A Cypriot father of two has shocked readers of the Daily Mail after revealing that he lives with more than 100 snakes- and lets his children sleep beside them.
The man, 45-year-old Socrates Christoforou, says his unusual bond with reptiles began in childhood in New Jersey, when he once collected baby snakes from the woods behind his house without realising they were venomous vipers. His Cypriot parents panicked when they discovered his “secret shelter,” and the fear they instilled stayed with him for years.
As an adult, he decided to face that fear. Visiting a pet shop, he asked how to overcome it. The advice was simple: let a harmless snake bite him. “From that moment, my passion took off,” he explained. Within two years he had collected over 300 snakes and other exotic animals- including an alligator. But during the 2008 financial crisis he lost everything, forced to give up his private menagerie.
The spark reignited in 2017, when he bought his two-year-old daughter an albino kingsnake- the same species as his very first pet. Since then his collection has grown again, now numbering about 130 snakes. He spends almost $800 a month on their care, which he calls “a labour of love.”
That love has passed on to his children. His eldest daughter Ariana keeps 20 snakes in her room, while his son Maximos has two. “They read, do homework, or watch cartoons with their snakes next to them. They’re part of the family,” Christoforou said.
Despite widespread criticism, he insists there is no danger. “I don’t keep venomous snakes. Most people are afraid for no reason. Snakes aren’t monsters, they’re misunderstood creatures,” he said.
Looking back, he believes the reptiles gave him more than just an unusual passion: they helped him rebuild after hardship. “This isn’t only a story about reptiles. It’s a story of resilience, second chances and teaching my kids that no matter how many times life knocks you down, you can always rise again stronger,” he concluded.
Also read: 64 year old woman injured after guard dogs attack at recycling unit
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel.
