I rescued a snake stuck to stickytape. Srsly.

[Ferris]

Was digging through some cardboard boxes in the spare room, looking for a remote. Found a snake, about 30-40cm long stuck and tangled up in a strip of stickytape that had hung down from a cardboard box. I though it was dead. Poked it, and its head moved ever so slightly.



Feeling sorry for it, I got some scissors and cut the piece of stickytape off the box, thus leaving me with a snake still stuck helplessly to this strip of stickytape like flypaper. You know the tape, it's clear and about 2 inches wide. This poor snake had obviously wrestled to free itself a fair bit, as there was scales stuck to all the bits of the tape that the snake wasn't still attached to.



I got it upstairs and applied vegetable oil to all of the exposed parts of the tape, and to the snake where it was stuck to the tape. It took me an hour to completely remove it from the stickytape, using cotton buds and scissors. Its lost a bit of scales just behind its head, and about 3/4 along its body. I thought it was fucked, but after cleaning most of the oil off it, and letting it sit for about and hour, it's a lot livelier than it was when I found it. When I say 3/4, I mean lengthwise. Its lost a very small percentage of skin to the tape. Mainly scales, with minor tearing here and there. If it isn't too weak, it'll definitely recover.



I have it in a pillowcase at the moment, to draw more of the oil off it. (I had to use a lot, relatively, to get it to stop sticking to the adhesive on the tape) It's quite happy in there. I'll transfer it to a container with some water before I go to bed. Tomorrow I'll make a decision whether I'll just release it into the garden, call a reptile rescue place, or keep it. Ideally, I want it to eat and drink something. I have no idea how long it's been stuck in that room.

Pics to follow, took with phone, will upload later tonight or tomorrow.

BTW, it's a baby python. I've not identified it beyond that point yet, the oil has darkened its skin pattern. And yeah, I'm definitely sure it's a python, not a taipan or something else. It's harmless, and pretty fucking cute actually.

edit: Early identification suggests it's a Water Python. Max length is 3m long, with some specimens growing to 4m. Also, it's been housed in a fishtank overnight, with soil, water and a cardboard roll to hide in. I didn't want to leave it in a bag. It's nocturnal, so it's quite active at the moment, tasting the air and chasing a live gecko I caught for it. I have no idea if it will get it.

[=Stevo=]

Good job on rescuing it...

just put it outside though.

It is probably more likely to survive fending for itself at night than sitting in a tank inside...

[Kickass Koola]

So many degrees of awesome.

[Murley]

That's awesome.... keep it!

[Butters B)]

nicee rescue. did the right thing

[Commander Keen]

My hero

[The Saint]

Call the big one Bitey!

[PBF]

Great to hear. Whereabouts are you? I love snakes and I hate the attitude of mist that just want to kill them. To be honest though after stress like that keeping it any longer is probably going to cause more stress to it. You are best just letting it go. Don't try to feed it and it is unlikely to drink so don't worry if it doesn't. I kept mine for a long time and watched it closely and very rarely saw it drink. I wouldn't keep it any longer than you have to esp without heat lamps and such.


Not a water python. It has too much pattern on it. Depending on where you are and with my phone not showing the pics very well hard to say for sure what it is, but def not a water python.

[Ferris]

Good job on rescuing it...

just put it outside though.

It is probably more likely to survive fending for itself at night than sitting in a tank inside...

Nah, it's quite difficult to see with the phone camera pictures, but it's got quite a bit of road rash, especially around its neck. I'm taking it to the pet store the next suburb over tomorrow. They sell snakes, lizards, dragons, scorpions, fish, cats, dogs etc. They'll be able to care for it or suggest where to take it.

edit: Brisbane. You can keep them as pets here. I dunno if I'd want it as a pet though. If it's gtg in the morning, and it's not weeping from it's sores, I'll just let it go.

[Batten]

Thats cool!

[=Stevo=]

Nah, it's quite difficult to see with the phone camera pictures, but it's got quite a bit of road rash, especially around its neck. I'm taking it to the pet store the next suburb over tomorrow. They sell snakes, lizards, dragons, scorpions, fish, cats, dogs etc. They'll be able to care for it or suggest where to take it.

fair enough. as long as it doesn't end up like the PSB scorpion

[Fat Pat]

Well done, but best to let it go. If I understand correctly, keeping a native animal unlicensed is fairly exxy if they get you.

You're sure it's Australian though?

[Elise]

good job! I prob would have done the same thing! I agree with letting it go tho!

[Crashlington]

just so you know, you wont be able to keep it.

gotta have a licence for it and that doesnt allow you to take reptiles from the wild or wherever you found them.

but a nice little bugger regardless. glad you managed to rescue it.

[Ferris]

For all those telling me to let it go, yes that's the plan. I know you need a license to keep snakes. I'm well aware of the legalities. It was quite late this arvo when I found it, and I'd run out of time to contact anyone herpetology related. I have no intention keeping it as a pet, I just want to ascertain it's condition before I just chuck it outside, as I have NO idea how long it's been in that room, stuck to the tape. If I could get it to eat and drink before I do so, bonus. Otherwise if no damage done, it's still a bonus.

[Ryven]

Nurse it back to health, then put it in a cage with a large and destructive insect like in the asian insect fights, film it and youtube.

[gruffyd]

Good on ya for saving this little snake
Its a baby Carpet Snake
If you feel he's to weak to release take him to the reptile centre down near Byford
Dont worry about trying to feed and water him as they only eat sparodically and he will probably be only eating crickets and the like at that size

Dave

[Fat Pat]

Good onya for saving the scaly little sucker.

Should be worth a few brownie-related karma points.

[Daise]

Nawww innie cute

[Revelations]

i wonder if his mama was amongst those boxes!!