How to prep a snake for "walking" in a reptile show?

[nfafan]

Have a false water cobra that I plan on taking to the next reptile show to try and sell.

As folks know, these reptile shows are a cornucopia of sights, sounds, and smells that understandably could drive a hungry snake bonkers. And the folks like me that just have to handle the occasional interesting critter...

Thus; I want to be able to take him out of his container to allow folks to see and handle him when interested, without fear of him trying to eat a finger. Nor do I want to traumatize the guy because of the event

So:
Should I feed him 2 days before the show? 3 days before? A smaller portion - enough to lessen hunger urge without fear of reurge, like maybe an adult F/T mouse vs a small F/T rat?

What do you table-vendors do to prepare your own stock - before guys like me come along and insist on handling that kewl carpet python??

Thanks all!

 

[rmfsnakes32]

With most snakes I don't feed the week before a show many aren't kept at ideal temps for several days due to packaging and traveling. You could try smaller meal but a day out of his ideal home wont help keep it in he can still regurge 3 days after. All the breeders I know do same as me skip feeding week before a big show

 

[Rich Z]

You might want to check with the promoters of the show to make certain that they will be OK with you walking around with a venomous rear fanged snake and taking him out while there for people to handle. They just might have an issue with that...

Better to find out beforehand than to possibly be evicted from the show.

 

[kathylove]

I was thinking the same thing. Most shows won't even let you bring in a corn or other harmless snake because they don't want competition for those who bought tables. But a few shows are ok with bringing a snake in. But I have never seen anyone walking around with a rear fanged snake. Best to check it out ahead of time, as Rich says.

Otherwise, the info others said is good. I have seen people bring in snakes with bulging bellies - and have seen them regurge, too. Yuck!

 

[Kokopelli]

Even if you get an approval to do so, I'd still refrain from following through with it.
FWC's venom toxicity level is quite severe... and even if a person is bit without being envenomed, you're legally vulnerable to law-suits since you are not insured in any way(usually, these types of shows are insured, and a part of a vendor's fee goes to paying off this insurance).

Bad idea, in short.

 

[nfafan]

Thanks all! Probably keep him "contained"...

These 3 shows that I go to - lots of folks found walking something, that's how I found this guy.

One show someone had a MEAN Tegu the size of a small dog - he left the show voluntarily. Another guy had a bin 'o 'balls of various sizes, wanted like $50.00 for 5 of them...

 

[chris68]

Jmho that's an open invitation to a lawsuit. That's a tough animal to sell "correctly" (best way I can put it). It's a venomous snake, even shipping them I'd think would be a violation of Fedex's TOS if you were to try that route. I know, comparitively speaking it's not a pit viper, or cobra et al. But still I'd work out a well thought out plan to sell/trade whatever, if only to protect yourself from any grief, headaches or hastles. Good luck .

 

[Nanci]

I've never heard of people actually selling their snakes by walking around openly at a show. I'm sure even shows like Repticon which encourage (God knows why...) bringing your animals would not allow that.

 

[BloodyBaroness]

Doing it with a corn, ball or even a tegu is one thing, doing it with a rear fanged venomous is an entirely different ball of wax.

Keep him contained at all times and in a container marked venomous.

If he is loose and swings at someone to bite, especially a child, you will be in very serious trouble. Most shows do not take that kind of thing lightly, a little forethought and common sense on your part will go a long way.

Most vendors get really pissed at people "walking" animals. We paid for tables, travel and display expenses, why should someone else get to do it for $12?

 

[diamondlil]

Doing it with a corn, ball or even a tegu is one thing, doing it with a rear fanged venomous is an entirely different ball of wax.

Keep him contained at all times and in a container marked venomous.

If he is loose and swings at someone to bite, especially a child, you will be in very serious trouble. Most shows do not take that kind of thing lightly, a little forethought and common sense on your part will go a long way.

Most vendors get really pissed at people "walking" animals. We paid for tables, travel and display expenses, why should someone else get to do it for $12?

I'm amazed the shows allow it. Surely anyone could park up a vehicle outside and parade their animals around instead of renting a table?

 

[BloodyBaroness]

I'm amazed the shows allow it. Surely anyone could park up a vehicle outside and parade their animals around instead of renting a table?

From the Repitcon rules section:

Q. Can I bring my personal animals to Repticon?

A. Guests can bring up to two animals inside the event. We feel strongly that this interaction will provide guests with an additional opportunity to engage in discussion with exhibitors and will generate excitement among event attendees. Animals brought by guests to the event must be in good health and under their control at all times. Any guests who violate that policy will be asked to leave the show.

Q. Can I sell my personal animals at the show?

A. Guests may not bring animals into the event for the purpose of selling them at the event, as only show vendors with appropriate permits may sell animals. Any guests who violate that policy will be asked to leave the show.

Q. Can I bring a venomous animal to a show?

A. Even though we have “Hot” Shows, Hots are never allowed to be brought in to our shows. We have very strict protocols that we follow and want to guarantee the safety of all our guests and exhibitors.

The same/similar rules apply for the North West Berks (Hamburg) show as well, I just got off the phone with John.

Hamburg Rules:

Venomous Animals Will Be Allowed .. Call For Details
No Endangered, Protected Or Native PA Species Permitted
Please Leave Your Pets At Home
All Animals Must Be Properly Contained and Not Exposed To The General Public
All Transactions Strictly Between Buyer and Seller

 

[nfafan]

FWC aside;

I see "walkers" all the time at every show I go to - consider: you approach a vendor at a table for a trade/deal - you supposed to ask them to leave their table and go outside to your car to see your whatever so that you don't offend another vendor?

And yes, these same walkers are often seen cutting a deal with other walkers.

I sense some touchiness - maybe we need a "snake-show loophole" law.

 

[gelshark]

The title of this thread made me think that your snake was a model and that you were preparing her to strut her stuff on the cat walk. Then the song by right said fred got stuck in my mind, "I'm to sexy..."

In the future please use a title that is more like, "Preparing to sell my snake at a reptile show where I did not purchase a table"

Thanks!

 

[Nanci]

FWC aside;

I see "walkers" all the time at every show I go to - consider: you approach a vendor at a table for a trade/deal - you supposed to ask them to leave their table and go outside to your car to see your whatever so that you don't offend another vendor?

And yes, these same walkers are often seen cutting a deal with other walkers.

I sense some touchiness - maybe we need a "snake-show loophole" law.

Pre-arranged trades, fine. Shopping around with an animal, hoping to trade it, as a spectator or as a vendor I don't like that.

If by snake show loophole you mean allowing "private" hobbyists to sell their reptiles without, what, paying for a table- I'm not in favor of that. Like a gun show, private sellers are welcome to pay for a table and sell reptiles right alongside the professionals.

If by "loophole" you mean allowing private hobbyists to sell venomous without following regulations that pros would have to follow- do you feel like you are able to evaluate Joe Blow's ability to properly care for venomous, his set-up, emergency procedure plan, state permit if required, all that? It's not like a gun where all you're "loopholing" is the background check. It shouldn't be like, hey, if I have a rattlesnake I should be able to sell it to anyone I want to, regardless of if they have the proper licensure in place.

 

[BloodyBaroness]

Pre-arranged trades, fine. Shopping around with an animal, hoping to trade it, as a spectator or as a vendor I don't like that.

If by snake show loophole you mean allowing "private" hobbyists to sell their reptiles without, what, paying for a table- I'm not in favor of that. Like a gun show, private sellers are welcome to pay for a table and sell reptiles right alongside the professionals.

If by "loophole" you mean allowing private hobbyists to sell venomous without following regulations that pros would have to follow- do you feel like you are able to evaluate Joe Blow's ability to properly care for venomous, his set-up, emergency procedure plan, state permit if required, all that? It's not like a gun where all you're "loopholing" is the background check. It shouldn't be like, hey, if I have a rattlesnake I should be able to sell it to anyone I want to, regardless of if they have the proper licensure in place.

Exactly. I agree 100% with all of that.

What kind of "loop-hole" are you talking about?

 

[Alicia P]

There are a couple shows around me (Michigan) that allow you to bring in animals to try to sell to vendors. There is a limit on how many you can bring and you are not allowed to sell to other attendees only vendors. I think there is only one show that allows hots and I don't know their walk-in rules. It would be a day trip for us and I just don't feel comfortable taking small children to a show with hots.

 

[Nanci]

It would be a day trip for us and I just don't feel comfortable taking small children to a show with hots.

Every show I've been to that vends hots has quite strict rules about how the animals are displayed. Your children would be safe.

 

[susang]

Thanks all! Probably keep him "contained"...

These 3 shows that I go to - lots of folks found walking something, that's how I found this guy.

One show someone had a MEAN Tegu the size of a small dog - he left the show voluntarily. Another guy had a bin 'o 'balls of various sizes, wanted like $50.00 for 5 of them...

FWC aside;

I see "walkers" all the time at every show I go to - consider: you approach a vendor at a table for a trade/deal - you supposed to ask them to leave their table and go outside to your car to see your whatever so that you don't offend another vendor?

And yes, these same walkers are often seen cutting a deal with other walkers.

I sense some touchiness - maybe we need a "snake-show loophole" law.

No there doesn't need to be a rule change to suit you, who are you and why do you think one it's OK to fudge the rules and two they should change for you. If you want to sell your snake do it the legal way pay for a vendor table, all this walking and selling bs is wrong. It hurts the vendors that do pay for tables, it hurts the person who runs the event and it hurts the people who want to come and see animals, maybe buy. A walking seller means there is no comeback for buyer, walkers probably sell and run.
People wonder why some on here seem to get cyber bullied because we speak out against people like you. For what it's worth not that you care, your kind usually doesn't, I would never trust you in the future to buy an animal from. If you are shady at a show you're shady in other walks of life. jmho

 

[BloodyBaroness]

Yes, even the shows that allow hots have very very strict policies.

All Venomous Vendors and their Staff must adhere to the following:

Containers – All venomous reptiles must be housed in secured, taped and unbreakable containers and labeled as such prior to the customers leaving with purchase. No venomous reptiles may be removed from containers and lids of such containers shall not be removed, except in the hot room. NO venomous reptile will be taken out of its container nor will the container be unsealed under any circumstances other then in the hot room.

Only RED tape will be allowed on venomous containers. Red tape is to be used ONLY on venomous containers. This will be in effect starting 6/20/2009

Sales Policies & Procedures – Venomous snakes are not to be sold to anyone under 18 or to anyone who obviously does not possess the knowledge or experience to handle venomous snakes. Venomous reptiles which have been sold will be tagged and remain at vendors’ booth until buyer is departing from show. Customer is to sign a waiver; then advise customer to return when ready to depart from the building. At this time the vendor will give the waiver and reptiles to show staff or Venomous Staff who will escort the customer as they exit the show. Any vendor not adhering to this policy and giving their customers venomous reptiles purchased will be ejected from the show immediately and no refund issued.
Please note: Netting ( to cover all venomous) will be required by the 2010 November Show!
All venomous animals not in display cases or covered with glass are required to be covered with netting. Netting will be available to vendors that do not have it for a small fee.

Those are general rules for venomous shows.

 

[Alicia P]

Every show I've been to that vends hots has quite strict rules about how the animals are displayed. Your children would be safe.

I don't doubt they would be. It's a mental issue for me lol.