TWO feisty male carpet pythons have been captured on video wrestling one another on a south-east Queensland property.
Capalaba residents Selina and Patrick Zwolsman watched the snakes tussle for about two hours on Saturday.
“They were inside and outside the shed and up and down the ladders,” Ms Zwolsman said.
“When they finally stopped, they were really exhausted.”
Ms Zwolsman first noticed magpies watching something and found the snakes.
“The birds weren’t in a panic,” she said.
One of the Zwolsman’s chooks also went within about half a metre of the snakes while they continued to wrestle oblivious to anything around them.
Ms Zwolsman said it seemed as if the other animals knew they were not in any danger.
It was the first time the Zwolsman’s had seen the snakes fighting, although they have several carpet pythons living on their property.
“We have them living in the sheds and twice we have found them in the Christmas tree box,” she said.
Redlands snake catcher Tony Morrison said the amazing spectacle involved two males wrestling to show their dominance.
The fights mostly often occurred during breeding season.
“They usually keep going until one gives in,” he said.
Mr Morrison said the fighting suggested that there would be a female in the area, although possibly not in the immediate vicinity.
The tussling snakes usually have no regard for anything around them during the fight.
The snake expert said the wrestling could not be confused with snakes mating, which was very discreet and not likely to be a public display.
