With the arrival of the Year of the Snake, the pet snake market is experiencing a sales boom. At the Chenzhai Flower Market in Zhengzhou, reporters observed that many reptile shops were doing brisk business. Shop owners stated that compared to last year, the number of customers inquiring about and purchasing pet snakes has increased by one-third, mainly young people such as primary and middle school students.
According to the shop owner, the affordable price is the main reason why pet snakes attract young people. Currently, the most popular species on the market is the corn snake, which is docile and of moderate size, making it ideal for beginners. Other rarer species, such as the Mexican kingsnake and the California kingsnake, will be more expensive. For beginners, common pet snakes cost between 300 and 500 yuan, while intermediate-sized species can cost over 1,000 yuan.
It is understood that since artificially bred pet snakes are non-venomous, they only need to be fed once a week, and the monthly cost of raising them is only 5 yuan. Furthermore, the living environment only needs to be maintained at around 30 degrees Celsius. This ease of care is the most important factor for parents who agree to buy pet snakes for their children.
However, the shop owner specifically reminded customers that when choosing a pet snake, they should make sure it is from a legitimate artificial breeding channel and never buy wild protected animals.
