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By Dick Lee It’s not insane. Mini-snakes have become a new hit in pet shops these days. The most popular kinds are colubrids, the largest family of snakes. Mr. Folco Lau is the shop-owner of Reptile Zone, a pet shop selling pet mini-snakes in Hong Kong. He said, “Between the 1960s and 1970s, some American scientists applied artificial propagation to big colubrids. “The experiment created a new breed of small colubrids that have more colours and patterns. “People found them interesting. They began to breed more mini-size snakes for fun and for sale.? Since then, rearing snakes has gradually become popular in the U.S. These mini-snakes can live to be up to 10 years old. By the age of 8 to 9 they will have grown up to 3 to 4 inches in length. The total number of colubrid species is 1,800. Among them, the most popular pet snakes are king snakes, milk snakes and corn snakes. Sunny Lai, a Form 5 student, has been raising mini-snakes for half a year. “The milk snake is the most active one, whereas the corn snake is dumb and quiet. Said Sunny: “The king snake is the fiercest. It will eat other snakes! “Also, as they are so small, I can take them out anytime. It is like hanging around with a dog or cat.?/font> Snakes usually hibernate in winter. However, this rarely happens in Hong Kong because of the sub-tropical climate. Pet snakes eat baby rats and small lizards that can be bought from pet shops. The prey’s size should be as big as the snake, but not bigger. Otherwise, the snakes will regurgitate their food. Unlike other pets, feeding generally is necessary only once a week. Sometimes pet snakes refuse to eat, most probably due to low temperature. A warmer environment is helpful to their digestion. Thus, temperatures should be adjusted to 1 to 2 degrees Celsius higher after feeding. This can be done by warming the snakes with a heating mat or feeding them at night. Said Sunny: “Beginners should rear corn snakes as they are less active . “In some cases, pet snakes are injured on trips or when they are stored. “Buyers must check to see whether the snakes have scars.? “Also, some snakes in shops have low appetites. They might be less healthy. You should request to feed them before buying.?/font> Said Mr. Lau: “We import infant snakes from America.?/font> Prices of pet snakes range from $400 to $800 each. The most expensive type is albino king Snake. “With better artificial propagation, more breeds are being developed. This increase in supply is dragging down the prices of pet snakes,?Mr. Lau said. He added that special care is essential for good health. “For example, if their eyes look whitish for several days, they might slough off their skin soon. Keepers should then get a larger box for them.?/font> Normally, pet snakes slough off their skin four to eight times a year. “Pet snakes can recognise the body smell of the owner. “They will love and trust you more if you let them crawl along and feel your body. “When they get familiar with you, they won’t easily hide themselves or escape,?he said. Low profitability maybe a reason for the unpopularity of pet snakes in Hong Kong. Mr. Lau said, “Deducting the import charges and other costs, the profit is not much.?/font> “Are you insane?? was the reply Sunny got from his classmates when they first knew he reared pet snakes. He said, “Snake skin is dry and clean, not wet and sticky, as most people think. “They don’t bite easily. “They bite just to give warnings to attackers.?/font> Mr. Toni Ip, the webmaster of website on snakes in Hong Kong, owns several king snakes. He said pet snakes are attractive creatures. In one of his online articles, he wrote, “Snakes?physical appearances, movements and habits are awesome if you can always observe them.?/font> The process of eating prey is also fascinating. Said he: “The whole process can be as long as 15 to 20 minutes. “I feel that every action involved is an expression of art. “People can keep dogs and cats. Why not snakes? Herpetology can be serious, too,?said Mr. Ip. Sunny said that once a keeper has built a good relationship with a pet snake, it will no longer be defensive. “By the way, do you think that those small teeth of pet mini-snakes are strong enough to hurt you??he asked. “My parents think that pet snakes are poisonous. “But the fact is that all the snakes legally sold in Hong Kong are non-poisonous.?/font> Mr. Lau also tried to clear up people’s misconceptions. “It is not true that the more colorful the snake is, the more dangerous it is.? Sunny is disappointed by the general public’s lack of understanding about pet snakes. “My mother did not accept the idea of raising pet snakes at first. “She thought that pet snakes are extremely fierce and poisonous. “It took me 2 months
to persuade her before I brought them home,?said he.
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Two of Sunny
Lai’s pet mini-snakes.
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Ghost corn snake |
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