What do I do if I lost my corn snake?

Must really be the weekend for snake escapes!

First thing: *really* check the tank. I've thought I had a lost juvie corn more than once, but he was just really well-hidden in his substrate. Or they can tuck themselves into hides in odd positions.

Assuming a definite escape:

Think like a corn snake: what it wants is dark, close and secure like a burrow, and warm!

Most snakes who escape (my estimation from anecdote and experience) are found in the room in which they escaped. The vast majority of snakes who escape and are recaptured are found in the house. I don't know that anyone's ever tried to collect figures, but it seems to me as if most people who lose snakes do find them again. In fact, I've heard it said that you're not really a corn snake owner until you've lost and recaptured the little creeper at least once.

1. Put down water dishes throughout the house. The biggest danger to in-house escapees is usually dehydration (although unfortunately a cat is very well up there. But if you haven't found a dead snake, then the odds are your cat hasn't killed it yet - cats tend to be prey-displayers for what they don't altogether devour).

2. Search everything in that room, and I mean *everything*, square inch by square inch. Including the stuff in the dustbin - empty cans, matchboxes, whatever. I found my juvie rat snake today in an empty Nurofen box that had fallen under a piece of furniture - about three feet from point of escape. If the snake is not in that room, continue the search in the next room, and the next and the next. They are particular buggers for getting under or behind refrigerators and other appliances. It can get into holes you wouldn't think it could get into, and it can coil up smaller than you'd ever believe it could coil up, even when you've seen it.
This is probably the way most snakes are actively found (as opposed to the "I just opened the drawer and there he was" type of finding).

One way that may help determine if the snake is in a given room: lay a layer of flour around the walls, under raised furniture or around the bottom edges of furniture closer to the floor, etc. Leave the room and turn off the light. If the snake is in the room and has moved around, you should see trails in the morning.

Another common alternative is the "sound trap". Crinkle newspapers or something else real noisy; set them around the walls and under or around furniture. Turn the light off and sit in the room with a torch in your hand. If the snake is there, hopefully it will come out and start cruising around; if it does, you will hear it and can then turn the torch on and (hopefully) snag it.
Downside: involves sitting in a dark room all night with nothing to do but listen for your snake.

3. Try a bottle trap. Basically, you cut the top off a 2-litre plastic bottle, punch some airholes in the bottom of the bottle, take a brained f/t pinky (or fuzzy or whatever) and leave a scent trail leading to your trap, put the pinky in the bottom of the bottle, invert the top (so the top of the opening is pointing towards the bottom of the bottle) and tape it back on in that position. The theory is that the snake will go in after the pinky and have trouble figuring out how to get back out, or will just curl up in a food coma. Some elaborations I have seen are: cut off part of the cap (leaving enough to screw on) to make a hole big enough for a hungry snake to get into, but not big enough for a fed snake to get out of; and tape some plastic strips so they point inwards down the opening - the snake can easily push them aside to get in, but can't get back out through them. Warning: the prey item must be removed within 24 hours - corn snakes are not rotten carrion fans, and neither will you be when you smell it.

4. If you have heat control for that room, turn the heat down and set out a heat mat under a layer of substrate or such, with a hide on top of it, in the darkest area you can find (under something if possible). If you did the bottle trap, put it next to the heat mat.

5. If you haven't found your snake in a month, or three months, don't panic. Corn snakes are notorious for going walkabout for even six months or a year before their rediscovery - some of them have spent that time outdoors, as they are well adapted to the climate here. You can, however, think of it as an excuse to get a second snake without actually admitting to any s.o. or parents that the expectation is pretty decent to eventually find snake #1 and end up with 2 snakes.

Have you lost a pet corn snake? If so, there are some steps you can take to find it. First, look in the area where your snake was last seen and try to spot any signs of its presence.

Corn snakes like to hide under rocks or logs, so check these places first. You should also search for shed skin and feces because they will help identify the type of snake that is missing.

When looking for a corn snake, it’s important not to scare them away with loud noises or sudden movements. They’re shy creatures by nature and may be hiding from humans if they feel threatened.

Try using a flashlight at night when searching for them because this will allow you to see their eyeshine (it’s how they can see you). You may be able to spot them from a distance.

If you have looked for some time for your corn snake and are still unable to find it, you should hire professional help.

Snakes are crafty reptiles, and they have a habit of escaping from the enclosure. When you are cleaning the cage, or by chance, there comes an opportunity they might try to escape. You cannot leave the snake at large in the house and need to find it at once. The missing pet might choose to stay in a warm and enclosed space. 

You should search under the furniture and adjacent areas for them. If you still can’t find them, set up the boxes to lure them out of their temporary dwelling. We will let you know about the step by step process to find the sneaky snake out of the hiding in easy-to-follow ways.

Table of Contents

Where to Look For a Missing Corn Snake?

Corn snakes are shy reptiles that can hide in cabinets or under furniture. You’ll be able to spot their eyeshine if they’re near you, so use a flashlight at night when searching for them.

If the corn snake is not in its enclosure and escapes into an area of your house, it will try to find shelter and lay low from you while continuing to search for food. It’s important to seal off entrances to these areas while searching for the lost pet because it may want a warm and enclosed space.

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When you cannot find the snake in the cage or vivarium, the first thing you need to do is don’t panic at all. Your corn snake will not leave the house at once, and you don’t need to go outside in the bushes for finding them. Your corn snake will find a warm and dark place to stay and enjoy the freedom for a while. 

This is the time you can find your pet snake inside the house from these lurking places. The first thing that you need to do is to check the last place where it was. 

Thoroughly Check The Vivarium

Snakes are good at hiding, and there are high chances that their camouflage will let you believe that the vivarium is empty. When you cannot find your pet corn snake at first glance, don’t jump out of your feet. Instead, do the following and give a thorough sweep check to the vivarium. 

• Hide box: Corn snakes love to stay in the hidden box by collapsing the whole body. When you see an empty vivarium, please don’t rush to lift it as you might hurt your pet during the process. Look closely in the hide box with torchlight for your hidden pet. 
• Bedding: Snakes love to hide, and their camouflage makes them experts in it. Look closely in the bedding for eyes and other parts of the body if you cannot find your snake in other places of the vivarium. 
• Decoration: Your decoration can provide a perfect hiding environment for the corn snake to hide. Before lifting the vivarium, you must check on and behind the decorations to find your pet behind or around those decorations. 

If the vivarium with all the inside belongings doesn’t show any sign of your pet, it means you will have to expand your search area by the following way:

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Check The Immediate Area

Snakes are ectothermic, and they would prefer the first warm place they can find to stay hidden and enjoy their warm bask. When you have a snake at large, try to focus your search on the ground. Because it takes energy to climb walls and furniture, and snakes will preserve as much energy as possible.

The best approach to find a missing snake is to pay attention to the warm places near walls. A wall is a cushion of safety from the predator, and it will help them squeeze into a tight place. A laundry basket, a heap of cloth and boxes on the floor is the perfect hiding place for an escaping snake. 

It is less likely for a snake to leave the room. That’s why you must thoroughly check the furniture, curtains, cracks and holes in the room to find your beloved pet.

Check The Whole House

When you have an escaped snake, you must understand that it won’t climb the stairs to get to the higher floor. First, start searching the same floor for your missing pet behind the furniture and in the cracks. Look thoroughly in every place that could give your pet an inch or two diameter space to escape and hide. 

Looking behind the furniture, boxes, under the furniture, and discarded places will increase the chances of finding the snake. But if you are failed in everything you have done, you need to be a bit creative by setting some luring things.

How To Get The Snake Back Into The Vivarium?

To get the corn snake back into the vivarium hold down the top end of its container with your left hand and firmly hold its head in your right hand. While careful not to crush or handle roughly, flip it over so that it is hanging from upper jaw, and lower it into the tank’s opening. Gently guide the head through the hole until snake drops onto floor of tank.

If you’re lucky enough to have a snake as a pet friend there is one question that never fails to come up: “How do I get my snake back into their enclosure?”. Whether they are escaping or plotting an escape – rest assured we’ve got you covered.

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Let’s have a look at some good options for you.

Snake Lures

• Basking spots: You can use heat lamps to create a temporary heat basking spot for your pets. The snake will love to come out of the hidden place and stay there to satiate the energy need. 
• Hide box: Placing hide boxes around the furniture and sneaky places will attract your pet snake to get inside and enjoy the solitary time. These boxes are easy to set up, and there are no chances of injury for your snake to get inside the stay put until you recover it. 
• Water bowl: Water is needed by the snake to stay hydrated. And placing the water bowls all around the house will increase the chances of hydration for your pet. And there are also high chances to get a glimpse of your pet snake when it tries to reach water and quench its thirst. 

Snake Traps

These are harmless traps that will attract your pet to come out of hiding and get in them for easy retrieval. 

• Plastic bags: The best approach is to place these bags under and behind the furniture in a scrunched-up way. These are the sound traps that will notify you when your pet will try to roll over them. 
• Flour line: You can use baby powder or all purpose-floor to draw straight lines on the room’s boundary and doors to know the exact movement and direction of the snake. It will let you know where your pet has been and where it is heading so you can hem in the snake through intensive search. 

Corn snakes and other pet snakes can get out of the glass enclosure at the verge of the first opportunity. No matter how vigilant you are, these sneaky pets have the habit of making you startled by their absence. You must make the room snake-proof by closing all the holes and covering all the outlets. Place lure box and snake traps in case of emergency and allow your snake to be found at the earliest.

What should I do if my corn snake escaped?

How do I find my escaped corn snake?

How do you lure a lost snake?