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Original poster

Royal Python has escaped!

333 replies

Belvedeer · 04/01/2021 10:00

My daughter’s royal python escaped on New Year’s Eve and is still missing. I followed tips online to search room by room and then sealing the door off if she’s not in there but can’t find her anywhere! I’ve literally ransacked the place, every piece of clothing has been removed and checked even the hanging clothes, every drawer has been removed, I even pulled the fridge freezer out and took the plinths off in the kitchen! We’ve left her viv door open with a mouse inside, tried leaving a hot water bottle with hide on the top next to a mouse at night but still no sign. Does anyone have any other tips of what we can do? I have a distraught 8 year old on my hands!

OP posts:
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MrsFluffyMuff · 04/01/2021 10:31

Why do people have snakes for pets confused

Snakes are great! Hope yours turns up soon OP. I would definitely do what pp suggested and check the pipes under the bath. :)

DismantleMe · 04/01/2021 10:32

Ours found his way to the pipes near the boiler.
I've seen people use flour to find out which room they are in, although if they are up high like ours was this didn't help but could rule a few places out. Good luck!

Lovemusic33 · 04/01/2021 10:33

One of mine is great at escaping, first time I got up to find him sat near the back door next to the cat (cat luckily didn’t try and catch him), 2nd time he was under the sideboard curled up. They don’t tend to go far. Sprinkle some flour on the floor at night and you will probably find he leaves a track 🤣 or try leaving a warm rat out and set a trap.

FraggleShingleBellRock · 04/01/2021 10:33

I used to breed royals and several escapes. Depending on the size, could really be any where. The smaller royals were always found wrapped around radiator pipes or entwined in the back of the fridge freezer workings. Larger snakes can literally be anywhere they can squeeze.

I would start methodically, one room at a a time. Check mattresses, pillow cases, clothing on the floor, shoes etc ( depending on size of snake).

as a last resort you can sprinkle/sieve flour onto the floor and in the middle place a mouse/rat. Crucially, before you place it, defrost it and really heat it up with hot water at 40c and then blow dry it. Put a pin firmly up the rodents nose several times to release cerebral /spinal fluid as they really like this smell. I know as it's what I used to get my non feeders started. Give it another quick blast with the dryer to disperse the smell and then just wait. The foot will tell you of anything has been to investigate.

FraggleShingleBellRock · 04/01/2021 10:34

The flour, not the foot !

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 04/01/2021 10:36

We've got a snake cos it's got no fur - one of the kids was a proper respiratory cripple as a child.

It's a gateway pet though, we've now got a lot of lizards and amphibians. None of which would have been my idea of a good pet, but, actually, I'm a convert:

they don't care if you don't handle them, unlike hamsters which get viscous or rabbits which get nervous

they like being handled for the warmth

once you get the housing set up correctly they are minimum care

there is a bit of "cool" factor at school

you can leave them for a few days at a time, as long as they have water

the vivariums are all planted up and look nice.

The food comes in the post so it's very covid friendly.

Minuses -

occasionally they get out and so do the crickets for the lizards. We've always got them back though, the kids are really very good with their pets.

you need an exotic vet nearby

Lovemusic33 · 04/01/2021 10:39

Snakes are the best pets we have had, more people should have them 🤣, I haven’t been bitten yet, have had more injuries from small furries (the hamster is evil), snakes are pretty low maintenance and the least smelly pet. We have 3 and would have more if we had space.

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 04/01/2021 10:40

Oh, and you can get them from RSPCA at any time. People give them up, so you can get an adult that you know feeds, sheds and handles well and is healthy.

They live for about 30 years, so you know, it's worth getting an adult.

BearSoFair · 04/01/2021 10:41

DS1 has corn snakes, the only time one escaped we found him coiled up on top of books on the bookshelf! Hope you find her soon OP, I have heard of people who have had snakes re-emerge months after disappearing seemingly no worse for wear (that isn't meant to worry you that it might take that long - more intended to be reassuring that they can be fine even if it takes a while to come back!)

Wannabewriter · 04/01/2021 10:42

as a last resort you can sprinkle/sieve flour onto the floor and in the middle place a mouse/rat. Crucially, before you place it, defrost it and really heat it up with hot water at 40c and then blow dry it. Put a pin firmly up the rodents nose several times to release cerebral /spinal fluid as they really like this smell. I know as it's what I used to get my non feeders started. Give it another quick blast with the dryer to disperse the smell and then just wait. The foot will tell you of anything has been to investigate.

It’s a firm no from me on any pet who might require me to do this for them! Stick a pin up the nose of a dead, washed and blow died rat?! No thanks.

Mommabear20 · 04/01/2021 10:44

A friend of mine lost her snake a few years ago, it reappeared 4 months later in its viv looking like nothing had happened 😂

blazinglightonthehill · 04/01/2021 10:45

"place a mouse/rat. Crucially, before you place it, defrost it and really heat it up with hot water at 40c and then blow dry it. Put a pin firmly up the rodents nose several times to release cerebral /spinal fluid as they really like this smell."

Wtf did I just read?! 😱

Glad it's not running around the tank though waiting to be eaten Grin

blazinglightonthehill · 04/01/2021 10:46

Blow drying a rat and shoving pins up it's nose 😂

I bloody love MN.

SirVixofVixHall · 04/01/2021 10:47

I read the title and thought - the Queen has a PYTHON ??

Santaisironingwrappingpaper · 04/01/2021 10:50

When our 5 foot corn snake got out we told both side neighbours...
Found it a few hours later under a bean bag... Ndn was very happy... Apparently she was off to her dm's if we hadn't!

BadBear · 04/01/2021 10:52

Our royal python used to somehow open its vivarium door which we struggled to open sometimes. She used to always end up in the closet!

How about sprinkling flour along the floor? (unless you have carpets obvs) it should give you an idea of where it might have traveled?

Maybe move its vivarium in the middle of the room as well so it can be lured back to its comfort?

Sorry not many tips other than keep searching everywhere, they do eventually come out of hiding...

Original poster
Belvedeer · 04/01/2021 10:58

@Disorganisedfish

Erm, I have no advice but I want to check you aren’t in the North East..... finding a lost snake in my house is my worst nightmare!

(I hope your daughters pet turns up, will she be hungry for the mouse yet? How often do they feed?)

You’re safe, we’re in Dorset Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
Belvedeer · 04/01/2021 10:59

@Kumquatsquash

I saw a post recently on fb where someone's royal escaped down the overflow hole in the sink! They are clever little bastards when it comes to escaping.
How did they know, did suddenly crawl out whilst they were washing their hands? Grin
OP posts:
CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS · 04/01/2021 11:01

Literally just read to find out where you are. Thankfully VERY far from me.

Hope you find your snake.

OohImBlindedByTheLights · 04/01/2021 11:06

I wasn't bothered by snakes until I saw the last episode of cobra Kai season 3! 🤢🤢

Glad you're in Dorset 🤣🤣

Hope you find it though, but agree with PP, maybe inform your neighbours

GhostPepperTears · 04/01/2021 11:07

OK, so I read most of this thread thinking that keeping snakes sounds like great fun - even the bit where you play hide and seek with them.

Then I got to this...

as a last resort you can sprinkle/sieve flour onto the floor and in the middle place a mouse/rat. Crucially, before you place it, defrost it and really heat it up with hot water at 40c and then blow dry it. Put a pin firmly up the rodents nose several times to release cerebral /spinal fluid as they really like this smell. I know as it's what I used to get my non feeders started. Give it another quick blast with the dryer to disperse the smell and then just wait.

It's a Nope from me Grin

Hope you find her soon, OP. Regardless of form losing a pet and worrying about their wellbeing is never mice. I mean nice.

Smile
midnightstar66 · 04/01/2021 11:09

I'm guessing if your python is on mice then it's quite small that can literally flatten themselves and get in to the tiniest spaces. I've watched my 4 ft female who is nearly as fat as a coke can slide effortlessly under the 2cm gap at the bottom of my sofa (check inside your sofa) . Have you checked properly down the radiators. In the back workings of anything electrical (fridge etc) pull mattresses off bed, pull out wardrobes etc. Even if it looks like they can't get under things they can ...

DonLewis · 04/01/2021 11:10

Our neighbours snake used to escape. Always found a couple of weeks later around pipes. (pipes under the sink, the bath and the boiler.)

LadyFlumpalot · 04/01/2021 11:13

Ummm. Which bit of Dorset? If you say North I may have to pack my bags for a bit! 😂

HerbErtlinger · 04/01/2021 11:19

Oh god, I'm in Dorset Confused