But a freezer free of chicken and full of rats is an indication that something out of the ordinary is going on.

Peter Johnson and his family are among Macarthur's reptile owners, a club of enthusiasts choosing to go beyond the fluffy when choosing a household pet.

"They're very interesting because they are different," Mr Johnson said.

"And a reptile is perfectly suitable for keeping in a small house."

The snake owner said a major part of the appeal was the amount of attention reptiles required compared with conventional pets.

Reptiles are silent, require less exercise than mammals and eat far less often.

That's handy, because the feeding process involves reheating a dead rodent.

"Adult snakes eat just once every three weeks," Mr Johnson said.

"It's not the best thing, but you get used to them."

Monty, a 2.5-metre carpet python, joins water dragons, blue-tongue lizards, goannas, turtles, frogs, a salamander and venomous Stephens' Banded snakes at his Catherine Field home.

Some of his animals will be on display at this Sunday's Reptile Show at Minto Indoor Sports Centre.

The show will be an opportunity for prospective owners to talk with reptile enthusiasts about the pros and cons of living with cold-blooded pets.

There will be plenty of weird and wonderful beasts for children to examine.

"Some reptiles are very good with kids,"he said.

"Obviously a python that grows to five metres long is not good with kids."

Mr Johnson, who is also a Camden councillor, encouraged people to come to the Minto showing and meet some local lizard lovers.

"We're just a group of people that enjoy keeping reptiles and amphibians as pets," he said. Just don't try his `curry surprise'.

Macarthur Reptile Show is this Sunday, 10am to 4pm, at Minto Indoor Sports Centre. Adult entry $10, families $25. Details: www.macherps.com