Once upon a time there was a little girl. Her father worked extensively with snakes and taught her a love and respect of them that most children don't have. When she was 11 years old he decided that it was time for her to get her very first snake.
That trip to the pet store was an exciting one and after viewing and holding many different snakes, she saw one, the loner in a tank full of others curled up together. He was less than a foot and a half long and slightly over a year old. The breeder on hand told the man and his daughter that this particular snake hadn't been eating. He said he thought that it was a lost cause.
The little girl reached out and picked up the snake when he was offered to her. She held him and he immediately moved from his nervous balled-up position to stretch along her shoulder. It was love. That was the one.
Now lost causes were somewhat of a specialty for the father. He paid for the snake against the breeder's advice and they took him home. His name was Nico. After he became acclimated it was time to get this hungry little fellow to eat. Somehow the snake did there in their home what he would not do anywhere else - he ate. The little girl rejoiced and decided from that day on, Nico was hers and hers alone.
After 10 years with no health problems Nico developed issues breathing. A respiratory infection was the suspected culprit. The little girl, now a 22 year old woman living on her own, took him to the Vet who after X-rays said that he saw nothing wrong but to come back in a week if the snake's health hadn't improved. A week passed with no improvement so she took him back. Antibiotics seemed to be working fine. He'd been breathing easier and had been off of them for two days. All looked well.
Tonight we found him dead in his cage. The beloved member of our family Nico seems to have passed after so many years with us.
Rest in Peace my friend. You will never be forgotten.
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