Year of Snake kids 'will have good luck'

According to the Chinese horoscope, people born in 2013, or the Year of the Snake, are destined to have good luck.

The Year of the Snake, which officially begins on Chinese New Year’s Day on February 10, is the sixth sign of the Chinese zodiac and is said to be the perfect time to start saving.

People born in the Year of the Snake are cunning, intelligent and wise, while also being great mediators.

A man who knows snakes better than most is Rockingham Reptile and Grow Store owner Ken Thompson, who has been trading in snakes and other reptiles for almost a decade and said business had been steadily growing in recent years.

“When we first started, no one knew you could keep reptiles, but over the years the snowball effect has taken hold and it’s becoming really popular,” Mr Thompson said.

“There’s definitely a lot more awareness now.”

He said snakes made great pets because they were low maintenance and affectionate.

“They’re great because you only need to feed them once a week and they’re the lowest-maintenance pet there is,” he said.

“They don’t smell, they’re easy to handle and they’re very friendly.

“If you get a captive-bred snake, they really make great pets.”

The Year of the Snake follows on from the Year of the Dragon.