Sharing a house in Bristol with more than 100 snakes, several lizards, tortoises and frogs, is likely to feature in many people's nightmares.

But it is a dream come true for Ryan Turner, who personally owns 25 pet snakes, and has another 90, including a 15-foot reticulated python, in his reptile shop in Wells Road, Hengrove.

The 31-year-old's reptile collection includes snakes, such as corn, boa, and pythons, bearded dragons, lizards, tortoises, geckos, frogs, and iguanas, Bella, 10, and four-year-old Spike, who live in a room-sized vivarium.

Next month, Jurassic Reps celebrates its second birthday. It opened on November 11, 2007, after Mr Turner decided to turn his hobby into a career.

The snake-lover, who lives in a flat above the shop with girlfriend Kirsty Poolman, started his career as a car mechanic straight after leaving school.

He bought his first corn snake in 2004 after becoming fascinated with slow worms in his garden. Not long afterwards, he got another corn snake and started breeding them. Then he started to breed bearded dragons, all from his house.

Mr Turner began to sell his reptiles, but found himself taking more and more time off work to look after his animals. He then decided it was time to take the plunge and set up his own shop.

"Snakes are very inquisitive," he told the Evening Post. "They love coming out of their tanks and looking around. They make great pets."

Among Mr Turner's collection of snakes are 70 babies, and a reticulated python, one of the longest breeds of snake in the world, called Lemon.

Lemon is three years old and 15ft at the moment and would sell for about £2,000.

Many of the snakes are bred by Mr Turner. His most popular sellers are bearded dragons, followed by corn snakes, and tortoises. He does not sell any venomous snakes, but he does own boa constrictors, which can be dangerous if threatened.

With so many mouths to feed, Mr Turner has to stock up on plenty of whole rabbits, which are eaten by the larger snakes, and mice and rats, which the smaller variety consume.

No snakes have ever escaped from the confines of Mr Turner's home or shop, but one python often finds a way out of his tank and likes to sit next to the till.

Mr Turner says that people wanting to become snake owners should be prepared for the hard work and commitment involved, but he says they are great pets.

"A lot of people like the idea of owning a snake, but they are scared. Snakes can pick up on people's fear. If you want a snake you need to be prepared to get it out and handle it and let them go outside. Snakes can live for 10 to 12 years, so they have the life span of a dog, and are very similar in many ways."

The Post revealed earlier this year how a 13ft Burmese python killed and ate a pet cat in a Brislington garden.

The 10-year-old snake swallowed four-year-old tabby Wilbur on June 25 after the cat ventured into its domain.

Mr Turner said: "Being in the sun is very important for snakes. The vitamin D3 they get is very good for them. I don't think it's irresponsible to put them outside, as long as they are properly supervised. It's your garden after all.

"But some snakes, like corn snakes, shouldn't be let out in the garden, because they will be gone. We often get calls from people in allotments who have spotted corn snakes that have escaped from people's gardens."

Mr Turner and his girlfriend plan on having a celebration next month to mark the shop's two-year-anniversary, and to celebrate the life of their 15-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Barnie, who was suffering from throat cancer and had to be put down on Thursday.

Mr Turner said: "Since opening the shop we've found people love it. We have customers from the age of six to grandparents. We get a lot of people in the shop who just want to have a look and explore without buying one."

He added: "I'm looking forward to some new breeding projects, and I hope that more people become interested in snakes. They are great pets. There really is nothing to be scared of."