Is Repticon always bad ?

[MichaelJ]

I've been to two Repticon shows over the past few weeks. Once in Orlando and one in Tampa. For the sake of offenses to individuals I will not name any names because their are really good people and to outcast someone for brokering is something to crucify them for.

I've been unpleased at both. The orlando had a better selection and the animals looked healthier. The vendors by majority new nothing about leos and often kept them on sand. And basically were brokering them from someone they bought them for wholesale and were passing them along at a marked up price. One even told us they kept them all in a really long aquarium at home and didn't bother to sex them. EVERY ANIMAL had a regenerated tail. and battle wounds on the bodies and heads. She definitely didn't get any of our business.

We bought two at the last show and after bringing them home and getting fecals and acid fast tests they both were infected with crypto. We also bought two Patty's that turned out fine and are growing at an exponential rate. One is bigger than some of my females that are several months older and it just amazes me how much she eats.

After the two we lost we swore not to buy any more at shows. This weekend we went to the Tampa show with the intent of just buying supplies, getting a feel for cost and just seeing all the fun herps and selections. We plan on doing shows in the future and we want to see how we can do better than the pack.

Again we found that many people new nothing about Leo's and yet still sold a bunch that looked sickly, were missing tails, and even looked at deaths door. We did see two different vendors we knew and one that we had great luck with many times but this time they has some the sickest looking animals I've ever seen. Definite crypto and parasites throughout. You could see the mucuous feces, voimit shed skin, and frail little bodies that made we want steal every one and put them out their misery. My wife and I were almost in tears.

We found another friend that we knew pretty and well and has always had great animals. Again he knew nothing about them and they were given to him as wholesale. We got a beautiful male reverse stripe juve and a SHTCTB probably two -three week hatchling; for 50 total, this again is because he had no idea what they were so we pounced and I talked him down to 40. Now that I've gotten a microscope and solution and am well versed in how to do a fecal flotation. They were both loaded with flagallates and round worms. This is not necessarily a surprise with getting new pets but I was still dismayed. I started them both on Flagyl and Panacur to get rid of the parasties and acid fast tests are scheduled for next week.

I now vow to NEVER BUY ANY ANIMAL from a show unless its from one of about 5 people on this forum. I'm sure they will be fine as the crypto because they are young and look very healthy but that is not always the best assumptions. Needless to say they will be far far way from my colony for at the minimum of 90 days if not even until next season and several fecals and acid tests are done.


The moral of the story is that I'm not sure if it's Repticon itself or just shows that aren't really loaded with Gecko enthusiast. I'm sure Daytona will be night and day but we probably won't be at repticon again anytime soon...

These brokers often remind of Pet Shops that will never get our business again.

 

[okapi]

Ive been to a show where a lady selling leo hatchlings didnt even know about temperature sexing. She just said that she incubated them and let them decide if they were going to be males or females. then I asked if she incubated them at "male temps" or "female temps" and she just repeated that she let them decide if they wanted to be male or female. So I asked what temp she incubates at and she said "in the 80s." she was clearly just trying to dance around the topic because she clearly had no clue, and just knew that the eggs could be incubated in the 80s. But her prices were very good, and her geckos seemed healthy. However she only had hatchlings...

 

[ReptileMan27]

I just wish we had herp shows around her period , the closest one is klike 4-5 hours away .

 

[boutiquegecko]

Mike we went to the Tampa and the smaller show in Clearwater last year and was pretty amazed also. We didn't see any breeders that we knew at Tampa and there were hardly and leos there at all. A bunch of tiny babies from some venders that looked tremper or sht, that's it. There were more snakes and camealons than anything. We didn't see anyone specifically selling leos-it was like they were all brought there as an afterthought. Of course we went on Sunday, so maybe they were there on Sat???
This year we didn't go because I didn't know any one from here going, or might have just to finally meet some one from here. We are planning on maybe going next year though, pending what kind of year we have. I'm sure Daytona will be a different exp.

 

[PrototypeGeckos]

I'm sure Daytona will be night and day

Oh lord, Daytona is going to be insane, I am sure there will be geckos everywhere, so refinance the house, sell the car, and take a second third and fourth job and bring your wallet with you!!!!

 

[yellermelon]

Ive been to 2 repticon shows this year. I do see what your saying, however I was lucky enough to have a few good people from this forum there to buy from, Thats the only people I bought from. I saw some pretty sad stuff at the Spartanburg show, Including a "hypo" at best that was extremely dark colored from poor temps and bad health Priced at 210.00 That was insane! I just stick to sellers from this forum and a select other like 2 lol.

 

[ByRandom]

Alot of shows (not just Repticon) are like that and really, it's bad business for the reptile industry as alot of people come in just to see what all the fuss is about. I've been to one show that was really decent here in ATL and it was about 3-4 years ago. Ever since then it seems like they're regarded as a big get-together of wholesalers....but every once in a while there are some good people and animals. You just have to keep any eye out. Most shows like Repticon are so cheap to vend at that almost anyone shows up and there's no way to weed out the good people from the bad.

-Katie

 

[gko reptiles]

We have been wondering about vending at some repticon shows around florida (tampa, orlando, etc.) Would it be a bad idea or are there people actually looking for Leo BREEDERS there?

 

[ByRandom]

We actually had alot of luck with a Repticon show here. We would have been very disappointed if we had just gone to look or buy, but since we vended we had a great time .

 

[trizzypballr]

I cant nessessarily speak for florida shows, but I know what your talking about, here in PA there are also alot of people who either are wholesalers, or that you can tell they bought the geckos from wholesalers and are trying to sell them. But the thing that I ABSOLUTELY STRESS is the fact that there still are good breeders there. There might only be 2 or 3 actual breeders at a show, but Ill tell you what, you can tell who the breeders and who the wholesalers are. Be wise in your purchases, ask questions, find out how knowledgable the person is before you purchase from them. If you exersize these things, at the end of the day you will be happy with your purchases, and you will have had a great time chatting with the real breeders, along with having a laugh at the fake breeders


LoL speaking of a funny show story. I saw a guy selling 2 Aptors, and had another albino with the 2 APTORS
I pointed the albino out to the guy, and asked what strand albino it was, he said, "Thats not an albino, thats a RAPTOR" LoL I was like no, im talking about the albino, once again, LoL this time he pointed to one of the APTORs and said, that gecko is not albino, its a RAPTOR, LoL I said dont you mean its an APTOR? playing with him alittle more, I said, dont APTORs carry the albino trait? LoL he said, nope thats a RAPTOR, they arnt albino. LMAO!!!! I thanked him for his time and walked away. Oviously that guy didnt breed any of those geckos

 

[MichaelJ]

We have been wondering about vending at some repticon shows around florida (tampa, orlando, etc.) Would it be a bad idea or are there people actually looking for Leo BREEDERS there?

Yes it would be great to have a true breeder at one of the repticon shows and I'm sure you would clean up. Many people are there for snakes and other reptiles but one that specialized in Leopard Geckos, Crested and other Rhacs would be great. I truly believe you would clean up.

I'd show up just to see you and leave.:main_thumbsup:

 

[GeckoMandi]

I don't think it's repticon I think it's mostly all reptile shows well the ones I've been to anyways, we don't purchase from any random table I stick with people I know that do the shows often and know their stuff so far I have had no bad luck. You are going to see wholesale sick animals at all these things it's apart of the reptile trade I think, so sad but true.

 

[boutiquegecko]

Gko, I guess you'll be our main comp next year then if you go to Tampa You specialize in Tug strain right?

 

[gko reptiles]

Yep Urban Sunglows but we have many others we are hoping to pop out for next season.

 

[bcreptiles]

Oh lord, Daytona is going to be insane, I am sure there will be geckos everywhere, so refinance the house, sell the car, and take a second third and fourth job and bring your wallet with you!!!!

we are thinking of going there also, the only thing we have to figur out is how to get the animals there.
if that would be to difficult i would like to go, just to have a look:main_yes:

 

[boutiquegecko]

I'd like to go just to see some of your urbans in person. When we went last year there was a person who had a few sht's that she said were tug and that's why the high price. I honestly didn't believe her because they were a far cry from any pics I've seen of that line.

 

[bro paul]

I've had a decent time vending at the two repticon shows I've done. If you consider yourself a quality breeder and you're up to doing a local show then I think it's always a good idea to give it your best shot and spend the time educating folks on proper care & husbandry, as well as correct morph terms and genetic possiblities. People looking for the cheapest leos will just walk on by, but many interested (soon to be addicted...) new-comers can get their start if a quality breeder takes the time to share and answer questions. If "smaller shows" are going to improve then it up to quality breeders to make the effort and offer a better "product" and buying experience.