In addition to traditional canaries, aquarium fish and guinea pigs, local pet shops offer, among other things, tarantulas, king snakes and boa constrictors.
"Recently, we sold a tarantula and a royal python," boasts an employee of the pet shop on Asnyka Street. When asked how venomous a tarantula is, the salesperson responds with a slight smile. "The bite of this spider can be compared to a wasp sting," the employee explains, then adds that "this species of spider feeds on crickets, just like the colorful tree frogs."
One of the most beautifully colored snakes is the king snake (in the lower photograph). "We feed it newborn mice, meaning small mice that have recently been born," the salesperson explains. Newborn mice are the most popular food for young snakes. When the snake grows, however, rats become its favorite treat. There is also a boa in the shop's terrarium. "When fully grown, this snake can reach 3 meters in length," the shop employee says.
For more timid or cautious lovers of exotic animals, there is the option of keeping geckos, iguanas or steppe tortoises. However, one should never forget that an animal is not a toy and that once it goes from the shop to a home, it becomes completely dependent on humans.