Buying from Reptile show- Thoughts?

[Zeina]

(Wasn't sure what area in the site this went under since it's kinda random )

Sooooooooo Repticon is hosting a Saturday "Repti-day" at a convention center in 2 weeks, right near my home-I've already bought VIP tickets and will be attending bright and early!

Now, the convention is 2 days before I bring home my little man, and I am dragging my boyfriend along to hold some snakes, get a feel for caring for one, and to learn some more knowledge about them, (I've personally been reading and asking questions about everything I can think of for a week straight!) and I know I will learn new stuff too, you always do!

That being said, what do you incredibly knowledgeable folks recommend I try to purchase from there (or NOT purchase from there) whether it's substrate, feeders (I am only doing frozen), accessories for the tank, thermometers or heaters, or anything else I'm going to need for his care.

I've never been to one of these conventions, because before moving in with my incredibly awesome man, I was never allowed reptiles- So this is my first ever reptile convention, and I don't want to get suckered in or taken advantage of (Not that I think all breeders/enthusiasts/passionate reptile owners do this), but I just want to hopefully find some unique stuff and maybe stock up food/substrate-wise...

ANY input and experience you guys can put forth on this matter would be greatly appreciated, so I know what to look for and what not to get trapped in

 

[murder4me]

Conventions like that are a great place to get supplies . Less than half the price you'll find most places. The supplies the vendors sell is for the most part brand name products. I have no idea what you have so far but the one by me sells everything you need from, tanks, bedding, screen tops, uth's, etc. For the food, always buy frozen feeders, I got a six month supply for $15.00.

 

[Zeina]

That is awesome! I'm liking the prices I went to a new pet store today just to peruse and a 10/20gal UTH was 35.99- By itself- I'm like whoa!
I'm hoping the convention will offer up some variety and good prices so I can buy some stuff in bulk =P Thanks for the input, I'm really excited to attend!

 

[murder4me]

A uth at the show by me goes for 20-$25.00. You won't be disappointed in the prices, I'm guessing the prices will be comparable to most conventions/shows. I don't know how often the convention comes through your town. If it's only every once in awhile, I would stock up on bedding and food.

 

[Zeina]

Thank you, I definitely will- I'm super stoked!

 

[Galataya16]

I've haven't had the opportunity to go, the closest one to me is about 6 hours away, but I've been told the prices are amazing and it's a great, great way to stock upon feeders for a really great price and not have to pay shipping for them. I've also heard that people can't go and not bring home another reptile, so be prepared lol!!

 

[Shirl]

I will be going to a show next month in LA. What's the best way to get the feeders home? Will dry ice in a cooler be ok all day in the car while I'm at the show?

 

[daddio207]

I will be going to a show next month in LA. What's the best way to get the feeders home? Will dry ice in a cooler be ok all day in the car while I'm at the show?

I bring a cooler and buy the frozen feeders on my way out from the show. I stop at a gas station and buy a bag of ice on the way home.

I'd be cautious keeping dry ice in a warm car for hours. Yes it will work much better than regular ice but keep in mind you can get instant frost bite if you touch it with bare hands. Also the gas that dry ice produces is carbon dioxide and can make you sick or worse if it escapes from the cooler.

Ask to see the feeders before you buy. Check to see that they are clean. Look for ice crystals inside the bag as it could indicate that they are old stock or they defrosted at some point.

 

[Alli_Draggy]

Since it's a Repticon show, I recommend e-mailing Feeder Source and requesting the size/number of feeders you want, or, if not, going to their booth as soon as you get there, buying the feeders, and having them hold them for you until you leave. Otherwise, there's a very good chance that you'll get to the end of the day and discover that they have only some sizes left-and invariably, it's whatever you don't need. I've had good results from Feedersource rodents.

We have gel ice packs and a cooler that we use for getting mice/rats, and then buy a bag of ice to top it off with. We have about an hour drive back, and usually do some other shopping while we're down there.

 

[Zeina]

This is all incredible advice, thank you so much.
I'm definitely most concerned about the food, as I haven't really found any place that sells mice for snake food here- I haven't seen breeders or anything in my particular area, so I'm wanting to stock up on food for tiny man incase I still have trouble locating a place that sells his food- I'm still looking lol But thanks guys, this has been really helpful!

 

[Shirl]

Thanks guys! I do have a store nearby but when I buy a back of pinkies more than half of the bag is the tiny reds. I can't seem to get a whole bag of actual good sized pinks. I will try emailing feeder source prior to the show.

 

[LittleFrog]

I've also heard that people can't go and not bring home another reptile, so be prepared lol!!

Quoted for truth, lol. I went to my first expo in July, and my second last weekend (we usually only have one a year, but they did two this year in my city). Both times I swore I wouldn't buy anything, and both times I came home with a new snake, lol.

 

[Zeina]

Lol I can imagine! I get my first new cornsnake on the 20th, and the Expo is on the 18th- So I have to swear I won't bring him some adorable baby corn before I even get my first one I am, however, bringing my boyfriend along to keep me from making bad decisions, and I'm looking forward to seeing the babies and hold some bigger snakes to get the feel for their weight and everything... So excited!

 

[qtken2]

I'll be there with the NWFL Herp Society. Stop by and chat!

 

[Zeina]

Say What!! What is your name, I'll stop by and let you school me on some corn snakes! That's awesome lol

 

[qtken2]

Say What!! What is your name, I'll stop by and let you school me on some corn snakes! That's awesome lol

Ken. Cent might be there as well.

 

[Zeina]

Awesome! I'm Caitlin and I'll definitely stop by- Looking forward to it, I have a lot to learn =)

 

[hypnoctopus]

I just did a thirteen hour drive with all my frozen mice in a styrofoam cooler with 2 pounds of dry ice and they were still completely frozen when I unpacked them.

Reptile shows are a lot of fun, even when you're 'just looking'!

 

[Zeina]

Lol I swear I'll be just looking! Thanks for the information, I'm definitely going to stock up on them =)

 

[Zeina]

Awesome!

So it was pretty awesome today at the Reptile show here in Navarre, FL!

The expo in general wasn't very big, but they had a lootttttt of reptiles there!

I got to see corn snakes in all stages, from little 3 month old babies to 1yr olds to full grown adult- There was a GORGEOUS Bloodred/Pied male there, and if I could have taken him home I would have lol he was so beautiful!

There were a multitude of other snakes, I got to hold kingsnakes and sand boas... There were gigantic tortoises walking around, and like 6-8ft Albino Burmese pythons (I'm pretty sure that's what they were) Hanging around people like necklaces lol Lots of leopard geckos (Had to pull the boyfriend away from that table - But now that I know he loves them, I'm thinking future gift )

When I walked over to where the feeders were, which was like an entire side, they had these ginormous coolers set up- And a couple kids along with some adults walked by as the guy was showing me the difference in size between the newborn pinkies and the older pinkies- And the adults looked in the freezers and were like "Omg! GROSS! Eeeeeeeewwwwwwww! That is so sick!" Like- You're at a REPTILE convention- I sure as hell hope you were expecting ice cream to be in there.

However, I managed to stock up on a year's worth of food for my growing snake, got him a water dish, a log hide and a cool looking branch to complete his new house! I get tiny man on Monday, and after holding and playing with the corns at the expo, I'm looking forward to it even more!