International Pets

Did you know that it is ok to have pet Snakes in Australia?

My grandson has one. It is a Coastal Carpet Python, one of two types which are ideal for children. This one is the more lively of the two types. It is about half a meter long, with an interesting patterened skin, loves to coil around your hand, well, anything really, and is quite inquisitive.

Rocky, except when it bites (when it gets a fright) eats, pinkies, which are new born rats, about once every 10 days. It has its meal in one gulp, dislocating its jaw to do so. It take about 10 - to 15 minutes to completely swallow the pinky. Then it goes to sleep.

Rocky lives in a white box, about metre square, with a type of straw on the bottom and a little brown cave to sleep in. The cave is kept warm by absorbing heat from lights in the box. At 28 degrees temperature Rocky is quite lively and this temperature helps him to absorb food.

To be handled easily by its owner it needs to be kept at around 22 degrees.

Pet snakes in Australia are becoming very popular today. A licence is required to keep one even the poisionous species, of which Australia has the most venemous.

We travelled to my grandson's home to inspect Rocky the snake, enjoyed the cool sensation as it coiled inquisitively over our hands.

Does anyone around the world keep a snaks?