He loves to play basketball, ride motorbikes and go hunting.

But he also has a more unusual interest.

The 15-year-old Oxley College student enjoys raising snakes and he has two pet snakes that are thriving under his care.

The teen, who cares for the snakes under his father’s license, said he had always been interested in reptiles.

He said he acquired his first pet snake, a female spotted python named Rusty, about four years ago.

“I chose a spotted python because it had been recommended by the pet shop,’’ he said.

“I got my second snake - a western carpet python named Julia - earlier this year from my cousin who was going to boarding school and could no longer care for her.

“Snakes make really good pets - I like the way they eat and live.

“They are interesting to watch and easy to care for.

“They mainly eat mice, although the carpet python also likes to eat rats.

“I buy frozen rats or mice from the pet store and feed each snake once a week but they can be fed less frequently if you are going away - they can go several weeks without being fed, especially during the winter months.”

Chris said he liked to spend time with his snakes and took them out of their enclosure for about 20 minutes each day.

He said while neither of the snakes were poisonous, Julia the carpet python was a bit temperamental and had been known to bite on occasions.

For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Monday, July 21

jackie.meyers@ruralpress.com