China student detained for trying to raise nine pythons at home

A university student in southern China’s Fujian province has been detained for rearing nine pythons at his home after buying snake eggs off the internet.

The student from Fuzhou was held on suspicion of illegally purchasing and transporting precious, endangered wild animals, according to the . But the local procurator has yet to decide whether to order a formal arrest of the detained student.

Police seized nine 30cm-long from his house.

The student, whose name was not disclosed, told police that the pythons hatched from eggs that he purchased online for 100 yuan (HK$126) each just a week ago, and that they were delivered to him through the mail.

He then placed the eggs in an incubator until they hatched. He posted pictures of the baby snakes on the internet, prompting several internet users to report it to the authorities.

The snake, also known as royal python or ball python, is a nonvenomous python species originated in Africa. Adults of the species can grow up to 90 and 120 centimetres. These snakes are bred in captivity and are popular as pets in many places around the world.