Reptile Expo, Columbia SC June 16

[suecornish]

This was the first reptile expo for me and I did not know really what to expect.

I was not so happy about the crowds. (Okay, don't say it - EXPO=CROWDS, I know). I don't like to be in a crowd of people but I can handle walking around in a crowd. For the life of me I don't understand why a vender would let a group of people stand right in from of the tables talking and preventing people from seeing what the vender has for sale. In some cases it was the vender that was in that group talking about some life changing event they went thru. There were several tables that I did not look at because of this and my husband, who is more forward than I, said that after saying excuse me once or twice he had to push the people away to see what was being sold and those people got mad at him. There were people behind the tables selling that didn't know what they were selling. I asked one woman what type of short tail boas she had and she said she didn't know, she was minding the table for her BF who was in the HOTS section.

And the heat, by the time I got to look at the HOTS I was dripping sweat, wasn't interested in HOTS and just wanted to get my babies and go home. Mind you, 1 1/2 hours drive one way and spent 1 hour at the expo. AND I thought Biker events brought out strange looking people.(Yes, I am a biker without a bike right now but never an ex-biker. Like snakes, once it's in your blood it stays.)

The very first booth was HomeGrownHerps. Nice set up, clean, knowledgable and friendly. I wanted an Amber and Caramel but got a Caramel and Snow. The Ambers were $65 and looked, to my untrained eye, so much like the Caramel that I decided not to get the Amber (seeing that some Columbian Short Tails were going for $35 I though I could sneek one home but we decided to get these new babies started and get one at the November Expo.) HGH had the best looking hatchlings for a reasonable price.

The caramel is a male who I named Eluyanka. It's Semitic and means loosely translated "Snake of God". I weighted him last night and he was 9g. As he was prowling the "tank (right now I am useing a plastic shoe box with locking lid) I gave him a pinkie. He was sooooo funny. He grabed it by the middle and moved it about two inches, dropped it and nosed it a couple of time. The he grabbed it by the middle again, dropped it back where he first picked it up and nosed it a couple of times; and then started chowing down. I didn't have the heart to tell him not to play with his food.

The snow is a female who I named Danu. It's Druid and means "Earth". She came in at 8g. She got a pinkie also but did not eat it. I am hoping that she is not going to be fussy like her big brother, Smokey. I'll try again in 3-4 days and maybe she'll eat. Typical female, delicate.

They are 2007 hatchlings and I feel they are the right weight. HGH said to email them the numbers off the deli cups and they will get back with me as to hatch date, feedings and sheddings. I am very happy with HGH. They let me handle them before buying, they made sure I had sanitizer on my hands before handling and were knowledgable about reptiles. I highly recommed them and will have no problems buying from them in the future.

Jeff Mohr was there doing presentations but as the floor was so noisey with the people chattering and there were so many people I really didn't get a chance to watch but I am sure he did a good job.

Well, that's it. If anyone else went please comment as to your experience. I had a good time all in all. The next time - Short Tail Boa. Oh, there was a man selling boas and pythons there who showed a couple how to pop a snake and I watched. It looked simple enough but I don't think I want to try it without adult supervision the first couple of time. :grin01:

 

[susang]

Sue, sounds like you had a good day. I don't like crowds either. The first herp show I went to was in Medord, it was so small, maybe 10-15 vendors. It did seem that even with a very small crowd of people, camping would take place in front of someones space. Often it was a group listening to two dealers talking about life in the herp. world.
I'm glad you got your new babies, susan

 

[Cegninedorf]

I used to deal with sales & I've had to go to lots of trade shows in a few of my previous work experiences and while as a college student, so I knew what to expect when I went to the big show by me -- NARBC -- but yeah, I was exhausted by the end of it! It took me 3 hours to get from one side of the expo hall to the other. I was really happy with how well it was organized and while there were lots of people, the expo hall was also huge enough that people could spread out; the flow of traffic stayed pretty decent that I didn't feel crowded out of any display. So, if you decide to visit Tinley Park in early Oct...

Otherwise, congrats on your new babies! They alone made the whole trip worthwhile, I imagine...

 

[MegF.]

I was there yesterday and watched Jeff's show and talked to him a bit afterward. I've been to this show before so it was pretty much as expected. I did complain to the director of the show about the health of some of the animals on display. In particular there were some green tree pythons being sold that looked close to death. Severly dehydrated, old shed stuck on, and extremely thin. The male Aru looked like it had mouth rot and perhaps scale rot. They said they were U.S. captive born..yeah right. Scars on the Sorong female, and they were selling these adults for less than $400 Told me they came from a breeder in FL....uh,huh....I was disgusted. The hots overall looked to be in much better condition this year with more cbb animals, and fewer wc stuff. Everything was cheap though, and it's kind of scary that you can get whatever hot you want and no one questions you as to whether you have experience or not! Crazy! I could have gone home with a beautiful copperhead for $25-$30. Of course my favorite...the eyelash viper was there....sigh...someday....

 

[suecornish]

I enjoy TV shows about HOTS but I, personnally, do not know why a person would buy one when it could seriously injure or kill. I want to do hands on with my snakes and not worry about a tag.

The short tails that I saw for $35 looked healthy enought but I have an untrained eye. There was one section that had a smell to it so I just passed on so maybe that was were the ill ones were that you seen.

Yes, the trip was worth it because I got my babies. I knew I should have let them settle in but Eluyanka was prowling so hard and heavy and HGH said they had been in the deli cups for two days that I just had to give them a pinkie.

I just don't do well in big crowds and tolerate the heat even less. But I enjoyed myself looking at all the different snakes. Maybe the one in November will be better and hopefully one year we can make the Atlanta one.

 

[MegF.]

I'm hoping to hit the Atlanta one. If I'm off that weekend, I may head down there and stay with my sister. She and I can go together.

 

[El Jefe]

Meg....was good to see you at the show. Thanks for stopping by and saying hi.

suecornish....too bad you didn't like the crowds. Should have introduced yourself! There is always next time! You did well to get snakes from HGH. They have nice stuff and reasonable prices. Always nice to have corn snake guys who have CB stuff and actually know what het means. Plus...when you see all the WC animals at the SC show it is nice to see some CB ones.

I had a good time at the show and sold a few corns...too bad my 07's aren't going to hatch for another week or so. Some of my 07 kings started pipping on Thursday...but too early to bring to the show. November should be good and I should have some 07's then!

hopefully one year we can make the Atlanta one.

Atlanta is fun too...no WC stuff...well at least no native WC stuff and no hots...but exotic WC stuff is still allowed. The other down side of Atlanta is NO CORNS! GA state laws prohibit selling native animals (except native hots...go figure :shrugs: ). Therefore, no corns.....not even ACR registered morphs...but I'm working on them to allow morphs in and hets with paperwork...will be long road but I'm trying.

 

[MegF.]

I did enjoy seeing the lavenders that were het for aztec???? I didn't have the heart to tell the guy that aztec isn't a het and that there's only a chance that babies will have aztecing. They weren't bad lavenders though....mine is nicer though It's a Stephen Wagner animal and no one has nicer lavs than he does!