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WATCH: Incredible footage shows two snakes fighting for dominance


A mesmerising confrontation between two closely matched male carpet pythons has been caught on camera.

The pair were filmed in combat in the Gold Coast hinterland on Friday afternoon by snake catcher Tony Harrison.

Mr Harrison said the two pythons, who were “very transfixed on each other”, were caught today during call outs and when they were released along with a few others snakes they immediately turned their attention on one another.

“Those two boys went head to head straight up,” Mr Harrison explained to Yahoo7.

Some people incorrectly assume snakes engaging in this kind of behaviour are mating, but the snake catcher explained they are trying to wrestle to see who is the strongest.

“In the world of snakes the biggest, fattest one wins the right to mate,” he said in the footage.

The two male pythons were closely matched and turned their attention on one another after being released along with a few others snakes on Friday afternoon. Source: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/ Facebook
The two male pythons were closely matched and turned their attention on one another after being released along with a few others snakes on Friday afternoon. Source: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/ Facebook
The mesmerising struggle was filmed by snake catcher Tony Harrison. Source: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/ Facebook
The mesmerising struggle was filmed by snake catcher Tony Harrison. Source: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/ Facebook

Mr Harrison explains in the video that the reptiles are trying to wrap around one another and hold each other down, with the two equally matched snakes “struggling to prove who’s the boss.”

Facebook users agree the behaviour is “amazing to watch” with one person calling it “the dance of life” and another described it as “synchronised swimming-carpet python style.”

And more people might be lucky enough to see it in the coming weeks.

“It’s that time of year when breeding season is just kicking off,” Mr Harrison said.

This particular confrontation went on for about five minutes, but the reptile expert said sometimes this kind of struggle can go on for weeks.

One snake wised up to the presence of humans and slipped away, but the other was still in a trance and moved onto Jensen – trying to stand taller than the snake catcher’s son.

The snakes continued with this behaviour for about five minutes, before one realised there were humans nearby and slithered away. Source: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/ Facebook
The snakes continued with this behaviour for about five minutes, before one realised there were humans nearby and slithered away. Source: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher/ Facebook

Mr Harrison added all male reptiles do act this way, but some confrontations don’t always end this well.

“Some species of carpet pythons and goannas and lace monitors can rip each other apart,” he said.

The snake catcher also took the opportunity to remind people about what to do if they come across an unwelcome visitor.

“Don’t go and stir them up. Leave them alone and if you’re worried about it call a snake catcher,” he said.