NORTHERN TERRITORY NEWS (Darwin, Australia) 19 February 11 Sale time for Snappy (Terry Brown)

One lady owner, low mileage, only taken out on Sundays ... If Tracey Sandstrom's salespitch sounds like a whole lot of croc, that's because it is.

Her Roaming Reptiles business in Geelong is shedding staff and Snappy the 2.6 metre saltwater crocodile has to go.

"He's too big. He's a staff member really, but we've given him the severance package," Tracey says.

"We've had to let him go - but we can't just let him go in the Yarra!"

Tracey got Snappy almost six years ago from Crocodylus Park in Darwin.

He was a 50cm hatchling then, wet behind the ears, and he could have been anything - anything from a pair of shoes to a kebab.

Instead he joined Tracey's Animals with Attitude team, working beside his other saltie mates, Crikey, Crikey, Crikey and Jugular.

With his own heated pool, a croc flap and the odd dead rat as a treat, Snappy loved his life as an educational aid, but he never learnt that lesson about biting the hand that feeds.

A year ago last December, Snappy was warm and active, peckish from smelling farm animals all day and, unfortunately, with a badly taped mouth.

"He lunged at this lady behind the fence, jumped off the table to try to get her, and I think that's where the tape broke," Tracey says.

"When he started to crush me that really hurt, and when he hit the bone with his bottom teeth. There wasn't a lot of blood, but it hurt."

There are no hard feelings, though, and Tracey says he's the prettiest croc she's had.

"I said in the ad he's huge, heavy and hungry and he eats any meat, including cats, kittens and small children - but they took that bit out. He's $3000 - ok $2700 this weekend only!"

And she's sure someone will snap up Snappy, confident of a quick sale.

"Put it this way. I've had a couple of bites."
Sale time for Snappy

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