Well, mystery solved, at least for Snothead. Found him strangled under the roost, very obvious rat snake attack. Coop received even more modifications (at this point I don’t know what more I could possibly do) and fake eggs were added.. perhaps a long shot but maybe an egg would be considered an easier target if another snake somehow got in, maybe during a daytime attack.
I also decided to cut the little one open.. I couldn’t bear not knowing what gender he was. And it was a he. So yea, mystery solved.
That's a heck-uv-a-way to solve a mystery. And I'm genuinely sorry. I was actually starting to really like the little guy, as if I knew him!
For the snakes - get yourself a minnow trap, the long cylindrical kind that minnows & such can swim into but not out of - and bait it with an egg. If there's another snake in there, you'll find it!