Wild Coastal condition..

[thepythia]

Hi all,

Found this Carpet Python back in late Janurary, just after the SE QLD floods.
I was in Main Range N.P a couple of weeks after doing some camping/herping and came across it. I am just curious about its condition and would like to know for future reference for when I'm herping and come across something similar. I don't keep any reptiles (yet) so I've only observed snakes in the wild and all have been visibly healthy.

I watched this particular snake for awhile (without disturbing it) and it seemed to be moving about as per usual. After a morning of basking it went back into its log and ventured out later that evening.



This snake was less than a km away on the same bank.





thanks in advance.

 

[Elapidae1]

That one looks like it's had a rough trot. It's not unusual to come across wild herps that look in less than reasonable condition, they do it tough compared to our sanitarily kept pets with a never ending supply of rodents.
Good on you for developing your interest in the bush before keeping. I do keep herps but get much more satisfaction from finding and observing them in the bush.

Nice pics too, that second one looks like a big critter

 

[thepythia]

Yeah i decided that I'd spend a year or so herping and researching before i started keeping. It's gone past that now and I can't wait to finally start keeping
So nothing specific as to why he was in such bad shape? i thought he may have had a bad time in the floods.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Elapidae1]

Could be any number of things and any answer would be a guess at best. Old age, the injury could be a result of hunting, breeding female which hasn't put condition back on, etc etc. Outside of injury caused by humans, it's just nature taking it's course.

 

[thepythia]

thanks for your help

 

[cement]

I agree whole heartedly with Steve. On the herping before keeping too, great to hear.
People will be amazed at what wild snakes can put up with, the part I like is that, the ones like that, thet i catch usually come pretty good after a spell of optimum conditions a bit of betadine and a couple of feeds and a shed. Puts them right back in the fight, which personally i feel is a good thing (especially around suburban areas) because of the slow reproductive cycle, and habitat loss and the lack of reliable info on exactly how many are around.

Depending on its ailments a snake like that could easily be deleted by winter.

 

[Mister_Snakes]

Nothing better than understanding a bit of the natural history of an animal before you buy one!

I see a lot of Python all over Brisbane that look like this guy, especially some of the inner city ones. It gives them character! Shows you just how resilient pythons are, you don't see many other reptiles, except perhaps Blue tongues that survive with that many scars.

 

[thepythia]

Yeah it is the only one I've seen in poor condition but now I'll know that it can be expected and will no doubt see more like it as I continue herping.

I really love seeing them I the wild and herps in general have definitely become my biggest obsession, guess it's only going to get worse from here on in