Suffolk-based funeral director Nikki Markham shares her home with three snakes. She wouldn’t mind adding a 20ft python to the collection.

Her husband Andrew, who runs Markham Funeral Service alongside her, isn’t quite as enthusiastic. So what’s the appeal?

“I always enjoyed watching snakes in zoos and pet shops when I was young,” says Nikki. She got her first snake a few years ago when a friend was rehoming his royal python, named Voldemort, much to Andy’s horror!

Many would share Andy’s reservations, but Nikki thinks it’s unfair that snakes get such a bad press.

“They’re calm, sensitive animals that avoid humans in the wild,” she says. “They say ‘they’re more scared of you than you are of them’ really applies. I find snakes fascinating creatures.”

Nikki keeps three snakes: Voldemort, a 4.5ft royal python aged 10; Spirit, a five-year-old white leucistic royal python, around 4ft long; and Phoenix, an albino condas western hognose, bright orange and just 1ft in length.

“Next on the list would be a boa or a royal and a stand boa,” she adds. “I’d love a reticulated python too but, at over 20ft long, that might end in divorce!”

Nikki says ‘her boys’ are easy to care for, but their vivariums must be properly set up. “They require constant heat and humidity that’s monitored regularly. The pythons eat rats, and the hognose eats mouse fluffs, which are very young mice.

“Everyone knows to stay out of the bottom drawer of the freezer as it’s full of rodents!

Although Andy tends to avoid the snake room, there was one occasion when little Phoenix escaped.

“I was used to the pythons, but when I got the hognose, I didn’t realise how strong their little noses are,” says Nikki. “Phoenix had a lovely week-long jolly around the house until we found him cruising the hallway without a care in the world.”

Having snakes at home is one thing, but do their clients ever get to see them?

“Absolutely. Spirit has appeared at the funeral home several times — he’s very mellow and doesn’t mind being handled. We are open to clients meeting the funeral home reptiles, but I’d completely understand if they wish.”