I’ll probably say this on every page but here we go again READ UP ON THE ANIMAL BEFORE YOU BUY IT!

The Burmese Python below was bought as a cute little baby to be a family pet.

The owners contacted my friend when it started to get too large (this was a few years ago).

He took it and has kept it because he knows the potential dangers of keeping snakes this size. Most bites from pet snakes are either ‘feeding accidents’ where the snake misses it’s intended target and hits your hand or the person not paying attention to the snake’s behaviour ie. getting grumpy before a slough.

This Burmese Python is 18.5ft long, weighs 16 stone and is still growing.

If it hit you instead of it’s prey, you wouldn’t have to worry about finding a plaster for your hand. It could be a deadly mistake!

Most giant snake owners fully realise the potential danger of these animals but I did say MOST!

These animals must be treated with the utmost respect at all times.

Don’t think that just because they tend to lie curled up and hardly seem to move that they can’t strike quickly, believe me, they can!

Jim Lind