shrugs: Anyway. You and Dolly are in my thoughts.
 
Ty Zimmer. Will do on the clothes.

Thanks for your kind words and thoughts. They are deeply appreciated.

Btw, nothing seems silly. I appreciate all ideas. If standing on my head whistling Beethoven's 5th would help me find him, I'd do it. :)
 
Oh no! I really feel for you, it's the worst feeling ever! Isaac got out of his baby tank twice, he never left the room he was in, the first time he was curled up in the wires behind the tv and the second time he was under the cat bed and the cat was sat on top!! Good luck anyway, hope you get some success soon x

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
 
sammihood said:
Oh no! I really feel for you, it's the worst feeling ever! Isaac got out of his baby tank twice, he never left the room he was in, the first time he was curled up in the wires behind the tv and the second time he was under the cat bed and the cat was sat on top!! Good luck anyway, hope you get some success soon x

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
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Thank you so much. The found stories give me a lot of hope. Sounds like it was warm under that cat bed!

Tomorrow morning I'm going to check out all the warm equipment under our living room tv. There's an opening at floor level for the wires and heat dissipation.
 
I'm so sorry to hear that... Best luck and wishes to find him.

I also had an escape when Naga was 2 months. Forgot to stuff paper on a hole for the thermostat probe and he got out. He was behind the heating on the wall, just behind the viv. I had a mini-heart attack.

I guess you have read this in Don's book, but have you tried putting small flour lines across the doorways to see in which room he's in or what direction he might be? Can be really helpful to delimit the area.
I have also heard of wrapped plastic shopping bags on the corners, so that they make noise if the snake happens to touch them.

I hope you find him soon!!
 
The rattling shopping bags is how I found a lost garter snake years ago when my boys were little. I had stuff stored under the bed in them. We cared for that snake but it was not the beloved pet that Dolly is.

Thanks for your kind thoughts. Glad Naga was nearby!

The joy of loving is always an open door to the grief of losing. Love is always worth it.

P.S. If that last sounds like I've given up, I haven't; but this is an old house with so many places for a snakey to get lost including a full basement and attic. I'm still looking and will never stop looking. This morning I am also grieving. I can't help it. I blame myself for not beefing up security sooner. I had the Velcro in hand having bought it two weeks ago. I know blame won't find Dolly, so I try not to beat myself up with that; but being human it's a struggle. Why was it a busy day? Why didn't I discover it sooner? One thing I know for certain is that he opened a latch that I know without doubt was closed. Well enough rambling. Thanks again. I'll find him or I won't but I'll love him forever.
 
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My advice would be look under everything. Start close to his cage, and move out from there. He could even be in a different room, or up or downstairs. Check and recheck. Set traps by placing coils of blue painters tape along the walls. Finally, look for him after it starts to get dark in the room. Check multiple times. Leave the lights out, turn the lights on, look quickly. If you don't spot him, turn the lights out and check again later. Good luck!
 
Nanci said:
My advice would be look under everything. Start close to his cage, and move out from there. He could even be in a different room, or up or downstairs. Check and recheck. Set traps by placing coils of blue painters tape along the walls. Finally, look for him after it starts to get dark in the room. Check multiple times. Leave the lights out, turn the lights on, look quickly. If you don't spot him, turn the lights out and check again later. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks so much Nanci. Have done and will continue to do! Had a restless wakeful night and I can't tell you how many night raids I went on last night, lol. My house looks like it is decorated in blue painters tape.
 
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