The financial accessibility of snake ownership has also contributed to its growing appeal. Basic snake species can cost from a few hundred to a few thousand yuan, with feeding expenses averaging just over 10 yuan per month. The affordability combined with low care requirements makes them particularly attractive to young urban dwellers managing demanding work schedules.

Cui Dejun, owner of the Zenki exotic pet experience store in downtown Shanghai, has been in the business since 2016. His store normally accommodates around 40 snakes for petting. During breeding season from late April to October, his inventory can reach up to 1,000 snakes.

At pet exhibitions, he can sell over 100 snakes in just a few days. "The market grows larger every year," he notes. "Young people especially are looking for something different from traditional pets."

Cui says many people are curious about snakes. "Since it is the Year of the Snake, we saw more visitors during the Spring Festival period." As few people have regular encounters with reptiles, these experience shops provide a safe environment for people to interact with snakes, dispelling misconceptions and fears, Cui adds.

The rise in raising exotic pets also reflects a generational shift. "Today's youth receive different education and have more access to information about these animals," Qiao observes. "Unlike previous generations taught to fear snakes, they're learning about these creatures through social media and other channels."

This transformation is evident in He's experience, who touched snakes for the first time without any nervousness. "I feel more intrigued than fearful of snakes and reptiles after watching many videos online," she says. "I hope people will try touching a snake and realize that it is a living creature and there is no need to be scared."

Though relatively niche, the industry operates within specific legal frameworks. "We deal exclusively with non-protected species that are legal for domestic ownership," Cui emphasizes, noting that the snakes they handle are captive-bred for multiple generations, resulting in stable temperaments, unlike their wild counterparts.

"The market has enormous potential," Cui affirms. "We are seeing more pet exhibitions and reptile experience stores opening across China. With younger generations becoming more open to these animals and the increasing availability of care information, the future looks promising."

For young enthusiasts like Qiu, Chen, He and countless others, these exotic pets represent more than just a trend — they are also changing the way Chinese society views and interacts with nature.