He already shares his home with three pythons, a boa constrictor, a black king snake, dozens of spiders, giant cockroaches, a scorpion and a millipede.

Now exotic animal handler Ken Smith has turned his hand to breeding butterflies.

The 43-year-old, who lives in Kemp Town, is nurturing larvae and caterpillars to develop one of the world's most unusual species.

Unlike their counterparts, which live from two to four weeks, the Heliconius melpomene butterfly lives for six months and is one of the few able to fly backwards.

Ken has about 35 flying around his house.

He has been contracted to supply London Zoo, which will this month open its own caterpillar-shaped butterfly tunnel.

Ken believes he is the only person in the UK who can breed Helico - nius in winter because he can do it indoors in a heliquarium - an aquarium-like structure he has invented.

He said: "It is just getting the heating and lighting right.

"When I started up I was watching them and trying to work out what they were looking for. I made an artificial sun. Males will hover over the females and they will mate if everything's perfect.

"My design has been copied by hobbyists around Europe, although I think I'm the only person to keep a colony of butterflies breeding all year round.

"I'm going to try to submit the word 'heliquarium' to the Oxford English Dictionary."

Ken obtains his pupae from Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm.

Last year he was involved in supplying snakes for the premiere of the Harry Potter film and spiders for the Channel 4 programme, Death Wish Live.

London Zoo's new tunnel will be the only living butterfly exhibit in London when the London Butterfly House closes in October.

It will show off butterflies in a safe, warm environment where they can breed.

A spokeswoman for London Zoo said: "The tunnel should be ready fairly shortly.

"We are planting any species that will attract butterflies - as well as putting plants outside to attract native species."

Ken can build heliquariums for companies wishing to have one in their lobby and can be booked to bring snakes to parties and events. Call 07779 855172.