The Wahiawa man was arrested at 9:25 p.m. at the Wahiawa police station on suspicion of keeping prohibited animals. He was released pending further investigation.

Yesterday, agents from the state Attorney General's Office acting on an anonymous tip used a search warrant to enter the man's 165 Circle Drive home, police said.

Agents found the snake and a "mini reef system" of illegal marine invertebrates, said state plant quarantine inspector Domingo Cravalho.

The snake was taken to the quarantine station. Officials plan to recover the illegal marine invertebrates later, Cravalho said. Officials suspect they include a coral sea anemone, crab and shrimp.

Cravalho said evidence in the snake's aquarium showed that someone had been caring for it.

"It has been eating," Cravalho said. "There was blood on the newspaper used for bedding, indicating that it did feed."

Cravalho said the snake is shedding its skin and can't see well because its eyes are clouded over.

"It's not the best time to handle it," Cravalho said. "It could strike at any time because it can't see a thing. But it was nice last night."

Cravalho said the snake poses a threat to the environment because it feeds on birds and mammals. He said a snake of its size also could crush or injure a small child.

Cravalho said the invertebrates are non-native and need to be identified. Marine invertebrates can only be kept by government agencies, university researchers or aquariums for exhibition, he said.