For those who don't know, we are currently in the year of the snake - according to the Chinese lunar calendar - which is why it is somewhat fitting that the slithery creatures are becoming more popular as household pets across the world.
In Hong Kong, for example, sales of pet snakes are booming, with pet shop owner Vincent Cheung telling the Inquirer that he has sold some 20 to 25 per cent more reptiles in the last month than in the same period last year.
Similarly, a group of reptile lovers in the Philippines has banded together to form the Philippine Snake Society, which provides guidance and advice to anyone thinking of buying a snake as a pet.
Despite the fact that many people have a phobia of snakes, the reality is that they often make great pets. Feeding them can be fun and exciting, although if you don't fancy keeping a supply of bugs or dead mice in your house then you might want to think about adopting a different animal which can be fed on more traditional pet food products.
