Toilet Snakes

Xeikeness · #1 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 08:14 AM

Alright, so for as long as I've been into reptiles, I keep hearing stories from people about snakes dissapearing into toilets.

Each and every one that has told me about their snakes vanishing into the wet beyond, I've gathered were extremely poor reptile keepers, and shouldn't have had these animals to begin with. Here are a couple that I've heard:

"My 7' boa was out wandering around with me, and the last I saw him he was going into the bathroom. That was ok because he liked to sit behind the toilet. I never saw him again. He escaped out of the toilet into the sewer."

"I had a 3' ball python and an 11' burmese python and they lived in the bathroom with the hot water on. One day the ball python was just gone. He got outside through the toilet and we never found him."

There were a few others, but, they all run along the same lines. You get the picture.

So, what is your opinion on this apparent "phenomenon"? I have my own opinion, but what's yours?

Absolutely true and could easily happen.
Um, well maybe.
Yeah, maybe in an alternate dimension.
Not in a million years, porcelain is too cold and toilets are shaped in such a way that isn't conducive to a snake climbing in.
I really don't think so - why would a snake go into a dark hole underwater?

R&M&K · #2 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 08:17 AM

i doubt the snake would maneuver its way through the piping, especially an 11' burm wouldnt even fit there to begin with..

R&M&K · #3 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 08:21 AM

so i read again, but anyway, i dont think snakes would make it even half way down the pipes..

Hartsock · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 08:26 AM

Voted maybe... just because I have seen a boa go underwater and just hang out for about 5 minutes just for fun. I could see one going to explore what this dark hole would be not expecting there to not be air at the other end of it. HOWEVER, if it did happen as often as people say, I would expect there would be more that got stuck (ever see a boa or python slither backward? They can adjust themselves, but it takes awhile) and there would be more calls for dead snake removal to plumbers.

Chris.M · #5 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 09:06 AM

i doubt it. highly.most pipes go too thin for a snake. you would have a snake corpse blocking your drain, and yea... there would be no question about what happens

Icicle · #6 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 09:23 AM

I for One would say it depends on the snake.
Most toilets run either a 3" or a 4" ABS pipe out to the sewer line, Then the Sewer line itself is any where from 6" and up.
we all have heard about sewer rats so right their would be a good food supply.
And on futher note about toilets they hold only a slight amount of water in the back to keep gases and other vapors out of the house. and if the sewer line is correct then it will have a slight fall to it, I know that the min. fall used to be a 1/4" per 100 feet.
So Again I would say it is possible.

EDIT:
I think this can show a good anwser.
YouTube - Bad sewer pipes across America

jere000000 · #7 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 01:56 PM

i put maybe cause its very unlikely but it could happen to a small snake but most stories where a snake is found in someones toilet it most likely found its way into the house got thirsty and went in the toilet but since people here stories of snakes coming in through the pipes thats just what they say

fuglyfarmhand · #8 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 05:05 PM

I voted maybe cause I have heard of a b.p. goin into the toilet and getting stuck. They got it out but it was still there.

Icicle · #9 (**permalink**) 01-04-2009, 03:14 AM

this needs a bump

ceh421 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-04-2009, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icicle

I for One would say it depends on the snake.
Most toilets run either a 3" or a 4" ABS pipe out to the sewer line, Then the Sewer line itself is any where from 6" and up.
we all have heard about sewer rats so right their would be a good food supply.
And on futher note about toilets they hold only a slight amount of water in the back to keep gases and other vapors out of the house. and if the sewer line is correct then it will have a slight fall to it, I know that the min. fall used to be a 1/4" per 100 feet.
So Again I would say it is possible.
EDIT:
I think this can show a good anwser.
YouTube - Bad sewer pipes across America

i am in the construction business and do mostly my own plumbing, i would have to agree with Icicle and say that it COULD happen - it would not be hard for a larger bull snake (or any longer slender snake) to find its way into the sewer system and up into the pipes leading to a hose.... no i dont know that a snake would do that, but it is possible

Alex · #11 (**permalink**) 01-04-2009, 04:41 AM

Gotta vote for the maybe on this one..Especially after seeing that video! I agree with ceh..depends on the snake, but a maybe..

dasmay · #12 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 02:03 AM

I agree with Icicle as well.

Icicle · #13 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 02:39 AM

Must of been the video?

Xeikeness · #14 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 04:09 AM

I can see the garter snake and the raccoon being inside sewer pipes, having gotten there as wild animals through external entryways into the systems.

But - Snakes climbing into toilet bowls and then into the sewer, is the question.

I should have been more clear.

BlackLava · #15 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 04:13 AM

ok, i just dont see all these snakes running to the toilet to escape...if they do make it in there, id be willing to put money on it that the owners stuck them in there to get rid of them

TammyJamaica · #16 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 06:16 PM

I voted maybe.

I saw something in the toilet once that I thought just might be an elusive and extremely rare Toilet Snake.

However, upon closer inspection, I noticed that it lacked the defining head, eyes, mouth and tail...(although it did appear to have what may have been some rudimentary type of tail....who knows?)

I flushed it.

vfoerster · #17 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 06:21 PM

I voted Highly unlikely... Just due to the fact that in normal 1 story homes the piping is only 2".

Boaviking · #18 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 06:25 PM

Its possible. I dont know about all snakes, but my boa is very curious. She has several times found her way into the toilet when I was soaking her in the bathtub. BUt dont worry, I was keeping an eye on her and never left her alone. There was a news post on here a month or so back about a reptile smuggling ring found in Europe where snakes were found in a hotel toilet and had escaped from a different room. If its documented, I dont see why not.

Icicle · #19 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vfoerster

I voted Highly unlikely... Just due to the fact that in normal 1 story homes the piping is only 2".

Are you 100% sure about that, I know they use 2" for the sink drain, Better double check the toilet.

fuglyfarmhand · #20 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icicle

Are you 100% sure about that, I know they use 2" for the sink drain, Better double check the toilet.

My place was built in the 60's and it has 3" down tubes for the toilet. And 2" for the sinks.

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