Enclosure nightmare !

[Mighty_Moose]

Hey everyone... I spent about $400-$500 upgrading my Childrens python housing from a tub to an enclosure a few months ago and have had no problems.. I've never had him escape and I've never EVER left the door open and made 100% certain I kept it shut and the lock locked every time I left the house/room. My snake somehow got out (and I could not see any gaps other than the about 1cm (1-1.5) that was left when the lock was locked) Luckily It was found by my mum who is terrified by snakes by accident (the reaction was :O she found it by accident in her school books so.. it wasn't pretty)...

The enclosure is a URS 80cm L, sliding doors and I've always had the lock on it... Its been in there for ages and no problems. I would admit it was my fault if I left the door or lock off but I didn't and thats why I'm so worried because then I would know how to fix it right now I've covered everything that resembles a crack with duct tape and I've plugged the gap between the sliding doors.. It looks like Fort Knox but I don't want to lose my snake so any suggestions?

I was thinking of moving it back into a tub until i could afford another $400-500 for an Exo terra or something that didn't have sliding doors... I understand that snakes can be escape artists but this was unbelievable.


Thanks Zac.

 

[JAS101]

dont use duct tape on the inside of the enclosure , if the snake gets it stuck on them it can cause issues.
i use the foam weather sealer from bunnings for the between glass gap and where the glass meets the edge of the enclosure.

 

[Mighty_Moose]

Its not on the inside I know that mate Its just holding the doors completely closed. Its also the doors that are the problem so I will need to be able to open it.

 

[mike83]

How old is the snake and what size is it ?

 

[Mighty_Moose]

Hes nearing 2 years and about 1-1.1 meters. When I measured him with herpmeasure in August of last year he was around 96.6 cm.


edit : added pic of enclosure and snake.

 

[Jen]

If you think it might be the gap between the doors just use some weather strip or even a strip of carpet and wedge it in the gap. Easy to remove whenever you need to open the door.

 

[Mighty_Moose]

Yeah, Thats the problem the gap in the doors was one of the problems I thought of so I have wedged rolled up paper towel then locked it in place. But when the doors are locked there is also a small gap left which is left not to mention there is tiny gaps where the roof has "clips".

 

[shell477]

you could put the cage in a secure location, take off all the tape etc and film it to see where he got out if he does it again...

 

[dadaman]

You can buy a strip of fury stuff that sticks on one side of the glass and fills the void. It is like a felt. If you go to an arts and crafts supply shop and tell then the gap you want to fill, they should be able to help you.

 

[Mighty_Moose]

Thanks for that! I'll see what happens I can't see any gaps so for now it should be good.

 

[Chris1]

i have golden tailed geckos in a similar enclosure, but ts 2 foot square, and they havent managed to escape. (just saying that cos theyre a hell of alot smaller than ur snake)
if hes managing to open the doors those sliding glass locks work a treat, leave the key in there so its easy for you, but secure for him.

otherwise the weather strip stuff thats been mentioned will fill all the other gaps perfectly,...the strip this im thinking of is sticky on one side and not the other, so u wouldnt need to remove it to open the cage.

 

[Mighty_Moose]

Thats the thing Chris! I have the lock and I leave the key in there!