Damien Nagle

(Lancashire)

Until just over a year ago I kept Frogs.

When my last one died I had a spare tank, and I was wondering what to keep in it when my girlfriend suggested a snake.

She has lived to regret this, as my collection is continuing to grow.

My first snake was a Royal Python. I bought it from a local Pet Shop where they seemed to know even less than I did. Despite their inaccurate advice on feeding and lighting, Colin (the snake) has thrived.

Some weeks later I decided to get him a friend. We got our second Royal Python (Fluffy) from Chrysalis Pets in Buckley.

A holiday in Scotland resulted in a trip to RD Rintoul Pet Care Centre in Bathgate, and Derek the Boa Constrictor became out third snake.

I bought another Boa Constrictor which I swapped for a Coastal Carpet Python (Wilton) and bought another two Boas, which had sadly been mistreated and had to be put down recently.

RD Rintoul Pet Care Centre have since supplied us with another, camera shy, Carpet Python (Bob).