Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Muttley_109 · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject: Finding an escaped snake

I just went to have a look at my garter snake and he isnt in his viv Shocked

I have no idea how he got out as the doors are always shut unless im putting food in.

He is definately out on the prowl as I found some snake poo next the the lobster roach tub.
I havnt seen him for at least 2 days so he could be anywhere in the flat right now.
Whats the best way of enticing him out of whereever he is and actually catching him??

I've left his viv open so he can go home if he wants.
I need to find him urgently, apart from me panicking if hes ok or not Im moving house in 2-3 weeks.

argentine_boa · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:35 pm Post subject:

Get lots of plastic bags spread out all over the rooms, decide a room to stay in and put a food item in the middle, and wait quietly, you will here him move over the bags. This always works for me. Hope this helps

raptor · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject:

Look at night-time as most snakes are primarily nocturnal. Check places that are warm, dark, & snug, like drawers etc. Heat sources like the fridge motor etc. You can also try putting a rat in his enclosure if he's close to being due for a feed.
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argentine_boa · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject:

I would look at day time as Garter snakes are diurnal (they are mostly active during daytime)

Muttley_109 · Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 3:46 am Post subject:

no sign of him yet Sad

he hasnt been tempted by food today. I'll have another hunt tomorrow

raptor · Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:36 pm Post subject:

Our female scrubby has gone exploring twice now and despite the herp room being always closed off, both times we haven't found her until SHE decided to come out. You'd think a scrub would be fairly easy to spot, even if she is still fairly small (around 6') Nope! I'd assume something the size of a garter would be even more of a needle in a haystack. I've heard of guys putting talcum powder over the floors & looking for tracks in the morning. May be worth a try.

One ray of sunlight: a friend of ours had two of her pythons deliberately let out by a flatmate. She figured that was a pretty rude gesture, so she cancelled the lease on the house & moved out. A week after she settled in to the new place, she was unpacking the last few boxes of odds & ends and there were the pythons, comfortably curled up amongst the nick nacks. Good luck.
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Muttley_109 · Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:26 pm Post subject:

I spotted him last night! Well about an inch of tail, which then dissapeared into a tiny gap where the central heating pipe goes into the skirting board. So it looks like he hasnt ventured out of the animal room.
Im just going to have to keep leaving his viv open and leave food there and hope i spot him

Muttley_109 · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject:

Got Him!!! Very Happy

Got home from work and the first thing I did was have a quick scan of the animal room and there he was sitting next the the lobster roach tub watching the roaches Laughing

Crunchie · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject:

hehehe garters are quite cheeky little snakes aren't they! I had a couple that escaped a number of times between them. Every time I caught them they gave me "aw no I've been rumbled" look! Laughing

Muttley_109 · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:37 pm Post subject:

Thats exactly what we thought. As soon as I picked him up, instead of thrashing around and trying to get away he just stayed came and looked at me as if to say awww I was having fun Laughing