Reptile Expo

[Mai]

Hi guys question, how often do you guys go to a reptile expo and do you guys recomm buying from one. We have one here on oct 28-29 but sadly I’m visiting my daughter at college ( god I hope she never knows I rather go to my first expo then visit her lol in my defense she comes down almost every other week, I swear I’m not a bad parent lol ) now the next one is in Jan but it’s a lot smaller. So my question do you find better deals ? At expos ? Do good Breeders attend ?
I really wanted to have Everything I needed before hand. I live in flpride just in case some have been to the ones here

 

[bobbydigital]

Most of my supplies and feeders I've bought at expos were relatively cheaper compared to online purchases I've made and pet stores. If you're looking to purchase either of those I would look up the best online prices beforehand to get an idea and when you go to the expo you can compare the prices. Several of the site sponsors were at the last expo i attended (i live in southern california). As far as breeders at the expo goes I can't speak on that since all my chams have been rescues. But I will say I've seen some amazing looking chams at the expos.

 

[dshuld]

Are you talking about the West Palm Repticon? It moves to Tampa state fairgrounds off I-4 for the following weekend if you didn't mind the few hours driving across the state. The you can visit your daughter still and make Repticon. Trying to get my wife to go this year since we've talked about going but something always came up and never have.

edit: Tampa has a bigger vendor list too if it was the West Palm show you were talking about.

 

[NickTide]

I've only been to one and it was a smaller one. Wouldn't even fill a High school Gym I struck out on many of the items I wanted (roaches other than dubias, bean beetles, etc.) but a few items were significantly less expensive then elsewhere. I saw young veildes for $20, and adult WC Jacksons for $45. I got Fruit flies for $5 there was a big seller of dry goods. The few items I knew the prices of were no cheaper than Petco online prices. I am sure bigger expos get better prices through competition.

 

[Mai]

It is the west palm one that I can’t make it to the Tampa one is way to far. Last time I went to Tampa it took me 6 hrs due to a car accident. The January is in ft lauderdale. Has anyone noticed the cages, or the branches is there a saving? Since there is no shipping?

 

[dshuld]

Gotcha, is Kissimmee close enough to you at all or are you more between West Palm and Ft. Lauderdale? Kissimmee had a nice sized list for vendors like Tampa did compared to West Palm. Only thing I know about the expos is from sister (she goes to them in NC and VA for supplies) which is like @NickTide said some supplies may be cheaper.

The only two I recognize right off for the Tampa one is herp hobby shop (haven't been into his store in a couple years but back then his prices were inline with todays prices) and Pinellas County Reptiles which is where I was just a few weeks ago. Pcr's mist king prices were inline/ less then I've seen elsewhere but their cage prices were a bit more then Petco in-store price. The younger female panthers they had (not sure on locale as they weren't for sale yet) were going to be sold for $199 the employee I was dealing with said. Their veiled were priced between $40 and $70 from what I saw. My wife has said we can go to Tampa if I want to so if I go I can try to relay any info I get from vendors that may be at the Ft. Lauderdale one.

 

[Mai]

Yes thank you let me know if you go, that way you can give me All tho info

 

[dshuld]

No problem, any particular size cage or types of vines you're looking for?

 

[Mai]

I’m still not sure on the cage size but I like the diy cages, and I need everything, I like certain looks like the real plants but when people post their pic I never get to see the bottom of the cages, it needs to drain right, a tub ? A bucket ?

 

[hopps31]

My general opinion is it greatly depends on the show, I have one that is 3 hours away and most of the vendors are selling WC animals as captive bred and they are in it purely for the money. The supplies like vines, fake plants,etc. are a little cheaper than online but not enough for me to travel 3 hours. The bigger one that is about 6 hours away was pretty good, but their are so many people that I find I would rather pay a little bit extra and avoid all the people. Though if you get there super early that helps, plus if any vendor has used supplies you can snatch them up before others. Also as far as feeders go, I have never found the actual feeder any cheaper then online but you don't have to pay for the shipping.

Just I quick tip, if I you have to purchase anything at Petco they price match their own website which is usually a lot less than the store price!

 

[dshuld]

Ok so you're looking for everything from the ground up lol. I'll keep you posted on if I'm going. I did just make a deal with someone for my first, in what I'm sure will be a long line of them lol, and she asked if we still needed to go. I said I suppose not but we'll see.

 

[bobbydigital]

I’m still not sure on the cage size but I like the diy cages, and I need everything, I like certain looks like the real plants but when people post their pic I never get to see the bottom of the cages, it needs to drain right, a tub ? A bucket ?

Here is a picture of the bottom of my set up. I keep my cage on a five shelf steel rack. I made a bunch of small holes on the Bottom piece of the enclosure to drain into the grey tub below.

 

[Mai]

Awesome ty

 

[devynnogood]

Hi guys question, how often do you guys go to a reptile expo and do you guys recomm buying from one. We have one here on oct 28-29 but sadly I’m visiting my daughter at college ( god I hope she never knows I rather go to my first expo then visit her lol in my defense she comes down almost every other week, I swear I’m not a bad parent lol ) now the next one is in Jan but it’s a lot smaller. So my question do you find better deals ? At expos ? Do good Breeders attend ?
I really wanted to have Everything I needed before hand. I live in flpride just in case some have been to the ones here

I just went to my first reptile expo in Sacramento California. In my experience the animals themselves were cheaper but all the supplies and accessories seemed to be the same price. Also if you're looking to see chameleons they are normally highly out numbered compared to snakes and geckos. Most breeders don't like to bring their chameleons because of the stress it causes them. But I'm sure there will be some

 

[JacksJill]

By all means go to the expo and have a look around. Then save yourself some money on branches by cutting and cleaning some from your yard or neighborhood. They are better for your chams feet because they are varying sizes so they don't stand on the same part of the foot constantly like they do with manufactured vines that can cause pressure sores.
I would also avoid buying an animal that had endured the stress of a show and buy something from a local breeder or someone from the forum. I know shipping sounds stressful but because they tend to sleep while it's dark they don't go thru as much as at a show where hundreds of eyes stare at them. Chams hate being stared at.
The show should be good for your cage, lighting, misting, supplements, feeders etc.