Reptile Show Etiquette and Questions from a Newbie

sorry never been to one
sorry :-(

:tears::tears::tears::tears::tears::tears::tears::tears::tears:

Thanks so much for all the great info guys! I really appreciate it. Hopefully I won't come off as a total newbie now.

From what everyone's said:
- I'll bring cash
- I'll check prices on what I'm looking for before I go to know if I should haggle
- I'll purchase the frozen rodents asap (will have to wait until after I purchase my snake so I know what size)
- I'll troll all the tables. :P
- I'll keep the reptiles I buy in their containers out of direct sunlight. If we do stop to eat I'll just bring a BIG stinking purse so they can go incognito with me into the restaurant.

Thanks again guys and if there's anything I missed or you have to add please feel free. I want to get the most out of this trip as possible, so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Artgecko

p.s. annarose15- will you be vending or just attending?

When we went to one recently to help a friend get a corn, I made them a special take home container bc they were driving about an hour further than we were (2 hours total). It consisted of a 10x10 inch tupperware from the dollar store, to which I added air holes all around with a wood burning tool, and some aspen bedding. It was a DELUXE travel condo...haha. I just really did it for fun bc it was their first snake and they were very excited! I had all of that stuff laying around. Plus, they can use it as a feeding tub or holding tub while cleaning.
What did you decide on? I know in another thread you were debating between a KSB or a hognose.

Hello!! You guys forgot the most important part! PICTURES!!!

Take your camera. Be polite. Not sure if anyone else does this but I ask if I can take pics when I'm at a table just viewing.

My favourite part of shows is how many people I meet and friends I make... Vendors appreciate smiles and a nice chat, so don't be afraid to ask questions and introduce yourself :)

I always bring my own custom transport container(small toolbox with airholes drilled on the side) with bedding inside treated with PAM. This prevents undetected hitchhikers ;)

sent from my incubator

Reptile Expos are one of my favorite places to go :gj:!

1. Do most vendors expect you to pay in cash?

Bring cash! Many breeders will accept card, but to make it simple, just bring cash :gj:..

2. Is haggling expected, tolerated, encouraged, or frowned upon? (or is this dependent on if you buy multiple animals, etc.)?

I will only "haggle" if I know the value of a morph. Now every snake is worth something different to each keeper ;).. Doing some research on the morphs you're particularly shopping for really helps, as you get a ballpark estimate on how much you're expecting to pay. Don't go looking for a GHI, then say something like "What?? $7000 for a male GHI?? That's outrageous.. I'll give you $1500 for it." :P

3. When you go to a show, do you go to all the tables or do you have a "short list" of vendors that you visit first?

I go to ALL the tables. I normally start by going to the right, and walking by each isle. Normally there will be some cool BP morphs that I'm mostly interested in learning about. I enjoy hearing what the breeder is excited about and what they have planned for the future with that morph :gj:. This is my favorite part about going to the shows. Meeting new friends, and hearing about all the cool stuff they got goin on!

4. How do you transport / handle your new acquisitions while you're still at the show and on the trip home (we will have about 2.5 hours to go between when we leave the show and arrive at home..not sure if heating is necessary for the trip)?

They'll typically give you the snake in a bag and/or in a small container for you. You can walk around with it in your hands, keep it safe and secure in a camera bag, or a backpack that you keep IN FRONT of you, or you can ask the breeder if they can hold it while you continue looking around. They'll simply keep it under the table or on display until you return. DO NOT LOSE YOUR RECEIPT :gj::gj:!!

5. When purchasing frozen rodents, I assume it is better to wait until you are about to leave the show? (I will have an ice-packed cooler in the car waiting for them)

Having a cooler in your car is perfect! I pretty much handle this the same way I handle the snake purchases. The seller will hold the product until you're ready to go! Never had a problem with this before :gj:.

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1. Do most vendors expect you to pay in cash?

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Some do and some also accept credit cards. There are ATM on the premises and there is a few banks right around the corner as well.

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2. Is haggling expected, tolerated, encouraged, or frowned upon? (or is this dependent on if you buy multiple animals, etc.)?

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Expected within reason.

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3. When you go to a show, do you go to all the tables or do you have a "short list" of vendors that you visit first?

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At this show I tend to go around once or twice real quick but generally I hang out at a friend's table.

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4. How do you transport / handle your new acquisitions while you're still at the show and on the trip home (we will have about 2.5 hours to go between when we leave the show and arrive at home..not sure if heating is necessary for the trip)?

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I keep the animal in a snake bag the whole time and once in my care I place it in a cooler.

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5. When purchasing frozen rodents, I assume it is better to wait until you are about to leave the show? (I will have an ice-packed cooler in the car waiting for them)

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Best way to do it (because vendors come with a certain amount) is to pre-order them and get them deliver for you at the show, or buy and pay for them first thing in the morning and have the vendor hold them for you until you pick them up when leaving.

Thanks again for all the info! You guys have mentioned some things I didn't even think about (i.e. asking them to hold my purchases and taking pics).

kameo37- I still have my heart set on a hoggie...but if that falls through I would be happy with a KSB for now...I'd love to get both at the show but not sure if hubby would approve. :P

This is all good info to have. I'm considering going to a show later this year. Never been to a reptile show before so I'm looking forward to it. Just need to decide which one works best around my schedule lol.