Fangtastic Reptile Services

10/09/2025

No, no, no do not do this:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19dU2dD3pe/

06/09/2025

Happy fathers day to all the Dads!

06/09/2025

Another AI cartoon.

06/09/2025

Don't wash a bite

My python accidentally bit me on the fingers today when I thought feeding her without tongs was a good idea. It wasn't but it was a good reminder for something that I had actually forgotten about.

The advice everywhere is 'don't wash a bite' but there are few explanations of why.

So the python bite I got this morning bled like crazy as python fangs can be long, multiple and when bitten on the fingers where all the fine capillaries end, there can be a lot of blood. So I went to wash and disinfect the wounds as usual but what i noticed immediately after was the bite locations disappeared so much so I couldn't even see the puncture wounds. It is slightly peculiar as for my RBB bite, in my panic, I washer the bite before bandaging but because of my blood tests, there was no doubt I had been envenomatee by something. They still did the swabs and venom detection kit as there was time and it was a good teaching opportunity and they cut out a square over the bite to have a look for marks and the haematoma on the knuckle and the black mark where the venom had travelled up my finger and to the hand was clear evidence at that point. But they didn't bother with any of that with the tiger snake. They kept the bandage on until I was in a suitable position for antivenom and again, took the blood tests as definitive evidence of envenomation.

But say a bite is potentially from a brown snake that is only in the tissue and has not made it to the blood stream until well after the bandage has been removed? I have photos of python bites I neglected to wash immediately after and the difference is quite remarkable. There is swelling and redness immediately under the surface tissue and the wounds are clear. I have attached a photo of my finger from my python bite today after washing and honestly, I can only see one mark with the naked eye. I suspect reactions of swelling and itching from python bites are from bacteria and disinfecting can remove those symptoms but that is not what is best for a snake bite, so if it bleeds, let it and bandage over the top. Don't i try to clean it so the wounds are clearer as the effects of cleaning can remove the bite marks incredibly fast regardless if they have bled or not.

So bandage over the bite, blood and all if there is any and over clothing. None of it matters other than the application of a bandage and a phone call to 000.

They are coming. Be alert but not alarmed and be prepared.

06/09/2025

At the end of the day, there is no need to measure the length of a snake at all.

Today's maths problem brought to you courtesy of Hudson Snake Catching - Gold Coast Snake Catcher. Saw their photo and thought it would make a fun puzzle. Solve for X

05/09/2025

There is still a chill in the air so our elapids and reptiles are not that interested in coming out yet but with the sun coming out today, there are some reminders for the community.

I have been tracking the association between lawn mowing and the disturbance it can cause a snake hiding underground. I have seen snake activity immediately or 24 hours later but I do want to suggest that mowing with petrol mowers can disturb snakes right at this tune of year. I have noticed council taking then opportunity for good weather to get the grass along the levvy and around parts of creek to mow today and with two large mowers. Because of this, I urge a little caution when walking around the creek areas over the weekend, especially if the sun is warm and there is little wind. Saturday is the day to be of most concern with a day temperature of up to 20 degrees and that is perfect for emerging. Once the rain comes again, the snakes will retreat to their sleeping quarters but if it is a warm day even when it rains, some snakes may decide it is suitable to emerge, even for a quick look, but I wanted to update the position locally as we transition into our proper spring season.

Bungendore and Braidwood pharmacies are both stocking snake bandages so make sure you have one, know where it is and carry it with you when out and about.

Stay safe and stay Fangtastic!! 🐍

01/09/2025

I often am actually grateful we don't have pythons locally . . . . . . .

29/08/2025

After the next couple of days of cold and wet weather the days are going to get very warm rather fast and we will be at emerging.

So be aware when walking around as snakes may be coming out just to bask or may be coming out to move around to find food and do whatever they need to do.

If you see a snake and it seems to be just passing by and can get to free bush or open aeea without obstruction there is usually need to call for a handler as it will be gone by the time we arrive. But if you have houses 3 deep next door, try to keep eyes on where it goes, alert neighbours and call a handler as we then know where it may be heading and if we do find it, it is better that it be relocated than bugging the whole street.

If you are going out waking the dog around your prorperty or going for a run along a river edge or ponds, please, please, please carry a bandage. Do not assume that medical assistance can get to you fast enough not to be a threat to life without it. They are annoying to carry but are a life saver and the chances of stepping too close to a sleeping snake and giving it a fright enough for a strike are possible so please carry that bandage. Children have very thin skin and don't react as fast as humans when a snake may strike and if a snake is really determined, repeat strikes are possible. So please, carry that bandage.

Fantastic is available for advice and I will have earbuds when driving so I will be able to answer calls easier this season. But if I do miss a call and you have a snake issue, I will try to reply as immediately as possible. It may be inconvenient having to watch a snake until someone arrives but it is much less than having to try and find it once gone and the anxiety of not knowing where it went. Carrying that mobile phone when leaving any door of the house is often wise also as leaving a snake to go back inside to be able to make the call can mean the difference between a snake that is able to be found and one that is not. Obviously children and pets are priority so leaving the snake for them is 300% acceptable but a snake that cannot be found cannot be relocated and it si worth just keeping in mind.

For those snakes that may be seen in public places like near railway lines, rivers or ponds, can people please post those sightings on the Bungendore Snake Sightings Facebook group page or, if you don't want to join the oage, post the sighting here on Fangtastic Reptile Services . This allows us to monitor habitual snakes that may be a risk to the public and relocate if necessary.

Please do not engage with snakes if you aren't trained and licensed. The cost of a bite to the public purse is significant and even if you have grown up in the bush and handled hundreds of snakes, if you go to a neighbours place and someone else gets hurt and don't have insurance, it could end up being very costly.

The more education we get out there on snakes, the less handlers are required and hopefully we can all live in some sort of respectful harmony. 🐍

21/08/2025

A very good example of how slow movement of a human can keep a snake calm. Fast movements and waving of arms will see fast and sharp responses from the snake which is what scares people the most. Slow and smooth.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AocnvUEmF/

20/08/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F9efzdRww/

20/08/2025

Systemic, wet and dry bites.

There are three types of bite that can affect humans and animals. We hear all the time about 'dry' bites which needs clarification of where the fangs of a snake don't break the skin and even if there is an amount of venom that get into the tissue, it is so low the body can clear it with a bruise and it doesn't show on blood tests at all.

The second type is a 'wet' bite where venom gets injected into the lymphatic system only (a waste removal system for muscles and tissue) and may not come up immediately on a blood test but does when a bandage is removed.

The third is systemic or straight into the blood supply. This has happened to me twice with hand bites because the capillaries that feed nutrients and oxygen to the extremities are still part of the blood stream so any bite that bleeds needs to be considered more likely systemic. A bandage does nothing for an initial volume of venom getting to major organs but it will postpone the volume that remains in the lymphatic system and that takes 6 to 12 hours to move

Systemic envenomations are the most serious with symptoms happening in the first 15 mins or less with raised body temperature, blurred vision, nausea and shortness of breath. If medical assistance is delayed, the only thing that will keep one alive if the venom load into the blood is significant and the heart stops is CPR. But one cant do CPR on yourself when you are unconscious. . . . . .

Snake bite is serious and more complicated than most will explain so the best thing is protecting yourself with appropriate clothing, carrying a bandage and a phone, knowing what to do in a bite emergency and leaving them alone (there are FREE licenced and insured services that have made themselves available for snake welfare) and knowing who to call for a snake removal or advice.

I don't want to hear or see harmed or injured snakes this season or hear stories of where the neighbour came to get it but didn't and I am picking it up from a sandpit 3 doors down.

Multiple bites last season in QPRC and many avoidable.

Please call Fangtastic Reptile Services for rescue or advice on 0488 984 067, Wildcare 62991966 (please DO NOT ring Wires for QPRC area) or ACT Snake Removals 0450 210 090.

19/08/2025

This might ruffle some feathers but I really don't care as if it saves a life or the life of a snake, it is worth it.

So many herpetologists and snake people are advocating to educate to remove the fear of snakes as though that fear is bad, unecessary or even stupid. I know a lot of women would have blokes say 'it's perfectly safe. It won't bite,.Come and give it a pat' when all the person wants to do is leave and get very far away.

I say it is ok to have fear of snakes.

The only condition is that fear only ever means never wanting.to go near them and not attempting to hurt the animal as that is not respectful. There are ways of potentially removing that fear or desensitising but honestly, it is a lot of work for something one doesn't want to be around in the first place and methods only work if there is a real desire to remove the fear so why bother?

Best to be a aware and protect yourself wirh appropriate clothing, carry a bandage and do a little to understand what kind of situation you may come across where you live or where you may go.

Fangtastic can do free property checks for the QPRC area (or anywhere in NSW depending on distance) but advice can easily be offered with photos and risk factors identified. A bit of knowledge is an investment and doesn't deteriorate or need updating. A bandage can last a very long time also but is only works if you have it on you in an emergency situation.

The weather is about to warm so keep it in mind that snake activity will start soon and please call if help is required. 0488 984 067