New England Reptiles Expo - Our Day

[DonLisk]

The New England Reptile Show, on April 3rd, 2011, was definitely a place to be for anyone interested in reptiles and amphibians.

We planned to go and only grab a few supplies, take in the sights of some amazing snakes, lizards, and frogs, and then make our way back without needing a new home for another friend. Well, we all know how that gos, its the same old story, and we didn't meet our goal.

As we entered the show, we were greeted by an old friend, whom was there with his family and waiting for things to calm down so they could pack up the new Columbian Tegu Monitor they purchased. Since he was about 4 foot in length, they wanted to not have to battle the crowds getting him out. We said our goodbyes and then wandered into the show.

As we tried to go table to table, we found that we were fighting a losing battle, since the place was packed with so many people, and decided after a few tables to find New England Reptiles Distributors (NERDS) and then Black Jungle. Both places we have had great experiences with and just wanted to say hi and see the awesome critters they had on display.

I must add in here that my granddaughter and wife were treated to a really nice experience right off the bat by a breaded dragon breeder. I wish I could remember the business' name since they deserve mention. The staffer behind the table smiled, asked them if they ever held one, handed my granddaughter this beautiful bearded, and told the two of them all about bearded dragons as they got to handle some really well kept reptiles They walked away with smiles ear to ear.

NERDS never holds back and they had some of the most colorful and coolest snakes you'll ever find. Their snakes are all handled often and very manageable if put in your hands. They also had some very cool turtles and the array of geckos, monitors, spiders and scorpions. Their staff is always friendly and knowledgeable too.

We then wandered over to Black Jungle but along the way, our granddaughter had to sample some of the offerings at a few tables. Handling some different geckos, pacman frogs, and a few beautiful bearded dragons, she mentioned she needed a new snake. A new snake? You don't have a snake honey.... oh thats ok, I'll start with just one she tells me.

At Black Jungle, we selected the supplies we planned on obtaining, some fruit fly mix, 32oz cups, and some jungle pods, and then made our way to check out their plants and frogs. They had a nice selection of darts, some juvis, and some sub adults, and a few different types of geckos that were all at the early juvenile stage. Their plant selection was pretty nice but I was hoping for more exotic but its too early in the year for those types of plants to be offered.

Black Jungle staff was definitely busy and hustling to keep up with the sales of supplies and we eventually got out of the way and headed out to see if it was any easier to view some of the other tables that were still somewhat mobbed with spectators and customers.

Eventually we made our way over to Kati's Crested Geckos. After seeing some of the other tables and reptiles, and thinking we needed something the granddaughter could handle and hold, we started thinking a gecko may be the way to go.

I've kept Leopard Geckos before and wasn't overly interested in a desert setup so the Crested or Gargoyle Geckos were something I thought we should see.

Kati's stood out as the staff had taken immediate attention to my 5 year old granddaughters interest on the colorful Crested Geckos that we walking around the table.
Kati's staff taught her to hold and handle them. They talked to her all about the care of them, the needs they have for hiding places, and how she should feed and mist them daily. They had my granddaughters attention, as if she knew she was taking one home and had to know everything. We were very pleased with how Kati and staff payed attention to my little one and made her feel like she was the purchaser.

Well, Kati's got our business and are now the proud parents of a new 11 month old Gold Flame Crested Gecko that is now in my last build. A quick revamp of the build with the removal of some plants, like the umbrella tree, the addition of some vines, and the replacement of a light for nighttime viewing was fast and easy.

In conclusion, the show was a busy and fun place, and would be a shame for anyone to miss if you had the opportunity to go and passed it up. It is also a know fact that you never just go and not come home without a new friend no matter how well you planned ahead.

[Kurt]

I was there and came home with a Hypsiboas punctatus, a frog I have been wanting for a very long time now. Saw a few other cool things like Hylarana erythraea, Ambystoma macrodactylum, Mantella aurantiaca, albino Anaxyrus woodhousii, and enormous Litoria infrafrenatra (they were ******* huge!!!!) Resisted the urge to buy some more Dendropsophus leucophyllatus and Melanophryniscus stelzneri. The coolest thing I saw was a caecilian (species unknown, but I think it was Herpele multiplicata). I was very tempted, so I talked Mike Bannon into buying it, now I am jealous that he has it. LOL So cool!!

Ran into a lot of cool people I know, including my old boss from the Harvard Museum Natural History. I was there all day working the NEHS table.

[DonLisk]

Kurt, sorry we did not get over to meet you. Place was a mad house while we were there. After getting to what we were there to pick up, and then putting the crested in a container to take home, and a five year old getting too excited to get out the door with her new friend, we were ready to sneak out and head home,

One more show here later this year I believe.

Who had the clowns? I remember seeing some darts mixed in on one table far right corner, Black Jungle had a gorgeous Dendrobates tinctorius "Matecho" that would have looked great at my house too.

[Kurt]

LLL Reptile and another vendor over near me had clowns. The Massachusetts show is coming up in May. Black Jungle will be at that one too.

[Bigdog999]

Did anybody see any Fantasy Pacmans? I want to go to the October Expo, but only if they have pacmans, preferrable Fantasys.