#snakeout!brisbane

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Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

This little eastern brown (Pseudonaja textilis) took advantage of a warm afternoon to wander around some offices by the Brisbane River. The staff had placed a cardboard box in his path which he chose to hide in until we arrived on scene. Though this is not generally recommended or necessary, particularly for anything bigger than a little guy like this, a box or bin laid on it's side can often provide easy shelter for a wandering reptile, particularly if they're stuck somewhere indoors and around people. Still, often much easier to simply keep everyone away and keep an eye on the animal until we arrive. Fantastic head and neck colouring on this little snake :D

[snakeoutbrisbane]

Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

Chunky eastern brown! Check out those cool gray belly spots, typically brownish/reddish in colour :) This gorgeous snake was found initially by our client's professional therapy dog, luckily the pup knew not to approach and simply alerted the owners. After that he spent 3 days around some house water tanks until we got his routine down and managed to finally catch him sunning in the morning. Safely released in a bushy creek line nearby, hopefully full of fat rats to eat :)

[snakeoutbrisbane]

Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

This big eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) was seen cruising through an automotive garage before entering a drainage inside the service area. He later re-appeared, climbing out of the drain and back into the garage, wandering underneath equipment while staff maintained visual contact, keeping people away and aware of his presence. Upon capture we noticed he'd managed to cover his head in thick engine grease which we managed to mostly clean off (rather gently!) before releasing him near a nice bushy creek. Despite all the mayhem, he was just cold and I'm sure bit confused by all the action, rather being than aggressive or attacking. Sure was nice to see this one slide into the creek for a nice morning swim

[snakeoutbrisbane]

Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis poriphyriacus)

A gorgeous little red-bellied blacksnake (Pseudechis poriphyriacus) spotted in a client's laundry room. We found him hiding under some towels next to the washing machine

[snakeoutbrisbane]

Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota)

Happy days! This big carpet python had been through the vet and in rehab for some time when this photo was taken. A severe case of mites may have been causing blood toxicity. The neck appeared to be injured, or perhaps having neurological difficulties, but other than the mites and movement issues there were no other signs of illness. After some pyrtherin treatments and a good long stay things finally seem to be improving, with increasing mobility and muscle control returning to the side of the neck. We found a healthy shed and the next day was the first time we'd seen this, climbing and perching, very typical carpet python behaviour and exactly what we want!!

 This from a snake that weeks earlier had struggled to right itself if laid on it's side, and would constrict its own neck into a knotted-ball when touched. She was soon feeding and moving fine, and was ready for release. Seems strange to get this excited over a carpet python that can climb, it is what they're meant to do after all :)

[snakeoutbrisbane]

White-Crowned Snake (Cacophis harriettae)

Second photo-set of this lil’ guy. A childcare center on Brisbane's southside gave us a call regarding a "brown" coloured snake in their hallway. We found this little guy waiting for us on arrival, a white-crowned snake (Cacophis harriettae) with a mis-formed crown! Possibly some type of hypomelanism or other developmental error gave some bizarre pigmentation to this gorgeous little noodle. Very cool!

[snakeoutbrisbane]

Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

Another gorgeous eastern brown, this one with some lovely black speckles on a fawn grey body with orange head colouring. Gave some folks a bit of a fright after hanging around an office entry garden. Took a good few minutes of digging before he tried to do the runner :) On inspecting the photos, it seems this guy has a nice battle wound over the eye, no damage to the eye itself but a cool looking scar over the supra- and subocular scale. We called him Tony Montana :) Very cool animal!

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Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota)

Gorgeous little fatty :)

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Keelback (Tropidonophis mairii)

A non-venomous but rather cranky keelback aka freshwater snake (Tropidonophis mairii) relocated from some warehouse offices :)

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Yellow-faced Whip Snake (Demansia psammophis)

Gorgeous little yellow-faced whipsnake :) while venomous they're rather placid mostly, and at this size would struggle to envenomate. So cute!

[snakeoutbrisbane]

Daly River Rough Scale Death Adders (Acanthophis rugosus)

Some new additions to the collection! Daly River Rough Scale Death Adders, A. rugosus :) These two males are clutch mates, about 2 years old and eating like champions! The taxonomy of these snakes is still somewhat unclear; evidence suggest that "northern death adders" A praelongus should be separated into A. praelongus from Nth East QLD, A. rugosus from hilly regions of the NT and Papua New Guinea, and possibly floodplain dwelling species of A. hawkei. Accordingly, one might call these Daly River adders A. rugosus, depending on molecular divergence, physical characteristics, and other evidence. Either way, whether you call them rugosus or praelongus (or hawkei?!?), they're fascinating animals and a joy to keep, stunningly beautiful with a lightspeed strike :)

[snakeoutbrisbane]

Broad Shelled Turtle (Chelodian expansa)

Turtle Feeding Cam! Quick video of a rehab guest, a large female Broad Shelled Turtle (Chelodina expansa) whom we called Shelderina taking a decent feed. It took her some time to settle in, rejecting all food initially, but after a few days and some different food items she started taking small feeder fish and crays. Here she's snapping up bigger items and looking around her tank for more! 

[snakeoutbrisbane]

White-Crowned Snake (Cacophis harriettae)

A childcare center on Brisbane's southside gave us a call regarding a "brown" coloured snake in their hallway. We found this little guy waiting for us on arrival, a white-crowned snake (Cacophis harriettae) with a mis-formed crown! Possibly some type of hypomelanism or other developmental error gave some bizarre pigmentation to this gorgeous little noodle. Very cool!

Look out tomorrow for the second half of this photo-set.

[snakeoutbrisbane]

Golden Crowned Snake (Cacophis squamulosus)

This gorgeous, rather darkly coloured Golden Crowned Snake got himself into the pool filter housing during this recent heat wave. These snakes pose like brown snakes but it's all a show. They are only mildly venomous, mostly consuming small lizards at night time in the rain forest leaf litter and rocky crevices. Hopefully much happier down by the creek and surrounding bushland :)

[snakeoutbrisbane]

Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

Here's a few quick snaps of the gorgeous, dark Eastern brown who climbed into this electrical box looking for a quite place to shed. When inspecting the box, we found the shed first, before finding the snake a meter or so above head height, sitting comfortably on the air-con right at the back of the box. Certainly a challenge trying to coax him out of this small space, but this super relaxed snake made it a pleasure :)

[snakeoutbrisbane]

Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

This sneaky noodle unfortunately made his way into a living room while the family was home. Luckily they did the right thing and kept everyone well away, simply watching the snake's movements and calling for advice. After a short search we found this gorgeous, orange-peachy-brown snake tucked in behind the curtains. Unlucky, my release photos completely fail to do this stunning animal justice as it was rather adamant on heading towards the road instead of the bushy patch we had found. After a few turn-arounds, and perhaps noticing the long grass and wetland available, he took off rather quickly into the scrub :)