RETAIL REPTILES SHED NEGATIVE IMAGE IN YEAR OF THE SNAKE

Cold-blooded creatures grow in popularity as pets while understanding improves

Whenever Fu Jiajun returns home from college, the first place she rushes to is her balcony, where she's greeted by her growing family of reptile companions.

A large white lizard lies lazily in a white container, while nearby a digitally controlled cabinet houses a range of creatures. Snakes, lizards and turtles all coexist in a temperature-controlled environment.

"I just love to spend time observing them," said Fu, a college junior, who was born and raised in Shanghai.