Best Methods for locating lost herps....

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Posted by JeffB on October 04, 2001 at 21:23:07:

Ok everyone that has kept herps for a long time
has had one or two escapes. I can remember my dad finding
a wandering scarlet king in his bathtub.

Over the years I have found at least a few good ideas have
helped retreive them. Some are specific to certain animals
or types of animals but here goes...

# For most ground dwelling colubrid snakes such as
kings, milks, corns and rat snakes, try putting a cardboard
box full of rocks in the closet or under the bed in the
room in which the escape occured as soon as the escape
is noticed. This will provide a more "naturalistic" hiding spot
for them and they will be more likely to use it than a shoe
or something else once they find it.

# do NOT turn on your heater if you think its possible that
the animal has gotten into the vents. This is a BAD BAD idea...
It is not only rough on the animal but if it IS in the vents
and you cook it, you will spend MONTHS wishing you hadn't.

# If you keep or breed rodents to feed your herps, check their
cageing and surrounding area thoroughly, remove any possible hiding spots
and check it frequently.

# Arboreal Species such as Chondros and Tree Boas go up when they escape.
Check curtain rods, the tops of doors, upper shelves in closets
I have found my escapees invariably stay in the same room they just find the
highest spot in the room to perch

# Escapee lizards such as collareds ,sceleops and other fast lizards
tend to find the first hole and dive for it. I had an escapee sceleop
bolt down a 50 foot hallway and then veer off at high speed and
head straight for the first hole in the wall it found

I can think of more but I have to go find a lost snake so...

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: Ok everyone that has kept herps for a long time : has had one or two escapes. I can remember my dad finding : a wandering scarlet king in his bathtub. : Over the years I have found at least a few good ideas have : helped retreive them. Some are specific to certain animals : or types of animals but here goes... : # For most ground dwelling colubrid snakes such as : kings, milks, corns and rat snakes, try putting a cardboard : box full of rocks in the closet or under the bed in the : room in which the escape occured as soon as the escape : is noticed. This will provide a more "naturalistic" hiding spot : for them and they will be more likely to use it than a shoe : or something else once they find it. : # do NOT turn on your heater if you think its possible that : the animal has gotten into the vents. This is a BAD BAD idea... : It is not only rough on the animal but if it IS in the vents : and you cook it, you will spend MONTHS wishing you hadn't. : # If you keep or breed rodents to feed your herps, check their : cageing and surrounding area thoroughly, remove any possible hiding spots : and check it frequently. : # Arboreal Species such as Chondros and Tree Boas go up when they escape. : Check curtain rods, the tops of doors, upper shelves in closets : I have found my escapees invariably stay in the same room they just find the : highest spot in the room to perch : # Escapee lizards such as collareds ,sceleops and other fast lizards : tend to find the first hole and dive for it. I had an escapee sceleop : bolt down a 50 foot hallway and then veer off at high speed and : head straight for the first hole in the wall it found : I can think of more but I have to go find a lost snake so...

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