Reticulated python weigh in at the Australian Reptile Park
1,349 views · Published 10 January 2014 · 0:46 · Indexed 1 October 2026
Channel: Australian Reptile Park · 2014 · Pets & Animals
The Australian Reptile Park's largest snake, the reticulated python Atomic Betty had her annual weigh in today and has put on 1kg to tip the scales at 140kg. The 6.5 metre long python is 15 years old and is expected to live up to 30 years in captivity. In the wild, her life span would be shorter; however, her species could grow to a staggering 8 metres. "She's a difficult character", General Manager, Tim Faulkner explains. "She doesn't like to be caught, and she's an aggressive girl, so our Keepers need to take extreme care. Weighing Atomic Betty is essential as it's the first indicator of her overall health. Reptiles are unlike mammals and show very little sign of sickness. Mammals become vocal or stop eating which makes illness easier to detect. Reptiles don't show these obvious signs." "We're really happy with the result", Faulkner confirms. "We're not trying to grow Betty, just maintain her weight which is healthy right now, so it shows us she's in great shape." Found in Southeast Asia, the reticulated python is the world's longest snake and the only snake considered a true man-eater. Not a pleasant death for the reticulated python's prey; they take their victim by surprise, holding it with sharp teeth and a strong jaw. Their teeth are serrated and backward facing, which means once they're attached to the flesh of their victim, the razor sharp teeth won't come out. The snake then constricts the air out of its prey, causing death by suffocation or burst blood vessels. Eating the victim whole, the python may not need to eat again for weeks or even months. Atomic Betty usually feasts on goat weighing up to 25kg four times a year.
