Has this ever happened to you at a show?

You go to your local reptile show. Maybe to buy food, maybe to get supplies, maybe just to see a friend. But definitely NOT to buy a snake.

So you get to the show, conduct your business, and figure as mean as you paid your admission, you'll do a little "window shopping". Just to see what morphs are around, check prices, that sort of thing. After all, most of us know it's good to keep up on things like that.

So you wander from table to table. Lots to see, quite a few ball morphs out there this time around. You even see a few morphs on your "some day" list. Prices are kind of up and down, but you expect that. Nothing in particular to look for, so you just casually browse.

Then you come to a table, and there is a really nice ball. Nothing special, just a nice base morph. But it's a nice snake with some size, and for a real nice price. So you pause for a few minutes, but this isn't a snake you need, so you move on. After all, a snake as nice as that for that price won't last long.

And you wander some more, talk to a few people, admire what other people are buying, and suddenly you find yourself back at that same table. And much to your surprise, the snake is still there. Now, this is not a knockout example of the morph, but a decent snake none the less. And the price is sure right, so why hasn't it sold? But again, this is not a snake you need or want, so you just keep right on browsing.

And you admire a few more animals, you talk to a few more people, and you realize your starting to get a little tired from the crowds and the noise, so you decide maybe you should wrap it up. And then you notice, you are back in front of that table again, and how odd, that same snake is still there.

Now, you know this is not an excellent example of the morph, but this is a nice enough snake that for the price you can't believe it isn't gone. Then you think Maybe it's sick. So even though you aren't interested, you ask the vendor if anyone has looked at the snake. And the vendor says sure, but no one seems serious. So you ask to look at the snake, just out of curiosity, and so the vendor hands the snake to you.

Now you start checking the snake over, because you are positive that snake should have sold by now, so there must be something wrong with it. The snake feels heavy and solid, no stuck shed, no evidence of mites. You check the mouth, no sign of trouble there. You listen for wheezing, but all seems normal. The snake even flicks a healthy pink tongue at you. Darned if you can figure out why it hasn't sold, but since you don't need or want this snake, you hand it back and start out.

The crowds are getting thick by now, and you find it difficult to get through. You pause to admire a few of your "some day" morphs, and to note which ones already sold.

Then somehow, you discover you are back in front of that same table, and that same snake is still there. Others have sold, but not that one. And you think to yourself How weird, I was sure that one would be one of the first to go. So you ask the vendor why it's for sale. And the vendor tells you it's a good snake, but their collection has outgrown the need for this snake, or something similar. The vendor asks you if you want the snake. And you think No, it's a decent snake, and for a good price, but I don't need it, I don't know what I'd do with it if I got it. Thanks anyway. But what comes out of your mouth is, " Yes, as a matter of fact I'll take it." And then you are on your way home with a snake you don't need and didn't really want, and you can't quite figure out how that happened.

So, here's my newest addition, Koroku. He's an 1,100 gram proven male pastel breeder. I know he's not the most stunning example of a pastel, but I love his blushing and green-gold eyes. He's very well mannered and sweet, but I have no idea why he's here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/koroku5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku1.jpg

Gale

Well I dont think I have ever gone and ALL of that happen but I can say the first show I ever went to, I was not planning on buying anything and we walked around for about an hour or so and I happen to come to a table with my fiancee and she noticed a dumerils boa that she loved because of its shade of pink , and like you we walked away at first and needless to say I now own that Dumerils Boa. lol

I avoid this by only bringing enough money to buy snake food with :P

How much did you end up paying for him? That is big chunky boy!

Ooh, nice pickup! I totally understand the expo problem... window-shopping doesn't cut it! :)

That is exactly how I ended up with my mojave male... I was going to hold out for a female that I really like, but I think my boy is an excelent example of a mojo, and I went through the same thing... why hasn't he sold yet. All of the sudden, I had bought him :P

Congrats on your handsome new boy! ^_^

Quote:

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Originally Posted by angllady2

He's very well mannered and sweet, but I have no idea why he's here.

---

Perhaps because a part of you recognized that he could be nowhere else. :)

I had a similar experience with my BP, Salzedo. Unlike you I went to the expo with the intention of buying a BP, but I was unsure of which morph I wanted. I hit the 'big name' breeder’s booths first, and they had some spectacular snakes, but I decided to shop around. That's when I found a smaller-breeder's booth in the back of the show. The husband & wife team had a selection of some normals, Mojaves, and spiders -- all very nice looking. They even brought a few of the parents for display. (The Mojos dad looked amazing, and was quite tame despite the setting. I even got to hold him.) The price was quite reasonable, and I really liked a few of the Mojos, but decided to take a second walk-through.

Long story short, after 3 drive-bys, I settled on the mojos. Especially this one lil'guy that, unlike his siblings, was totally uncurled and trying to open the lid of his display case. LOL I knew that was the one for me!

I could not be happier with him. He is so gentle and friendly, I've literally never even heard him hiss. I would not trade him for anything.

I went to that expo expecting that the right snake would ‘speak’ to me, and it did. You went to the expo not expecting to hear any snakes, but you did. Different beginnings, same ending.

I think your pickup looks great, and I'm sure he will bring you many years of good company and maybe even some great clutches!

I say soul mates:)
Some of us are just meant to be together;)

awwww...what a sweet baby! Looks like a little love bug!!

I went to a show to buy a snake and I saw two that I really liked! I went back and forth all morning and I couldn't decide which one to get then one of them sold so I grabbed the other right away!

Yeah...I have no sales resistance.


I almost bought a green anaconda yesterday when all I wanted was a baby yellow anaconda or a baby BRB. Or maybe one of 10 corn morphs on my list.


Luckily I found my awesome gal instead.

he's looking good.:cool:

been there done that:) Grats on the pickup!

i did that at the NARBC at Tinely Park in October i picked up fluffy my male mojave for $125 i couldn't pass it up my wife was mad but now she says fluffy is hers.

I did this exact same thing at last months Taylor MI Show - I was talking to the breeder from whom I purchased my first RTB at the previous months show - well, when I went the following month just to buy feeders she showed me the sister to the Male RTB I had previously bought from her - OMG I was hooked - I told myself to just keep going - but once we left the show empty handed it bothered me all the way home so I called another breeder that I knew at the show and had him go pay for the snake and hold it for me until I could get a new cage and thermostat delivered - luckily for me he was willing to do this for me.

I keep my snakes in cages so I didn't have an open one - had to hurry and order everything - I still haven't picked up my new girl from the breeder yet but hopefully this weekend I will have her new setup all ready.

I am done buying more snakes - I just can't keep adding cages and I dont really like to keep them in racks. I have enough to take care of now - I just have to tell myself "no" - something I am not too good at.

I am too worried about germs to buy a snake at expo. I know it's silly :oops:

I buy feeders and dry goods, but the animals are just for looking as far as I'm concerned. I do appreciate the opportunity to see adult animals that can help me decide on a species and find a breeder, but I don't buy animals at shows.

Congrats :gj:

Thanks for the comments guys. I knew I couldn't be the only one who's done that.

I picked up that big, beautiful boy for only $100.

He's puppy dog tame, even the stress of the show and move to a strange place doesn't seem to have fazed him. He was quite the clown while trying to snap a few photos last night. He's crammed into a pretty small tub right now, but even that doesn't seem to bother him. He did a little cramped cruising and checking the lid, and within 15 minutes he'd settled under his hide and was content just to peek out his head when I came to check on him, just like my others do. This morning he poked out his head to say 'Hi', but you'd think he had always been here.

He's an '07, according to the vendor, and has sired several nice clutches. After I got him settled last night, I was trying to think of why I bought him, since he doesn't fit into any of my breeding plans, when the thought occurred to me, as much as I want to concentrate on my pied projects, this guy, if paired to my black-back Cinny girl in a few years time, should produce some amazing Pewters.

She's almost completely black-backed, with tons of blushing. He's got a lot of nice blushing of his own, so the two of them together should produce something really amazing.

So maybe there was a reason I had to have him after all.

Gale

Quote:

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I say soul mates:)
Some of us are just meant to be together;)

---

That was almost me at the Pasadena show last November. You had a really nice Orange Ghost.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by angllady2

You go to your local reptile show. Maybe to buy food, maybe to get supplies, maybe just to see a friend. But definitely NOT to buy a snake.

So you get to the show, conduct your business, and figure as mean as you paid your admission, you'll do a little "window shopping". Just to see what morphs are around, check prices, that sort of thing. After all, most of us know it's good to keep up on things like that.

So you wander from table to table. Lots to see, quite a few ball morphs out there this time around. You even see a few morphs on your "some day" list. Prices are kind of up and down, but you expect that. Nothing in particular to look for, so you just casually browse.

Then you come to a table, and there is a really nice ball. Nothing special, just a nice base morph. But it's a nice snake with some size, and for a real nice price. So you pause for a few minutes, but this isn't a snake you need, so you move on. After all, a snake as nice as that for that price won't last long.

And you wander some more, talk to a few people, admire what other people are buying, and suddenly you find yourself back at that same table. And much to your surprise, the snake is still there. Now, this is not a knockout example of the morph, but a decent snake none the less. And the price is sure right, so why hasn't it sold? But again, this is not a snake you need or want, so you just keep right on browsing.

And you admire a few more animals, you talk to a few more people, and you realize your starting to get a little tired from the crowds and the noise, so you decide maybe you should wrap it up. And then you notice, you are back in front of that table again, and how odd, that same snake is still there.

Now, you know this is not an excellent example of the morph, but this is a nice enough snake that for the price you can't believe it isn't gone. Then you think Maybe it's sick. So even though you aren't interested, you ask the vendor if anyone has looked at the snake. And the vendor says sure, but no one seems serious. So you ask to look at the snake, just out of curiosity, and so the vendor hands the snake to you.

Now you start checking the snake over, because you are positive that snake should have sold by now, so there must be something wrong with it. The snake feels heavy and solid, no stuck shed, no evidence of mites. You check the mouth, no sign of trouble there. You listen for wheezing, but all seems normal. The snake even flicks a healthy pink tongue at you. Darned if you can figure out why it hasn't sold, but since you don't need or want this snake, you hand it back and start out.

The crowds are getting thick by now, and you find it difficult to get through. You pause to admire a few of your "some day" morphs, and to note which ones already sold.

Then somehow, you discover you are back in front of that same table, and that same snake is still there. Others have sold, but not that one. And you think to yourself How weird, I was sure that one would be one of the first to go. So you ask the vendor why it's for sale. And the vendor tells you it's a good snake, but their collection has outgrown the need for this snake, or something similar. The vendor asks you if you want the snake. And you think No, it's a decent snake, and for a good price, but I don't need it, I don't know what I'd do with it if I got it. Thanks anyway. But what comes out of your mouth is, " Yes, as a matter of fact I'll take it." And then you are on your way home with a snake you don't need and didn't really want, and you can't quite figure out how that happened.

So, here's my newest addition, Koroku. He's an 1,100 gram proven male pastel breeder. I know he's not the most stunning example of a pastel, but I love his blushing and green-gold eyes. He's very well mannered and sweet, but I have no idea why he's here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/koroku5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku1.jpg

Gale

---

All the time and BG hates people like you.:P:D Well not you. He hates the people that never buy the snake yet do the same thing.:D

Congratulations on the new addition.:gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by angllady2

You go to your local reptile show. Maybe to buy food, maybe to get supplies, maybe just to see a friend. But definitely NOT to buy a snake.

So you get to the show, conduct your business, and figure as mean as you paid your admission, you'll do a little "window shopping". Just to see what morphs are around, check prices, that sort of thing. After all, most of us know it's good to keep up on things like that.

So you wander from table to table. Lots to see, quite a few ball morphs out there this time around. You even see a few morphs on your "some day" list. Prices are kind of up and down, but you expect that. Nothing in particular to look for, so you just casually browse.

Then you come to a table, and there is a really nice ball. Nothing special, just a nice base morph. But it's a nice snake with some size, and for a real nice price. So you pause for a few minutes, but this isn't a snake you need, so you move on. After all, a snake as nice as that for that price won't last long.

And you wander some more, talk to a few people, admire what other people are buying, and suddenly you find yourself back at that same table. And much to your surprise, the snake is still there. Now, this is not a knockout example of the morph, but a decent snake none the less. And the price is sure right, so why hasn't it sold? But again, this is not a snake you need or want, so you just keep right on browsing.

And you admire a few more animals, you talk to a few more people, and you realize your starting to get a little tired from the crowds and the noise, so you decide maybe you should wrap it up. And then you notice, you are back in front of that table again, and how odd, that same snake is still there.

Now, you know this is not an excellent example of the morph, but this is a nice enough snake that for the price you can't believe it isn't gone. Then you think Maybe it's sick. So even though you aren't interested, you ask the vendor if anyone has looked at the snake. And the vendor says sure, but no one seems serious. So you ask to look at the snake, just out of curiosity, and so the vendor hands the snake to you.

Now you start checking the snake over, because you are positive that snake should have sold by now, so there must be something wrong with it. The snake feels heavy and solid, no stuck shed, no evidence of mites. You check the mouth, no sign of trouble there. You listen for wheezing, but all seems normal. The snake even flicks a healthy pink tongue at you. Darned if you can figure out why it hasn't sold, but since you don't need or want this snake, you hand it back and start out.

The crowds are getting thick by now, and you find it difficult to get through. You pause to admire a few of your "some day" morphs, and to note which ones already sold.

Then somehow, you discover you are back in front of that same table, and that same snake is still there. Others have sold, but not that one. And you think to yourself How weird, I was sure that one would be one of the first to go. So you ask the vendor why it's for sale. And the vendor tells you it's a good snake, but their collection has outgrown the need for this snake, or something similar. The vendor asks you if you want the snake. And you think No, it's a decent snake, and for a good price, but I don't need it, I don't know what I'd do with it if I got it. Thanks anyway. But what comes out of your mouth is, " Yes, as a matter of fact I'll take it." And then you are on your way home with a snake you don't need and didn't really want, and you can't quite figure out how that happened.

So, here's my newest addition, Koroku. He's an 1,100 gram proven male pastel breeder. I know he's not the most stunning example of a pastel, but I love his blushing and green-gold eyes. He's very well mannered and sweet, but I have no idea why he's here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/koroku5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...es/Koroku1.jpg

Gale

---

Its called addiction :)

It has to be those pretty eyes :D

He looks so relaxed in these pictures, ESPECIALLY for a recent acquisition. You've got a keeper there! Congrats!

Hey Gale , congrats on the great pick up!

I didn't get there til 2, I was surprised it was pretty crowded.
I keep missing frozen feeders :rolleyes: lol, next show I'm going to try and get there early.

I keep telling everyone that BP's know magic. It's that Ball Python Mind Trick. The only way to resist is to wear a tinfoil hat to the shows...

I avoid this by just picking it up and justifying it later.....:D:D:D

Never had that problem. I've been severely tempted, but I only bring enough cash to buy my supplies and pretend I don't see the atm/bank machines along the way.
That way I can go in and leave with only what I wanted...Whole different story if I bring extra cash.:rolleyes:

Nice pickup though.:gj:

My story is sort of similar i guess. I was going to pick up a snake from a guy that lives about an hour away that he was selling for $200 for everything, it is a normal male. Then I went to a show just to go to one but brought money just in case. I ended up going to the same table that had a nice but cheap yellowbelly that I really wanted. I saw a cheaper one at another table and it had a little of an attitude on it and its pattern wasnt nearly as nice. So eventually I finally bought the first one I saw after visiting it like 5 times wondering why it hadned been bought yet, and now I couldnt be happier.

I know this thread is kind of "old" but....

Yep, I did this recently - but it wasn't a Ball Python, it was a 1 month old Green Tree Python. I had absolutely no intentions to come home with anything let alone a GTP. This tiny baby stole my heart, I walked around the show 5-6 times trying to find something cheaper and closer to my main goals only to find myself back to the same table looking at the same little cute banana-worm. Here she is, got her last month on April 10th and not a single regret here :)

when I got her :)
http://iherp.com/Gallery/90720/64619...xGBImTaghN.jpg
http://iherp.com/Gallery/90720/64619...YSWnIlIZNs.jpg
http://iherp.com/Gallery/90720/64619...sQk68vIZkE.jpg

She's a little piglet and doing great! A few years ago I did this on a bigger scale - was only going to get feeders and ended up bringing home a 15 ft Retic.
http://iherp.com/Gallery/90720/24970...q2Vk2LcjFX.jpg
http://iherp.com/Gallery/90720/24970...VgvUXmaud5.jpg

Oh not yet but when I finally get to go to my first show I'm sure it will..hehe

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by abi21491

I know this thread is kind of "old" but....

Yep, I did this recently - but it wasn't a Ball Python, it was a 1 month old Green Tree Python. I had absolutely no intentions to come home with anything let alone a GTP. This tiny baby stole my heart, I walked around the show 5-6 times trying to find something cheaper and closer to my main goals only to find myself back to the same table looking at the same little cute banana-worm. Here she is, got her last month on April 10th and not a single regret here :)

when I got her :)
http://iherp.com/Gallery/90720/64619...xGBImTaghN.jpg
http://iherp.com/Gallery/90720/64619...YSWnIlIZNs.jpg
http://iherp.com/Gallery/90720/64619...sQk68vIZkE.jpg

She's a little piglet and doing great! A few years ago I did this on a bigger scale - was only going to get feeders and ended up bringing home a 15 ft Retic.
http://iherp.com/Gallery/90720/24970...q2Vk2LcjFX.jpg
http://iherp.com/Gallery/90720/24970...VgvUXmaud5.jpg

---

Beautiful snakes! :)

I know exactly what you're talking about! At the last show in Seattle I was there to buy nothing. Since the day before I had picked up four Normal BP from Seattle Reptile. You know the dredded Ghana babies! LOL! Ended up with a Hermann's Tortoise for my wife and a female Pinstripe and female Pastel for myself! OH WELL!!!!