How to Find a Lost Pet Snake or Reptile

It's every snake or reptile owner's worst nightmare: You go to check up on your pet only to find that the terrarium or enclosure is empty. Snakes and reptiles can be pretty adept escape artists and once they've escaped their enclosure, they can be difficult to locate. But these tricks will help attract a lost snake or reptile.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A warm desk lamp or heavy duty clip-on lamp, found at the hardware store.
• Flour
• A bowl of water
• Snake or reptile food

1. Narrow down the options in terms of where the missing pet may be. If a room was closed off when the snake or reptile disappeared, it's likely the pet is not going to be in that room. So the key is to determine where the snake is not located and close off that room (be sure to put a towel at the bottom of the door if there's a significant gap) to narrow your search.

2. Get one warm lamp (like a desk lamp or heavy-duty clip-on lamp, sold at hardware stores), one bowl of water, one bowl of food and a handful of flour for each room where the snake may be situated.

3. Plug in the desk lamp and place it on the floor at the center of the room. If you have a clip-on lamp, drag a chair over and clip the lamp onto the leg or seat of the chair. The key is to have the lamp as close to the floor as possible.

4. Turn on the light and where the beam of light is the strongest (and the warmest), place some flour on the floor. Just a little is needed for hardwood or tile floors, while a bit more is required for carpet. Don't worry - the flour will vacuum right up. If the snake or reptile walks over to the area, he will leave tracks in the flour.

5. Place the bowl of water and the bowl of food (this will work especially well with frozen rodents if the snake has not eaten recently) in the area that's illuminated by the light. The bowls should be surrounded with flour.

6. Place a light, bowl of food, water, and flour in each room where the missing snake or reptile may be hiding.

7. Turn off the other lights in the room and leave the light on. Check back every few hours. With any luck, you'll find the missing pet basking in the warm light.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient. It can often take a couple days or more until the missing pet makes an appearance.
• Check in warm areas of the home, like along baseboard heating or near other heaters inside the home. The snake will be naturally attracted to these areas.
• If it's winter, keep your home a bit warmer than usual. This will increase he pet's chances or survival.
• If there are cats or dogs in the home, crate them or place them in a room where you're sure the snake is not located to ensure everyone's safety.

[wytetyger059]

on 9/1/2008 Great article. I lost a Jacksonian chameleon once. Unfortunately, I didn't have your tips to guide me, and didn't find him for over a month. He was under my radiator. Thanks.