Herp Shows

[hrford]

So I've searched and there seem to be plenty of threads about attending your first show as a vendor, but what about as just a spectator. How do you know what a "good" show is? I know the basics of what to look for in a healthy specimen but is there anything that you should always check? Questions your should ask the vendor? Are there herp shows that are just big no-no's?

I live in DC as best I can tell there are shows in NOVA and then if you want to drive farther Hamburg, PA. But when I go searching there is little to nothing on the one in VA which makes me question it. I'm not actually in the market to buy but I'd really like to see some of these morphs up close and personal and heck they just sound like fun.

Oh and if my searching was off and this has been covered a thousand times please post a link and I'll disappear into the sunset.

 

[marauderhex]

There is a small-ish show in Havre de Grace, MD, which is closer than Hamburg, but a lot smaller. There are also shows in Reading, PA and Oaks, PA.

 

[hrford]

The one in Havre de Grace is run by the same person who does the one in NOVA. They don't seem to even list who the vendors will be. I also haven't found anything about them except on the maryland reptile farm website. Just makes me leery.

Oh and I just found Repticon in Baltimore in May. That one looks pretty big too.

 

[kkigs]

That's a good question, and one that can be hard to answer. We have a local show here in Denver 4 times a year, and it's nothing more than a swap meet, really, which I think a lot of them are. On the other hand, Repticon shows are more traditional in that they include presentations (symposium style). I've been to bigger shows in Pomona, San Diego (IRBA, back in the day) and Tampa (FIRE), and THOSE will leave an impression on you for sure. The little regional shows can still be fun. At least they get you out of the house and hopefully give an opportunity to see some different animals.

As far as interacting with vendors... that's a tougher one to answer. You kinda just have to talk to them and get a personal feel. Are they outgoing and positive? Do they make you feel excited to be looking at their animals, because THEY are excited about their animals? Or do they come across as simply being there to sell "stuff".

Either way, I would recommend going and seeing for yourself. You don't have to buy anything!

 

[acpart]

I feel that any opportunity to see herps is worthwhile. The first time you attend a show at a new venue, you will either be impressed or disappointed. When I go to a show as a spectator (haven't done that in awhile), I usually have a list with me of what I'm looking for. I walk through the entire show and list the vendor and the prices of the stuff I'm interested in, so I can go back and get the best deal. Sometimes, if most of the stuff I want is the best price at one place, I might let that vendor know what the price of the item is at the other place in the hopes that they will give me the same deal. I rarely buy animals at a show. If I can get a list of the vendors in advance, I look them up on the internet. In general, I discourage people from buying animals in the following situations:
--sick, dirty or unhealthy looking
--a whole bunch of tiny babies in a single enclosure for $10 a piece
--someone with only a few specimens of many different species, who clearly doesn't know much about the specific reptile, but got it in trade from someone and is now trying to sell it to someone else.

Aliza

 

[hrford]

someone with only a few specimens of many different species, who clearly doesn't know much about the specific reptile, but got it in trade from someone and is now trying to sell it to someone else.

acpart, thank you so much! That last one is really what I was looking for. I never would have thought of that at all.

Oh and my husband is from Somerville, born and raised!

 

[stager]

The Hamburg show is very good I rarely miss it, if you've never seen venumios species it's worth the ride just for that.

 

[acpart]

acpart, thank you so much! That last one is really what I was looking for. I never would have thought of that at all.

Oh and my husband is from Somerville, born and raised!

Wow! I'm not native, but I've been here since 1978.

Aliza

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I vend at shows. I find it a wonderful opportunity to discuss things 'face-to-face' with interested people and potential buyers. Granted, more than half of the time spent vending at shows are nothing more than "blah-blah-blah" only to have someone go an buy a cheaper, and less healthy, animal from a vendor that deal with supplies. But ther are some REAL advantages of attending reptiles shows and speaking with the vendors personally! Some pointers I can make to consider are:

- Is the vendor a breeder or supplier? Stick with a BREEDER over a vendor that specializes in supplies. Like big-box retail stores, they want to sell you an animal so they can make a profit on all the caging, furniture, and supplies. They do not have a vested interest in the animals they sell... they are simply inventory items.

- Ask intelligent questions! If a vendor/breeder can afford to take the time to answer your questions... no matter how many times they have had to repeat themselves over the day, then that breeder cares about their animals and where they go. For me, my customer's success with keeping my geckos is MY success!

- The animals should be vividly bright an healthy, even if they are sleeping (to escape the light and stress). There should be no signs of skinny tails, bad shed, and lethargy.

- A reptile show is a great place to see lots of different animals, and make a critical comparisons between what different vendor's have to offer. Price is NOT everything... sometimes you get what you pay for! For example, if someone asks me why they should pay $65 for one of my geckos when they can get it for $19.95 from a supplier, my answer is simple. You get ME along with every animal I have raised! Look for breeders that will support you and your new animal l-o-n-g after the sale has been made. A supplier or retail store will not do this.

The points Aliza made in her previous post are VERY valid and true. If a vendor had 40 little hatchlings in a big tub and a large number of them have skinny tails (if they haven't lost hem yet!), these animals a simply inventory items. A good vendor/breeder wants to sell their animals.. true, but they will exude their passion and dedication to their animals when they talk to you. It REALLY does make a difference!

 

[GeckoCrossing]

Great post Marcia! I completely agree with everything you said. I hate going to reptile shows and seeing sickly animals that are nothing but inventory I avoid those tables completely.

 

[hrford]

thanks so much Marcia for the info! I'm thinking of going to one tomorrow. Just to look (really just to look).

Aliza - that's the year my husband was born, you're practically neighbors

 

[gixxer3420]

Have fun at your first show! Good luck on just going to look, that's really hard to do.

 

[GeckoCrossing]

Have fun at your first show! Good luck on just going to look, that's really hard to do.

Lol! This is entirely too true. Took my wife to one (fiance at the time) to show her and ended up bringing home two Leopard Geckos, a Black & White Tegu and a Red Blood Python

And good luck

 

[hrford]

Well I went and it was fun. No leopard geckos I was interested but I fell in love with an adolescent beardie. She was a Hypo leatherback and I just loved her. But I couldn't get my husband to agree to bring her home. I'm going to the Richmond show next weekend with my husband with the idea that I will be able to convince him we need one!

Anyway I have no interest in breeding beardies but I'd really like a nice pet.

 

[acpart]

I fell in love with beardies at a reptile show. Didn't get one there, but got really interested and a few weeks later I got an adult Sandfire beardie from craigslist. She's 9 now and just starting to act like an old beardie. I prefer the adults since they eat less often. Personally I would never breed them because of the number of hatchlings I'd have to care for and the number of beardies I see on craigslist whose owners didn't realize what their needs are.

Aliza

 

[Whiteboymagic21]

Just be careful

I have purchased some geckos from a reptile show and they turned out be terrible purchases. I was new to the leo scene at the time, but some of those breeders are in it for the money. Make sure and check out what to look for in a healthy gecko before you go. Otherwise good luck, they do have awesome animals to look at.