Repticon, near Atlanta Jan, anyone coming?

[grammie]

http://www.repticon.com/atlantaexhibitors.html Jan 10-11

I'd love to meet any of you that are making that show. ((if you are a snake vendor, let me know now!!!))

[rabernet]

I'm "thinking" about coming. The show last year that time, was rather nasty. Animals with mites and ticks on them, the show promoters allowing people to bring in animals that weren't vending. It was a terrible disappointment to me. But, I'm hopeful that they've cleaned up their act.

[grammie]

oh man, that sounds bad, especially if the girls are looking for new snakes.

[rabernet]

I would be extremely careful buying there. One table had an albino ball python that I was looking at. I noticed he had a hitch hiker (mite) crawling on him and discreetly told the vendor about it. What does he do? Whips the deli cup open and sprays Reptile Relief all over the snake, and directly into its face and mites just start flooding all over the poor snake. Besides the fact this vendor showed no regard for the well-being of the snake (you NEVER spray that in their face), he joked and goes "shows - what can you do about it?"

Now keep in mind, I got there two hours after the show opened on the first day - he did NOT get mites of that magnitude on his snake from just getting to the show.

Moving on - another table with HUGE tubs of about 20 yearling ball pythons each. What do I see? A tick on the head of one of them. Again - discreetly tell the vendor, he laughs, takes the snake out and pulls the tick off and puts it back in the tub.

Another table had emaciated ball pythons.

I did write to the show promotors and shared my negative experience with them - MAYBE they will have cleaned up their act.

[grammie]

wow I sure hope so. How sad for the poor snakies. I've never had mites, so I could really be walking into a landmine of trouble. I pm'd you back.

[southerncat]

First let me say that Robin did bring this to my attention days after the show had ended.

We do have a DVM check all animals coming from out of state, this is state required. No one is perfect so something could have been missed. I myself found some tortoises that should not have been on the table, when doing a security check Saturday night. They were removed from the table the following morning. We were using a vet that was vending and I think he was in a hurry to get back to his booth.

At this up coming show we will be using DR. David from Loving Hands Animal Clinic. I have told him if he sees something not up to standards to tell the vendor it must be removed. And we will be doing spot checks through out both days. If anyone sees something they think is sick, mites ect then by all means bring it to our attention. Either myself or Danny(my husband) will be at the information booth at all times. But please do not wait till after the show ends, do it at the show. There is not a lot we can do about it after the show.

As far as attendees bringing in animals: Repticon is a family oriented show. We allow 2 animals to be brought in from the outside. All animals must be in good health.
Here is what it states on our web site:::::
Guests Bringing Animals - Guests will be allowed to bring up to two animals inside the event to trade,sell, or discuss with exhibitors and fellow guests. 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.

Please keep in mind that there is wild caught, freshly imported animals at most every show. When you want a CBB ask the right questions. Vendors are required to tell you if it is freshly imported or CBB, but you have to ask.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at carolinareptileshows@gmail.com

Sincerely,
Cathy

[rabernet]

Cathy,

Thanks for your response - and I will give your show another shot. I've heard that your show that you promote in SC is very well received, so it's perplexing to me why the one in Atlanta (that I attended) was the way it was.

I can't say that I personally agree with allowing outside animals to come into the shows. I don't think it's good for the vendors not knowing what airborne illnesses these animals could have nor is it good for those animals to be coming into an environment with other animals.

Is the vet going to check all the participant's animals too (not just vendors) before allowing them access inside?

I know that even though we've only done information tables, and not sold animals, but had them on display - I still QT them when I get them home.

[southerncat]

Ga shows are hard to do period. The laws you guys have down there make it hard to get vendors. Here in SC it is much easier to do a show, not to many laws.
Our Columbia is awesome! But we are trying to get the GA show up to par! We want our attendees and vendors to enjoy all of our shows, so if you have a suggestion please feel free to let us know.

I am not a vet but I have never heard of any airborne illness effecting reptiles that way. I am most likely way off on that. This is something I will talk to Dr. David about.

Sincerely,
Cathy

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I can confirm this also since I was with Robin, thinking about it makes me itch.

I would be extremely careful buying there. One table had an albino ball python that I was looking at. I noticed he had a hitch hiker (mite) crawling on him and discreetly told the vendor about it. What does he do? Whips the deli cup open and sprays Reptile Relief all over the snake, and directly into its face and mites just start flooding all over the poor snake. Besides the fact this vendor showed no regard for the well-being of the snake (you NEVER spray that in their face), he joked and goes "shows - what can you do about it?"

Now keep in mind, I got there two hours after the show opened on the first day - he did NOT get mites of that magnitude on his snake from just getting to the show.

Moving on - another table with HUGE tubs of about 20 yearling ball pythons each. What do I see? A tick on the head of one of them. Again - discreetly tell the vendor, he laughs, takes the snake out and pulls the tick off and puts it back in the tub.

Another table had emaciated ball pythons.

I did write to the show promotors and shared my negative experience with them - MAYBE they will have cleaned up their act.

[grammie]

Cathy, thanks so much for chiming in!! If you see an old lady with three gorgeous little girls, that's us