A YORK enthusiast whose 47 "housemates" include a tarantula, 14ft snakes, lizards and a crab has pleaded for people to take care before acquiring exotic pets.

Emily Neilson's call comes on the same day as the RSPCA launched a campaign focusing on the suffering unusual pets can endure if they are not cared for properly - including the case of a 12ft python crammed into a 4ft space in a shed elsewhere in York.

Emily, 27, of Wigginton, bought her first snake when she was nine, and has dedicated a room in her home and a heated outbuilding for her pets to crawl around in.

But although Emily has years of experience and qualifications in looking after exotic creatures, startling research by the RSPCA has revealed other pet-owners leave their animals to starve, freeze or burn to death - often out of ignorance.

RSPCA inspector Jackie Paradis was horrified to discover a 12ft Burmese python crammed into a 4ft long vivarium in an outside shed in York. A bare light bulb had been suspended over the python, which did not even have enough room to uncurl.

Inspector Paradis said: "The circumstances in which we found the snake illustrates how ignorant people can be when it comes to caring for exotic pets. These animals need long-term commitment from their owners from the start and they have a responsibility to find out how best to care for them and to do so for the lifetime of the animal.

"Sadly, too many are abandoned or given up when the novelty of owning an exotic animal wears off."

The RSPCA collected more than 2,500 neglected, unwanted or abandoned exotic pets last year.

Emily currently has two abandoned Burmese pythons that were bought as baby snakes, but are now 14ft long, weighing seven stone. They could grow to 22ft.

She said pet shops should strive to ensure pets will be properly cared for.

"People buy pets such as lizards and snakes on a whim as much as they do hamsters and rabbits, but pet shop owners should be confident they will be able to look after their pets properly," she said.

"Some pets, such as iguanas, should never be bought as a first lizard and the pet shop should discover whether the buyer has the experience, or needs to go away and do more reading.

"People should think carefully before buying any pet."

Updated: 10:48 Thursday, May 27, 2004