The Carolina Reptile & Exotic Animal Show May 3 & 4, 2008

[Sean1978]

Hey guys. I have been reading up on Chameleons (and it's been very interesting) and I plan on attending the Reptile Expo here in NC with my girlfriend next month.

I'm totally catching the fever and can't wait to get myself a panther later on this summer(August - ish?). I have been reading up on care and familiarizing myself with problems encountered by owners here on this forum and it's been great so far.

I'm going to go to this show because I'd like to see a variety of Chameleons in person (I have only seen some near adult senegals and baby Veiled here at a pet shop here in Charlotte so far)

I'm planning on having all of my supplies in place before I get my Chameleon (hopefully a 3 m/o panther from a local breeder) And I'm wondering if I should plan on making some purchases at the show.

Can I get better deals on automated mister systems and lighting at the show than I can get elsewhere?

Also, who else is planning on attending the show?

 

[Dean Pulcini]

You see better chameleons on line . I found Most shows are snake oriented and reptile supplies and a few lizards not a whole lot of different chameleons.

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

I know you will see FL Chams there, you won't get quality better than that...your welcome Mike

-chris

 

[Eric Adrignola]

Mike from Flchams is going to be there.

I know Alex personally (the guy who now runs the show), and he puts on a great show. Lots of fun. It's more of a "show" than an expo, as it has a lot of extra things that a basic expo does not have:exotic animals, shows, entertainment, etc. But it is worth it.

I'm hoping to go this year. Alex is trying to squeeze me in for a lecture on chameleon care/purchasing. If things go as planned, I'll be there putting on a couple talks with my animals, most likely two of my veileds, my male deremensis and Ardi, my CB melleri.

In all honesty, Dean's got a point. You're usually better off getting a chameleon from an online breeder than at a show. Shows are usually snakefests. Since Mike from Florida Chams will there, it's a win-win situation. I saw his stuff at the columbia show last winter, and he had some beautiful panthers. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one from him.

They used to be really depressing in the past. I remember a few years back seeing cages FULL of B. perarmata going for $40 each. Dozens and dozens of them. now they're the most restricted chameleons. And if they were legal, people would probably pay 10 times that for a chance to get one!

things are far less depressing now, though some dealers sell chameleons, and they have no business selling them... you will see them.

 

[Dankmeleon]

i would make it a point at the show to find someone liquidizing a lot of reptile products, like an exoterra vendor, and pick up as much of your equip as possible as i've found much better prices on things like that, rolls of vine, etc etc

 

[Sean1978]

In all honesty, Dean's got a point. You're usually better off getting a chameleon from an online breeder than at a show.

Not really planning on purchasing any animals at the show, I'll mainly be there for the sights and maybe some supplies. Hopefully I'll learn some things also.

I'm not really into snakes at all.

Sounds like it's going to be fun. I'll bet I'll see all kinds of crazy stuff.

 

[Sean1978]

Bump, anyone planning on attending? It's only 2 weeks away!

 

[Eric Adrignola]

we'll see. I WANT to go, but it's ~ 5 hours away, and my wife's pregnant (due in Oct.) and I have a toddler.... I may be able to justify going to my wife... maybe.

Also, Alex might have a spot for me to do a talk on chameleons. so, if he's got one open, I'll take a few of my creatures down there.

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

Eric, man I hope you do, I would love to hear a speaker on chams. I will be there for sure.

-chris

 

[Sean1978]

bump.

See you guys tomorrow! I'll be driving up from Charlotte with my girlfriend some time in the morning.

Hope there's enough stuff to keep me occupied long enough to be worth the drive!

 

[Eric Adrignola]

Unfortunatly, I cannot make it. Thigns are too busy for me to go all the way there. I wanted to spend time with my brother (who lives in the raleigh area), but he's coming up this way (through Charlotte) for some macrobenthic invertebrate training on Sunday. So, if there's anything I could use (deremensis deremensis deremensis/massive WC male veileds) he might pick them up for me.

Alex never called me back, so I suppos e they didnt' have a slot open. Maybe I'll speak to the repticon people about doing such a talk for the Columbia show.

I've doen talks a number of times, and it's always fun. I have a power point presentation for the museum shows, but for the reptile shows it's unscripted, improv, and Q&A. I end up being a mixed blessing for the dealers, honestly.

The ones who have crappy animals usually don't get sales after people go to my talk, while the quality vendors not only make sales, the people buy everythign they need, and then come up to me to make sure they got everything. I swear, I turned some chameleon only sales into full setup, cage, supplements, lighting, etc. sales.

at the same time, a lot of sick animals didnt' get sold as a result of me.

Pisses some of them off, I imagine.

Let me know how it goes, allright?

...I'll be hiding in the rhododendron trying to bag me a wild turkey.

 

[Sean1978]

Wow. Had an awesome time today. Saw a lot of chameleons.

Tons of wild caught jacksons (inexpensive and unhealthy looking generally)

A few vendors had proper enclosures but FL Chams was the clear winner for "Best in Show"

Someone had a pair of almost adult mellers for $100 each, they did look good (to my untrained eyes) and I was impressed with getting to look at them.

Saw painters, mellers, jackons, some senegals (had the under-skin worms). Lots of pigmy's and "flap neck" chameleons.

Also a lot of nice birds.