Every pet owner wants their pets to be safe and healthy and this is why they tend to take necessary measures to make sure their pets don’t escape as the world outside may not be as kind to them. Just like any other pet, no matter how calm and quiet ball pythons are, there’s a chance they can escape too. So, the question at hand is- how to find an escaped ball python?
To find an escaped ball python you need to start searching the room you saw your ball python last, and then move on to the next room. You also need to seal each room after going through it so that your ball python can’t slither into it anymore. Still, if you can’t find him, consider setting traps for better results.
In this article, I am going to talk about how you can find your ball python when and if he escapes, more vividly. Therefore, I recommend you go through this entire article as I assure you this article will guide you through this tough time.
How to Find an Escaped Ball Python?
Ball pythons have proven themselves to be experts at hiding. Only a few minutes of negligence from the owner’s side can result in losing his precious ball python. And once the ball python is out of his cage, finding him becomes very difficult as he sneaks away quickly. Therefore, it is important that the owner follows some techniques in order to find his escaped ball python.
Now. Let’s go through the important points that need to be kept in mind while trying to find one’s newly escaped ball python.
Remain Calm
Once you see your ball python is not in his cage, make sure to not desperately rush around your house. You need to stay as calm as possible if you want your ball python to come out from wherever he is hiding.
When your ball python escapes from his cage, the possibility of him being hidden in some corner of the house is high. So, keeping in mind that he is curled up in some dark corner you need to start looking for him in a calm manner.
Because if you start running around the house, this may stress your ball python and force him to hide in a more isolated place and also may diminish the chances of him coming out. So, it is necessary that you pull yourself together and keep the environment calm and quiet.
Scan Your House
Ball pythons are known for hiding at places that are not easily found. They can slither their way around the house. So, it is important to search the house properly without leaving any stone unturned. Start from the last place you saw your snake and move on from there.
While searching each room, make sure to stuff any kind of opening like- large cracks or vents, the door cracks with some kind of cloth so that your ball python can’t slither through them. Also, shut the door of each room after searching and stuff towels or cloth to seal the door crack.
Search any place that can provide your snake with a dark environment to hide, such as- shoe boxes, garbage disposal, pizza boxes, firewood piles, heaters, closets, vents, etc. As ball pythons find comfort in these places, they tend to hide themselves there.
If you have lost your ball python before, then make sure you search the place where he was last found because there’s a chance that your ball python chose the same place to hide himself again.
But if you are still having trouble finding him, take a break and start at nightfall again. As ball pythons tend to become more active during night time, finding him can be easier then.
Set-up Traps
Even after leaving no stones unturned, if you can’t find your ball python, then you may want to consider setting traps to catch them. Now, there are mainly three types of traps that you need to go over before deciding which one to choose.
Coin Trap: The first one is the coin trap. The coin trap is basically arranging coins in a line at the opening of closets, doors, over the tables, counters, couches, etc. This way when your ball python will slither his way through them the line will be disturbed and will also make noise.
And if you are not nearby to be alerted by the noise, you can easily follow the disturbed line to find the location where your ball python is hiding.
Powder Trap: The second trap to consider is the powder trap. This process is quite easier. All you need to do is scatter flour or corn starch in a thin layer at places like the opening of closets, doors, over the tables, counters, couches, etc.
Thus, your ball python will leave a trail by disrupting the four layers whenever he comes out of his hiding place and this will allow you to locate him.
Heat Trap: And the final option of traps you have is a heat trap. In this case, you need to turn the temperature of your house down to 68 degrees. And set a small enclosure with a ball python shaped window. In the enclosure set shipping warmer. As ball pythons need a specific temperature, your escaped one will therefore find the enclosure and rest inside it.
By setting any one of the above-mentioned traps you can easily find your ball python if he is still hidden inside your house.
Alert Neighbors
Due to the warm temperature, it may not be possible to keep windows and doors closed at all times. So, if you have lost your ball python during the time any of your windows or main door wasn’t secured, you need to consider the fact that your ball python may have gotten outside your house.
Therefore, it is important to alert your neighbors of the situation so that they can also keep an eye out for your ball python. Some of your neighbors may be afraid of snakes, so it is also necessary to sell the fact that your ball python isn’t dangerous. This way your neighbors will also be on the lookout.
How to Prevent Ball Python Escapes?
As we can see from the above-mentioned pointers that once you lose your ball python, finding him is a very stressful task as they are excellent hiders and can slither their way through anything. Therefore, preventing this situation from occurring is very important. So, let’s talk about the ways of preventing ball python escapes.
- The first step towards preventing is making sure the cage you are using to keep your ball python is specially constructed for reptiles like ball pythons. Because these cages have proven to be solid and escape-proof.
- Now that you have successfully secured your ball python in an escape-proof cage, if possible, you can also increase the security by making sure the secured escape-proof cage is also in a secured escape-proof room.
- As you are using a cage that is especially constructed for reptiles like ball python, make sure all the clasps and latches are secured perfectly.
- If you are using a glass terrarium as a cage with a mesh-lid or screen assure that the lids have clamps. Because they help secure the lids correctly. Otherwise, your ball python can easily lift the lid open and escape.
- If the cage of your ball python is open, don’t ever leave your ball python unattended even for a minute. Because that’s all your ball python needs to execute and escape effortlessly. So, if the cage door is open, your ball python should be under supervision all the time.
The above-mentioned pointers should be followed in order to keep your ball python in his cage and to prevent his escape.
In this article, I have not only talked about how to find an escaped ball python, but I have also focused my discussion on preventing this escape. I hope this article was of help to you and wish you the best of luck finding your ball python and keeping him safe.
