The East Texas Herpetological Society had their expo last weekend. I attended on Sunday the 12th. It beeing my first expo, I had nothing to compare it too, but I could tell it was a small convention. Nevertheless, I had fun checking out all the cool herps. My main reason for going was to pick up a BCC/BCI, so I was scoping them out the whole time.
Surinames have always cought my eye so when I saw a vendor advertising surinames--for a very low price--I walked over. Immediately I knew something was off. This vendor had 30+ snakes (Balls and Boas) in one tank. I probably should have walked away, but I gave him the benifit of the doubt and held one of the juvenile boas...It was very limp. I asked him if it was a BCC or a BCI and he said "What's that mean?". No way I was giving this man my money, so I moved on.
I kept coming back to one vendor. They had some very nice looking albinos and 100% double het snows. I knew these guys were professional--even as a first timer at an expo. They had all their snakes in seperate plastic containers. I talked to the Lady behind the booth about the gigantic ball they had in a tank for a little bit and then told her I was interested in one of her boas. She was able to tell me that they were Peter Kahl strain albinos, and gave me alot of info about the boas. I was sold. I ended up getting one of the hets for a great price, and the lady gave me her card. She said her name was Pattie, but it didn't click 'til I got home that I bought I boa from Don and Patty Lowrie.
-Austin