Striking snake slithers into Reptile House

A two-metre-long Jungle carpet python with spectacular gold and black stripes is sparking awe in visitors to Healesville Sanctuary.

Six-year-old Sherbet, who is one of the most colourful snake species in the world, is settling into her newly renovated home in the Sanctuary’s Reptile House.

Healesville Sanctuary reptile keeper Courtney Pridgeon said it is fascinating to watch Sherbet find her food using an intensely keen sense of smell.

“Jungle carpet pythons are non-venomous, ambush predators who strike their prey with rapid speed and
devour them using body constriction,” Ms Pridgeon said.

“During winter she feeds around once a month on small mammals which can be up to 10 times the size of her head.”

To stimulate her hunting behaviours, keepers create a scent trail using drops of blood taken from her food.

Sherbet uses her tongue to follow the scent before moving into an S-bend shape, which is optimal for striking.

“Feeding her using scent trails not only stimulates Jungle carpet pythons’ natural ambush behaviours, but also provides mental stimulation which is important for all of our reptiles,” Ms Pridgeon said.

Jungle carpet pythons shed their scales every three months to remove parasites and heal injuries – often in one large piece.

Ms Pridgeon said lucky Sanctuary visitors may be able to see this fascinating process taking place.

“Right before Sherbet sheds her skin her eyes go cloudy, her belly turns pink and her colours dull,” Ms Pridgeon said. “Then, in 15 to 20 minutes, she slithers out of her old skin and what remains is a beautiful black velvet colour with golden stripes that helps her camouflage into her light-dappled habitat.”

Jungle carpet pythons are arboreal snakes native to northeast Queensland. They thrive in humid climates and generally live in rainforest trees nearby waterways and creeks.