A Snake’s Diary

Hello, I’m the red-striped water snake at Science Workshop. I came here three weeks ago to help children learn about snakes and worms in the YSC C class.

Ms Catherine Kan takes good care of me. She cleans my tank and gives me fresh water to drink. Well, a few tasty fish once in awhile too! Every lesson she will pick me up in her warm hands to start my day. You know what, I am a cold-blooded animal. That means I cannot keep myself warm like you mammals do. When my body is cold, I am rather sluggish. After sitting in warm hands or under a lamp for a few moments, I am energized! Dana called me “Lightning” because I can go really fast.

I am happy to make friends with the children at the Workshop. At first they are a bit scared of me. I know it must have been my notorious cousins that are poisonous. But you see, I’m not a poisonous snake. I don’t even have fangs to inject any venom. Gradually, the children get used to having me in the classroom and play with me. I like wriggling on their worksheets, balancing on a twig and most of all, clinging to warm hands and warm armpits!

Since last week, my eyes were foggy and I lost appetite. My body got paler and the scales were loose. But I was not falling sick. Guess what? I was about to molt.

Click here to see the sequence of pictures taken when I molted last week.

The teachers agreed in unity to keep me here at Science Workshop. But they cannot agree on my name. Do you have a suggestion? Ms Catherine wants to hear it!

Come visit me at the Science Workshop again soon, okay?