missing spots

[Jaron]

i have a year old spotted python that has just grown big enough to push the lid up on my cage and escape. I've turned everything in the area upside down and fear he may have gotten outside. Does anyone have any suggestions on coaxing him back or places he may be in the garden or behavioral patterns that may be useful in finding him?

Thanks

[slim6y]

there's been many escapees caught and located. Naturally a spotted will look for a nice warm dark spot. Check under the fridge for example.

Also do a search here for escapes. There's info on using flour, leaving thawed rats etc (the flour you can follow the tracks).

Because spotted are also generally nocturnal, the best time to see him on the move is night. You will know from his cage activities on when he is most active.

Maybe leave a warm 'rock' out - possibly use a heat cord to heat a small hiding spot that you can check from time to time. They use their heat pits to sense warm locations just as much as they use them to find food. If you live in a cool area, that's the first place they'll try and get to.

Definitely do the APS search... Then do your actual seacrh. Good luck!

[Clairebear]

Think like the spotted... mine went to the first dark place he found... right under his cage in a thermostat box with the thermostat still in it. Look in the most unlikely places and you may just find him. BE THE SNAKE.

[Ducky]

I have sliding glass doors and my spotted got through one day , absolutely ****** myself but I found him snuggled up under one of the cussions on a couch I had in there , very lucky cause we have cats and Im pretty sure they wouldve got him no dramas.Good luck on finding the little houdini! !

[nightowl]

We had one of our juvie olives get out and was missing for a week. I had no idea he was out, just thought he was in his hide as he was shedding at the time and it was not unusual for him to hide for a good week or so prior to shedding. When I realised he was gone we turned the room upside down and found him on top of one of the four banks, curled up over the heated side of the top bank. Lucky he didn't go wandering to far.....we had a couple of young Sun Conures in the same room!!

I would look in any warm dark areas near the enclosure first, chances are you will find him in the same room.

Good luck

[bitey]

Sorry to hear he is missing, I found my escapee in our roof, coiled around a bearer.

[Reptile_Boy]

i lost mine lost her in febuary. and found her on the 6thof november. search every where . near the enclosure and the room. when i lost mine i lost her out side. i found her under a pile of rocks so search

[Brettix]

Yeah ive lost a few over the years,they dont seem to travel far they have always turned up.
Just look around at night with a torch after the lights have been off for a while.

[Jaron]

thanks guys for all the advice... Still no luck. I fear that he may have gotten outside as the night he escaped the windows were open. I've been searching everywhere for him and am absolutely stoked that we don't have insulation in our roof. I made up a trap based on the crab pot principle baited with a live mouse. it didn't work to well i spent 20 minutes looking for the flipping mouse . So I did the letter box drop with his details on it around the street and got a call from 4 houses up. Not him but a 2m brown. Next on the try list is the warm hidie hole outside. thanks everyone for your advice