Mommy did it! I didn't slide the cage lid closed good & now we have a ball python roaming around! I actually had to giggle to myself when I thought, "We have a python loose in the house." Sounds crazy & never thought I'd be saying something like that.

We've read that she will likely go somewhere warm -- appliances that give off heat... Shannon, my 7 year old, also remembers reading something about a scent trap. I'm just worried that Gentle will get out of the house or between the walls or something. I'm so afraid we'll never find her. It's also supposed to get pretty cold tonight but warm-up greatly in the foreseeable future.

She has been gone at least a day. I looked in on her yesterday & saw her curled up in her hideout. I went to get her out today, for the first time since Shannon got tagged, and the cage was empty. Tomorrow (Friday) is the night we usually feed her.

I'm sure most of you guys have had a runaway ball & have great ideas about finding her. We would sure welcome all advice. Something HAS to work!

Should I worry about the other animals? I don't think Gentle can get into the cockatiel's cage. The guinea pig's cage is another story; she could crawl through those bars. I believe the mouse cage is inaccessable to her. She wouldn't care about the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, crickets, meal or wax worms, would she? Would she have any interest in the turtles or gecko? We are watching the dogs & cat to see if they find her -- hoping they didn't before we realized she was gone & weren't here to protect her. The Beta is safe, surely.

Our back door, that leads onto a small side porch with a screen door with a doggie door, was open all day today & yesterday. WOULD SHE TRY TO GET OUTSIDE??? The room it opend off of is pretty far from her cage. I sort of wish she was bigger so she'd be easier to find. I'm so depressed & just keep telling my daughter that we will find her, but I am really worried.

Thanks all!

Lisa

Younger ball pythons can be quite a chore to find.
Think, were I a Ball python where would I be. Sometimes snakes will climb up, check behind curtains, curtain rods, anything high up and accesible. Also think low, Most ball pythons would stay low, warm, secure. About whats the temperature there outside?
How big is this Ball Python? does'nt sound like it can do much to the guinea pig, But watch the cats and dogs, last time I had an animal escape my cats and dogs were promptly locked in a room upstairs till it was found, i've seen the 6' Black rats my cats have killed outside, don't know how they pull it off, but a baby ball python wouldnt be a problem for most cats.
Chances are it looked for the nearest warm and secure spot, unless its hungry in which case its looking for a meal. Check the walls along the back of the cage, follow them and look anywhere she has any chance of fitting.
Hope you find her.

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"Nobody can do Everything, but Everybody can do Something."

Like Ryan said, chek all dark and small places where she would feel confortable.
Do check where you would never think she is...

I also had an escapee for 2 days and after tearing (sp.?) the house appart, I found him... inside the subwoofer.

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Regards,
Joao

I don't know if this would be alright or not, or even neccasary. Maybe you could set her basking area outside the cage and just maybe, she will come to that spot, just an idea. You might need to watch out and not let anything get burned.

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I would secure the other animals. Just because they might be too big to eat doesn't meant that the snake won;t show an interest in them! The bugs and fish won't interest her.
Start close to the tank and work your way ourwards. They usually find some place to hole up pretty quick. Methodically go thu everything she could get into. Laundry baskets, closets, drawers, under the rim of furniture. Get down on the floor and look around. You might be surprised how many hiding places that there are in a room.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Thank you all so much. Our main problem is there are a gazillion places she could hide here. We are still looking, high & low!

I hope you find her soon!! I'll send you good thoughts. Update us as soon as you find her, or if anything else develops.
Good Luck!!

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<3 Tessa

0.0.2 painted turtles (Mo and Squirt)
1.0.0 yellow bellied slider (Jebidiah)
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0.2.0 Colombian Boa (Jasmine) and her baby(no name yet)
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0.2.0 Cats (Lilly and Reese)

i'd move her warming spot out into a corner or something. She might find it.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

Luckily enough I haven't had that problem...yet! Hopefully I never will. I wish you the best in your mission of finding her. please let us know the outcome!'

Good Luck!
~R~

you could also try turning off all the lights at night and sitting quietly in the room her tank is in. maybe you could hear movement. take a flashlight with you. just a thought.

or you could try sprinkling corn starch (i think thats what you can use, someone else can correct me if i'm wrong) around the edges of the room on the floor. that way if she goes along the wall she'll go through it and you'll see a trail. it might help.

good luck on your search. hopefully you find her. like the others said make sure you check everywhere. in all places.

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