A fear to many but a lovable pet to some, snakes are exotic animals that get a bad reputation for being both dangerous and deadly.
But with brilliant black eyes and glistening scaly skin, Prince Loki will hypnotise you with his calming presence, leaving you not scared but awfully comforted.
He may be curious and timid, but he’s never one to intimidate, says his owner Caitlin of her “baby”.
“Loki just turned one, so he is not a fully grown adult yet and when snakes grow bigger, they shed their skin,” she explains.
“Loki has shed three times since I got him, so he is definitely bigger than when I first brought him home, but he is not yet at his full size.”
She also adds that this little prince is a male ball python, and has the ability to grow up to a king-size length of four feet.
Looking at Loki, the thought of even laying a finger on the python may be unimaginable and downright frightening.
But according to Caitlin, Loki wouldn’t even hurt a fly as he’s quite timid in nature.
In fact, things are quite the reverse; the chances of Loki being shy around and afraid of new people are astoundingly high.
“If he is not familiar with a person he will curl into a ball and hide there until they go away,” says Caitlin.
“He is also afraid of any sudden movements like if you get too close to his face or reach your hand above his head.”
And, although Loki may be a cold-blooded reptile, he gives out the warmest hugs as he normally slithers along Caitlin’s shoulders and gently curls himself around her arms.
The little prince can also be found playing hide and seek in Caitlin’s blanket, and when he’s not busy giving out free hugs, enjoys napping and curling himself up in Caitlin’s bed.
“He prefers to sleep in dark and warm places as it simulates his natural environment in the wild,” says Caitlin.
“Hence, whenever I bring him out to play, he likes to crawl into dark and covered areas such as in between my soft toys or under the blanket.”
Loki often gets lost in his own world and enjoys burying himself in the soft bedding that lines his vivarium while slithering in between his little jungle of lush plants.
Unlike generic pets that can do tricks or play fetch, the little reptile acts as the best work buddy.
His quiet presence has been especially comforting for Caitlin, who says that most of her memories with Loki are just of them hanging out and chilling in her bedroom while she works.
“Snakes are very quiet and lazy pets that don’t do much, that’s why some owners liken them to a pet rock!” laughs Caitlin.
Caitlin isn’t kidding, of course, when she says that looking after Loki is like having a pet rock. This, she explains, is because of how little maintenance snakes need.
As snakes – and Loki in particular – are smooth and hairless, Caitlin doesn’t have to worry about taking the time or money to groom her little serpent.
“They don’t even require baths as you just have to place a water bowl in their vivarium for them to soak in and they also only defecate once in seven to 14 days,” she explains.
Having a diet that consists of small rodents like white mice and rats, Loki only needs to be fed once a week and as he grows older, Caitlin will only have to feed him every 10 to 14 days.
“Plus, our Malaysian weather is perfect for him and it requires very minimal effort to own a snake. And you’ve got to admit, they’re pretty cool!” smiles Caitlin.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.