Having a snake as pet in NZ, gets jail time.

Nathan Jon Bush, 38, who was already in jail for illegal drugs, has added four months to his time in prison when authorities got a tip off that he was keeping a snake at his Feilding home.

Bush, a former Nomad gang member was sentenced in the Palmerston North District Court this week to four months in jail after he pleaded guilty to keeping a snake in his household. The sentence comes less than a month after Bush was sentenced to 6 1/2 years' prison for getting involved in a methamphetamine deal.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) seized and subsequently put down the snake from Bush's house in March.

The snake was identified as a jungle carpet python, less than a year old. Jungle carpet pythons are non-venomous and commonly found in Queensland's rainforests. The jungle species vary in color from dull browns, gray, and black. They feed on mice, and can reach up to two metres in length. Snake enthusiasts usually breed its black and gold variation.

Bush is suspected to have smuggled the snake to keep it as a pet, but authorities have no information yet as to how Bush managed to keep one at home.

Judge Russell Callander said it was vital New Zealand be kept snake-free. He condemned Bush for snake-handling and hoped the sentence would send a strong message to those who are thinking of doing the same.

MAF director of compliance and enforcement Geoff Allen said MAF welcomed the sentence.

"New Zealand is a snake-free country. I'm pretty sure most New Zealanders would like to keep it that way," he said, adding it was unknown whether the snake would have survived in New Zealand if it had escaped.

"It could potentially use the native birds and animals as prey," Allen said.

By NZ law, anyone who becomes aware of a snake in the country should inform the MAF.