Alternative pets, all about excitement.

A medium-sized green snake with bright patterns was wrapped around a girl's arm.

A medium-sized green "toy snake" with bright patterns was wrapped around a girl's arm. Suddenly, it flicked its tail and raised its head, scaring several passers-by who jumped in fright. Only then did everyone realize that this was no toy; it was a real snake. This incident occurred on the night market of West Street the evening before last. The buyer was a fashionably dressed, pure-looking young woman who has a fondness for unconventional pets. Nowadays, choosing cats or dogs as pets has become rather old-fashioned. An increasing number of young people have begun to be fascinated by spine-chilling reptiles. Among these newly favored exotic pets are water snakes, large lizards, and chameleons. At a pet shop in the Damao Flower and Bird Market in the downtown area, the reporter saw various unconventional pets, including water snakes and lizards of all kinds. The shop owner told the reporter that although these animals appear intimidating, they are actually very gentle, having been artificially tamed. They don't bite, so they can be safely kept as pets. The majority of buyers are fashionable youths, and the shop owner emphasized: mostly women.