However, Brian Barnett can't think of a more rewarding pet.

The Ardeer resident has long been scaling the heights of herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles.

Mr Barnett's important contributions to the field were honoured on Australia Day with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), awarded for service to conservation and the environment.

For some it may seem an unusual area of interest, but for Mr Barnett it seems entirely natural. "I always liked pets that were a bit different," he says. "Over time it just got entrenched."

He recalls a childhood spent stalking paddocks near Boundary Road, on the look-out for darting blue tongue lizards and slithering snakes. The obsession continued into later life and carries through to this day.

Mr Barnett, president of the Victorian Herpetological Society from 1978 to 2000, continues to be involved. He has written a range of publications on herpetology and was a pioneer supplier of venomous snakes for the production of antivenoms during the 1950s and '60s.

His interests led him to establish the award-winning wildlife park Marbuk Park in the 1970s and open up The Herp Shop in the 1980s.

A fascination throughout this time with taipans, one of the world's deadliest snakes, inspired Mr Barnett to name his youngest son Ty.

"His own son was born eight years ago and he has actually called him Taipan," he said. "I guess you could say we're a bit obsessed with taipans."

Although Mr Barnett no longer keeps an extensive collection of scaled friends at home, there are still a few favourite snakes and lizards to keep him company. He's also kept busy running the Herp Trader, the biggest online reptile business in Australia.

The Victorian Herpetological Society will hold a reptile and amphibian expo at Melbourne Showgrounds on Saturday, February 19.

Details: www.vhs.com.au