"Why would anybody want to keep a snake?"
The question is a familiar one to any reptile fancier. Similar questions are put to anyone who ventures outside the familiar confines of conventional companion animals. Why a lizard? Why a fox? Why a monkey? Why a tarantula?
The answers in detail are as varied as the fanciers, but in general the response is the same: a desire for something different, for something that's a challenge; an admiration for nature's intricate diversity and a wish to deal with it on a close, personal level.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.