Richard McLaughlin

(Fife)

Hi my name is Richard and I'm nearly five years old. I really love all animals and insects but over the past few years have become really fascinated by snakes. My dad first saw me holding a snake at Deep Sea World in North Queensferry, where they were offering people to have their photo taken holding a snake.

I jumped the queue and promptly held out my arms to give the snake a cuddle and have my photo taken. Well I think that was it, I was hooked on snakes. My dad regularly took me back to Deep Sea World but my interest was in the snakes not really the fish (although they are pretty cool also).

I have managed to build up quite a collection of toy snakes as every shop I go into with my mum or dad, I ask if I can have one.  Lucky for me my mum and dad are pretty soft and I think I now must have about  80.

Unfortunately for some unknown reason, about two years ago, I developed Eczema, Asthma and I appear to be allergic to all animal hair, this upsets me as my Gran and Grandad have two lovely dogs which I can't really stay in the same room with, never mind giving them the love and cuddles I'd like to but snakes don't bother me at all. This is great as I would hate to not be able to care for an animal of my own.

My dad was told of a place near Kinross (The Scottish Raptor Centre) where they have snakes a plenty, and some great Owls and Falcons. The staff there were really nice and allowed me to touch and handle the snakes.

We were quite regular visitors and my dad  realised that my love for snakes was not a passing phase. So he enquired with the staff where he could buy a snake from a good shop, RD Rintoul Pet Care Centre in Bathgate was recommended.

So, after my dad read a lot of books and asked stuff on the internet, at last, one weekend recently we set off to Bathgate to find a snake. We spent ages in the shop asking questions and my dad let me choose the Corn Snake I wanted.

I chose Sid, he is about two months old with really nice markings, red, orange and yellow. My dad says these colours are known as "Amelanistic", but he's just Sid the braw wee Corn Snake to me.

Recently a nice man called Jim Lind came to visit us with four of his snakes, even my big sister and her friend liked the snakes (you know what girls can be like) and Jim took photos of us with his snakes, as well as Sid but I don't think Sid liked the camera as he wouldn't sit still.

One day I would like to be an expert on snakes and reptiles.

Richard