Vladmir escaped: let's get creative!

[Khrysty]

Let's start off with the understanding that I've successfully caught every escapee within 24 hours of their escape--up til now. There have been 3 in the entire time I've kept leopards, and once I learned they were missing, my first order of business was to figure out what I did wrong that let them loose.

Well, for Vlad, the glue came loose on the door to his tank, and the door shifted all the way to the right. This allowed a gap just large enough for him to squeeze through on the left side. Fixed the problem, can't find the lizard!

I recently moved into the basement of a very old house. The drywall in my bedroom does not go all the way down to the carpet (there is about an inch gap) and the door is 2 whole inches above the floor. This means: Vladmir could be ANYWHERE in this basement.

I tore my bedroom apart, but he's not in here. So I'm going to say it's safe to assume he's out there.

I have food, a hide, and a heater set out in a critter cage left on its side(the big ones, for small furry animals) where he left a big poop. I figure, if he was there once, he might show up again.

While the basement is full of all sorts of tasty treats and I know he won't want for food, I don't think there is a single place that gets above 75 degrees, except for the backs of the refrigerators in my room, and the heater I left out.

I'm hoping he goes to one of those spots when he gets cold.

But does anyone have a more creative method of capturing this little bugger? He's been gone for 48 hours and I'm starting to worry a bit about him..

 

[ReptileNinja101]

I'm pretty sure you will find him sooner or later the longest I have had one missing was 2 months. Mine had his tub open with a little gap and escaped during the night. I looking everyday for him for 3 weeks then I gave up. But as I was cleaning my closet out a few weeks after I gave up I found him. He was in a shoe box inside of a shoe. I was kinda relieved that I had found him after so long because I have two dogs that will eat pretty much anything they think looks good to them and to think that he survived that long is kinda crazy. He was only a hatchling at the time he escaped and when I found he nearly was double or triple in size that's why I was so amazed.
I wouldn't worry too much unless you have a dog,cat,or any other animal that roams around the house. The best thing you can do is just to check every place you mentioned everyday a few times a day till you find him. Also try turning off all the lights in the room you may think he is in and just sit there with a flashlight and you may just spot him running around. Or put a container of crickets on the ground too while the lights are off and shine the flashlight around it to see if he comes out.

 

[Khrysty]

I'm pretty sure you will find him sooner or later the longest I have had one missing was 2 months. Mine had his tub open with a little gap and escaped during the night. I looking everyday for him for 3 weeks then I gave up. But as I was cleaning my closet out a few weeks after I gave up I found him. He was in a shoe box inside of a shoe. I was kinda relieved that I had found him after so long because I have two dogs that will eat pretty much anything they think looks good to them and to think that he survived that long is kinda crazy. He was only a hatchling at the time he escaped and when I found he nearly was double or triple in size that's why I was so amazed.
I wouldn't worry too much unless you have a dog,cat,or any other animal that roams around the house. The best thing you can do is just to check every place you mentioned everyday a few times a day till you find him. Also try turning off all the lights in the room you may think he is in and just sit there with a flashlight and you may just spot him running around. Or put a container of crickets on the ground too while the lights are off and shine the flashlight around it to see if he comes out.

The people I live with have three dogs. I told them that he escaped and they said they'd keep the dogs out of the basement, so I hope he's safe

 

[Pokersnake]

I had a corn snake escape last winter. I looked online for ways to catch them and one of the most unusual methods seemed to work for many people. Place tape, sticky side up, all along the walls of your place. The snake will eventually cross one line of tape and continue on to collect more and more as he tries to move on.

Now, I'm not sure how this would work with a gecko... I think it might actually cause him to drop his tail. Probably not helpful.

I actually found the snake after I thought I had taped everywhere until I realized I forgot the small pantry in the kitchen. As I was taping the floor there, I found Snaken Bacon curled up on top of a box full of dishes. He tried diving in once he saw me, but I was faster. And he was pissed, lol.

 

[Khrysty]

I had a corn snake escape last winter. I looked online for ways to catch them and one of the most unusual methods seemed to work for many people. Place tape, sticky side up, all along the walls of your place. The snake will eventually cross one line of tape and continue on to collect more and more as he tries to move on.

Now, I'm not sure how this would work with a gecko... I think it might actually cause him to drop his tail. Probably not helpful.

I actually found the snake after I thought I had taped everywhere until I realized I forgot the small pantry in the kitchen. As I was taping the floor there, I found Snaken Bacon curled up on top of a box full of dishes. He tried diving in once he saw me, but I was faster. And he was pissed, lol.

I actually started taping the areas I thought he might go..then I decided to test and see if the tape was sticky enough. I put a gecko about his size on it and the gecko just walked right off :/ I'd need stickier tape if that were going to work..and yeah, he'd prolly drop his tail if he did get stuck.

 

[Pokersnake]

I think Duck tape would be overkill.

 

[Khrysty]

I think Duck tape would be overkill.

probably

 

[Jordan]

i read a thread not long ago about this type of thing. i cangt remember the details but someone made a hole in a box that a gecko can get in and not out. like cardboard over the door thats attached to the inside, so when it goes in pushes in, but when he tries to get out its to big to push out... erm if you get what i mean hard to explain but it worked.

 

[Khrysty]

i read a thread not long ago about this type of thing. i cangt remember the details but someone made a hole in a box that a gecko can get in and not out. like cardboard over the door thats attached to the inside, so when it goes in pushes in, but when he tries to get out its to big to push out... erm if you get what i mean hard to explain but it worked.

Would work if he had cause to go in there...

I'll think about how to build it and post an update if I can manage it. Thanks!

 

[Jordan]

lol ah yes a reason for him would help.
would suggesting a trail of mealworms to it be silly? haha.

Good Luck

 

[Khrysty]

haha if they weren't the sort of buggie that crawls all over the place, i'd consider it

 

[Jordan]

yuck mealworms all over the floor... might re-think that idea haha.

but wish you luck with whatever you go for.

 

[ReptilesForTheWin]

Hey I am in the same boat with my crested male. Were one of your other two lizards a crested? Or do you have any ideas for me?

 

[Khrysty]

Hey I am in the same boat with my crested male. Were one of your other two lizards a crested? Or do you have any ideas for me?

Never had a crested escape. I'd just make an enticing habitat for him...put some fake plants and some cgd or his favorite tasty treat down in the floor where he can reach them and check the area every so often. He might show up there...

 

[gothra]

How about including something from your female's tank? I suppose the female scent could also lure him out?

 

[Khrysty]

How about including something from your female's tank? I suppose the female scent could also lure him out?

That's a good idea...he hasn't shown any interest in females yet, but it's worth a shot! Thanks Bonnie

 

[ReptilesForTheWin]

I think she was talking to me. But I FOUND HIM!!!!!!
He was in my shower. I think he is gay...

 

[GeckoGathering]

Lost and found dept.

I recently moved into the basement of a very old house. The drywall in my bedroom does not go all the way down to the carpet (there is about an inch gap) and the door is 2 whole inches above the floor. This means: Vladmir could be ANYWHERE in this basement.

I tore my bedroom apart, but he's not in here. So I'm going to say it's safe to assume he's out there.

I have food, a hide, and a heater set out in a critter cage left on its side(the big ones, for small furry animals) where he left a big poop. I figure, if he was there once, he might show up again.

While the basement is full of all sorts of tasty treats and I know he won't want for food, I don't think there is a single place that gets above 75 degrees, except for the backs of the refrigerators in my room, and the heater I left out.

I'm hoping he goes to one of those spots when he gets cold.

But does anyone have a more creative method of capturing this little bugger? He's been gone for 48 hours and I'm starting to worry a bit about him..

I have helped find many so lets not end the streak. First read my thread:
http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=34820&highlight=LOST+FOUND+DEPARTMENT+%28ESCAPEES%29
When the temp is that cool and you have higher heat
available....it will find those warmer places. One of the places many are found are under the fridge, With that heater going too you should set up a Gecko Park for it there. Water bowl and plate of meal worms. A moist hide too. No need for magic door locks, supplying a dating service or anything....just check all the places daily or more often if possible. It will be on the move to find its needs. That means you don't check
a place once and say he is not there. 15 minutes later he may be. Read the thread and try the things and search the spots that have found many, many of the little guys and gals.
Take care. HJ​

 

[Khrysty]

I have helped find many so lets not end the streak. First read my thread:
http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=34820&highlight=LOST+FOUND+DEPARTMENT+%28ESCAPEES%29
When the temp is that cool and you have higher heat
available....it will find those warmer places. One of the places many are found are under the fridge, With that heater going too you should set up a Gecko Park for it there. Water bowl and plate of meal worms. A moist hide too. No need for magic door locks, supplying a dating service or anything....just check all the places daily or more often if possible. It will be on the move to find its needs. That means you don't check
a place once and say he is not there. 15 minutes later he may be. Read the thread and try the things and search the spots that have found many, many of the little guys and gals.
Take care. HJ​

I've read your thread many times, Rudy. But thanks for the info. I have a setup near the heat, which actually is a triangular area of my room, with the fridges making two corners, and the heat pad making a third. I'm sure he'll show up there eventually.

 

[bebetee]

Good luck on finding him! =) I know you will, just give it some time ! have you seen other signs of his poop being in places?