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Photograph taken many years ago under a pet shop by Portsdown hill, Portsmouth, UK. The keeper locked the door after we entered the room, which had vivariums all around, filled with very poisonous snakes, and while I was there he opened a box just arrived by post, another rattle snake nobody wanted because one of its diamond patterns was out of position. Also cobras were spitting at me behind the glass, if bitten by some of the snakes in his collection you would not make it to a hospital, he was one of a few with a license to own such dangerous reptiles, at that time. This large rattle snake was hand reared, and so not scared of humans, I could feel this intelligent looking snake staring at me when I was taking pictures, with the glass doors of the vivarium open. I asked him the striking range of this snake, which he replied was over 4 feet, so I asked him to shut the glass door, as I did not want to get bitten by a snake again. This was my favorite in his collection, a lovely snake with beautiful markings. This photograph was framed and hung proudly in the pet shop. Andy Newman© 13/09/11.
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