Repticon, near Atlanta Jan, anyone coming?

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!!!))

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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Originally Posted by 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.

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

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Originally Posted by southerncat

We do have a DVM check all animals coming from out of state

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How about breeder from GA are they check by a vet too?

The albino belonged to a GA breeder and the BP with a tick on it's head belonged to a GA pet store (local to me) that has since closed it's doors.

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If anyone sees something they think is sick, mites ect then by all means bring it to our attention.

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Will you have your own table? Or how can we get in touch at the show in the event someone needed to bring something to your attention?

Vendors from GA are suppose to have a health check already. Something department of ag requires them to do.
I have no idea what vendors that would have been.

Like I said before you can always find myself or hubby (Danny) at the information booth. Setup next to the puppet stage/speaker area. Where you go to sign up for the door prizes :)


Sincerely,
Cathy

PS.... Always come by the info booth and say Hi

I have gone to the past two repticons, both were not up to par. There were very few booths that did not have sick animals or animals with ticks and mites.

I will second that I am not impressed with people being able to bring in reptiles. One person came in with an adult bee ball python which he was selling for $600, about $1000 under what they were going for on the market, so I was interested, I asked about its history ( How old, what it was eating, if it was proven, line of pastel, and a few other things.) and he had none and then told me he was selling it for his sick father. Im almost positive that it was stolen either from his father or who knows where. I do not want to blame anyone but these things like selling stolen animals at the show when you can bring two in sounds all too easy for them to do undetected.

All in all it was a gross show both times, with breeders throwing out sick animals. Id go this time but it just seems like a waste of gas now.

Matt why wait till now and say that you saw all those sick animals? Why not do it at the show? I am sorry you did not have a good time.

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Originally Posted by southerncat

Matt why wait till now and say that you saw all those sick animals? Why not do it at the show? I am sorry you did not have a good time.

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Im not one to complain, half the time people will just shrug it off.
If I had said some thing ( No offense) 80% of the show would have been shut down if action had been taken. Im not a frog person but most of the frogs at the front of show did look nice. Whats your uptake about my point with people bringing stolen animals or (like Robin said) sick animals in? The vendors need a heath check( From what vet I ask, most vets that treat reptiles that can give a health check are not worth the thought of even driving there, and do they check all of their animals, or just the select few the vedor brings in?) If you need that then why would you not have the same aply to those bringing in animals to sell trade or for people to look at?

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Im not one to complain, half the time people will just shrug it off.
If I had said some thing ( No offense) 80% of the show would have been shut down if action had been taken. Im not a frog person but most of the frogs at the front of show did look nice. Whats your uptake about my point with people bringing stolen animals or (like Robin said) sick animals in? The vendors need a heath check( From what vet I ask, most vets that treat reptiles that can give a health check are not worth the thought of even driving there, and do they check all of their animals, or just the select few the vedor brings in?) If you need that then why would you not have the same aply to those bringing in animals to sell trade or for people to look at?

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We can not fix things if we do not know about them. As far as the 80% thing...That would be your opinion. I believe had it really been that bad Robin and Deb would have been more upset then they were. We do have 1 sometimes 2 vendors that deal with fresh imports And they do have a large booth. Maybe that was some of the stuff you saw.

I have already covered the sick animals and as far as stolen animals. Is there any way to prove that a certian animal is stolen? Most animals are not microchipped and I believe that woulkd be the only way to prove it. And animals are looked at before entering the gate.

We have been using local vets that say they treat exotics and natve snakes. This time I know he does. He has been at the GA Herp show and the Bird show that was held at the Trade Center last week end. Dr. David is with the Loving Hands Animal Clinic.

I hope I have answered all your questions.

sorry about the typos...Key board keeps messing up :)

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Originally Posted by southerncat

Matt why wait till now and say that you saw all those sick animals? Why not do it at the show? I am sorry you did not have a good time.

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I too can back up what Robin and Matt (Beardedragon) have said. And to be perfectly honest, if there was like 1 or 2 vendor with bad animals I could see where you would be upset that we didn't say anything, but when it was honestly more than 1/2 that's another story. As visitors to the show it isn't our responsibility to make sure the vendors at that show bring animals with acceptable standards of health.

I understand your frustration, but in the case of the last couple of ATL Repticon shows, it should have been obvious. I think if anything you may want to consider the number of people who visit these shows and do not realize there is a problem with the health of these animals, because in the end those are the people who suffer the most.

That said, there are a few Vendors who are Top grade vendors, and honestly I hate to see them suffer because of someone else's mistakes.

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Originally Posted by southerncat

I believe had it really been that bad Robin and Deb would have been more upset then they were.

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Cathy, I had the pleasure of meeting you at the GA Herp Society show, and I know you are passionate about the animals, but I will say - when I got home from the spring 2008 show, I stripped out of my clothes when I walked in the door and took a shower and washed the clothes on the hottest cycle. I'm sure much was my imagination, but my skin was crawling after I left.

I did not attend the summer show, but I'm willing to come to the January show to see if it's improved any.

For every one of me that said something, what about all the people that just quietly left and chose not to seek you out to say something? I do share what my experience was when I went, and as I said, to be fair, I'll go again in January to see if it's improved.

But I still think you should re-think allowing people to bring in outside animals to the show. The vendors have to pass vet checks, but those just walking off the street do not. And those people ARE offering their animals for sale to others at the show - how is that fair to your vendors who have to pay to sell animals, who if they live in GA have to have a license to sell at the show?

I am a licensed Ga. Pet Dealer. I will be at the show, This will be my first time as vendor for one of these shows. I obviously have some concerns after reading this thread and I hope that things are much better this year. I spend alot of time and alot of money to ensure that all my animals are healthy and comply with state regulations. I will also take some additional steps to ensure my animals stay healthy and parasite free at my facility prior to going (PAM everything LOL).
Let me give some insight into Ga Laws WRT animal protection:
1) With very few exceptions, If the animal can occur naturally in the state of Ga it is illegal to own it or sell it as a pet. This includes all indigenous (SP) reptiles/amphibians.
2) Vet checks and certificates are required for all animals brought in from out of state, they are NOT required for animals produced in the state by Dept. of Agriculture regulated pet dealers as long as they sold in the state. if it will leave your possesion and go out of state it needs to have cert. of health.
3) There are 2 Departments that make laws/rules that pertain to animals: Deptartment of Agriculture and the Departmrnt of Natural Resources you should take the time to become familiar with the laws/rules from both of these agencies, if you are a dealer or want to deal in animals in Ga.
The laws are really not that difficult to comply with, they do however take away a large portion of the colubrid market and some popular pets (Sugar Gliders, Quaker Parrots etc...). Being compliant is much easier than having your animals taken away and being fined/or serving jail time IMHO.
Well thats my .02 hope to see you all at the show!! I'm sure it will be a great event!

only a few more days!!!!!!!!!!

Last Minute NEWS!!!
Me and Chris From BA Reptiles will be tableing at the show this weekend!! Please stop by and introduce yourselves...I always like meeting fellow BP Neters.....Come see us!!:banana:

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Originally Posted by mcbrayerreptiles

Last Minute NEWS!!!
Me and Chris From BA Reptiles will be tableing at the show this weekend!! Please stop by and introduce yourselves...I always like meeting fellow BP Neters.....Come see us!!:banana:

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I think I'm going to be over there so I look forward to seeing you.

i'm going to try my hardest to be there saturday. my boss "accidentally" scheduled me to work that day. i'm looking for a pair of boas so i can bypass the whole shipping fee, but now i'm a little afraid of what i might find. i'm pretty sure i know how to spot a sick animal. i mean, anything wrong is visible right? like bloody vent, mites, ticks, emaciation, stuck on shed/eye caps, dents in the head, an animal cold to the touch. am i forgetting anything?

i'm from SC by the way, i didn't know there were people in my area that were interested in reptiles. i've never met anyone in sc that kept snakes besides people i see going in and out of the pet store where i get my mice from. i'm looking for a pair of baby columbian boas, relatively cheap. there the first boas i'm adding to my small collection and also the first pair i'll be using for breeding in the future.

anyone from SC, send me a pm, i'd love to talk.

take your own hand sanitizer!!!!

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Originally Posted by pillowtalk6188

i'm from SC by the way, i didn't know there were people in my area that were interested in reptiles.

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Until this thread and the recent GA new member thread I was not aware there were so many locals. Prior to these I only knew my vet and a couple guys who share a similar interest in carnivorous plants (one of whom introduced me to Jason Brock.)

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Originally Posted by asplundii

Until this thread and the recent GA new member thread I was not aware there were so many locals. Prior to these I only knew my vet and a couple guys who share a similar interest in carnivorous plants (one of whom introduced me to Jason Brock.)

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GA new member thread? i really hope i can go saturday and meet some people in my area. it's a little frustrating living somewhere where there is nobody to talk with that shares your hobby.

i got off work, i'm coming!!!

does anyone know a good reliable table to get Boas from?

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Originally Posted by pillowtalk6188

i'm going to try my hardest to be there saturday. my boss "accidentally" scheduled me to work that day. i'm looking for a pair of boas so i can bypass the whole shipping fee, but now i'm a little afraid of what i might find. i'm pretty sure i know how to spot a sick animal. i mean, anything wrong is visible right? like bloody vent, mites, ticks, emaciation, stuck on shed/eye caps, dents in the head, an animal cold to the touch. am i forgetting anything?

i'm from SC by the way, i didn't know there were people in my area that were interested in reptiles. i've never met anyone in sc that kept snakes besides people i see going in and out of the pet store where i get my mice from. i'm looking for a pair of baby columbian boas, relatively cheap. there the first boas i'm adding to my small collection and also the first pair i'll be using for breeding in the future.

anyone from SC, send me a pm, i'd love to talk.

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Not everything. Be prepared to QT any boas that you pick up in a completely opposite end of the house as your pythons - preferably in a different building, but that's not feasable for many keepers. Boas can carry IBD (Inclusion Body Disease) and not show any symptoms - for a LONG time, but a python exposed to a boa that's a carrier will succomb to IBD within a month. It is lethal very quickly to pythons, and without taking a biopsy of the liver, it's not possible to conclusively diagnose.

As much as I would love to own a dwarf locality boa myself, I've made the decision NOT to bring boas into my collection. I would recommend that between now and Saturday you print a list of vendors from the Repticon site, and then do a search on each vendor on the BOI to see what type of reputation they have.

Not trying to scare you any, but you should be aware of the risks when keeping both boas and pythons.

Deborah and I will likely be there a little after 1 pm on Saturday. We're going to meet and have lunch first, then head on over to the show. I'll probably be wearing my black shirt with Ball Pythons on the front on it.

Aaron, what time are you going to be there? Anyone who would like to meet up at the show and think they'll be there that time, PM me for my cell phone number so we can hook up that way!

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Deborah and I will likely be there a little after 1 pm on Saturday. We're going to meet and have lunch first, then head on over to the show. I'll probably be wearing my black shirt with Ball Pythons on the front on it.

Aaron, what time are you going to be there? Anyone who would like to meet up at the show and think they'll be there that time, PM me for my cell phone number so we can hook up that way!

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You better come say hi to me!

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

You better come say hi to me!

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I don't remember what you look like! :bolt:


I keed, I keed! Of course we will!

We will be getting there early on Saturday, and problem wont be able to stay too long, just enough to take a few trips around and check everything ok, hopefully we will still be there at 1 though. Keep in touch and I'll let you know if we are there, and where we are at.

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Originally Posted by PrototypePythons

We will be getting there early on Saturday, and problem wont be able to stay too long, just enough to take a few trips around and check everything ok, hopefully we will still be there at 1 though. Keep in touch and I'll let you know if we are there, and where we are at.

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You better! Any chance of you going a little later?

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Originally Posted by rabernet

You better! Any chance of you going a little later?

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We have a birthday party at 3 to go to, but I am not sure if there is anything before that, so I'll see about that, and if we don't maybe that will allow us to stay a little later.

Ill be there sunday with a couple friends! Cant wait! No one buy mikes pastel that suckers mine!

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Deborah and I will likely be there a little after 1 pm on Saturday. We're going to meet and have lunch first, then head on over to the show. I'll probably be wearing my black shirt with Ball Pythons on the front on it.

Aaron, what time are you going to be there? Anyone who would like to meet up at the show and think they'll be there that time, PM me for my cell phone number so we can hook up that way!

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Not a clue. Probably around 1 since that's when you and Deborah are going to be there. Chances are I'll be sporting my Reptile Radio shirt.

okay, I'm warning you guys, if there is a Blue Beauty rat snake, you better not snatch it from me! LOL! I'm so excited and hope to get to meet all of you!

omg, omg, omg. Okay, can you tell I'm excited??? I won't sleep and I don't even know if we will come home with a snake!! LOL!!!! but we might......

see you all around lunch time!

Well, I just got back and I can say it was not bad at all. I did not see any questionable vendors ( Other than Big daddy...) and did not see any mites or sick looking animals. I still went a little out of the way of not touching much or touching anyone but it was just like any other show for once, and bigger than the other repticons!

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Well, I just got back and I can say it was not bad at all. I did not see any questionable vendors ( Other than Big daddy...) and did not see any mites or sick looking animals. I still went a little out of the way of not touching much or touching anyone but it was just like any other show for once, and bigger than the other repticons!

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Yeah, I thought it was much better than the Repticons in the past, really good show in my opinion, with really good looking animals for the most part. If the Repticon shows in the future in Atlanta are like this I would attend every one.

P.S. I am still not too enthused with outside animals being able to be brought into the show, but after this show this weekend, that is the only downside to the Repticon show.

I would also like to report - WOW! It was like a totally different show than the last one I went to this time last year. Animals looked healthy for the most part (a few thin balls, but not the over-riding theme). No mites or ticks that I could see. The Elrod's efforts at improving the show are stikingly noticeable and you can tell they've worked hard to build it up. Was very disappointed to see Big Daddy was there, and I still don't agree with allowing people to come into the show carrying their own animals to sell - but I just avoided coming in contact with them (as well as made a WIDE berth around Big Daddy's table). Overall - I give it an A! Good job, Cathy!

I didn't stay nearly as long as I wanted to, but my better half wasn't feeling well. But we had a wonderful time!!! the girls are sporting great face paints, and I came home with a 1.2 trio of sinaloan milk babies and a 3 yr old hondo, tangerine phase. All are just beautiful and happily settling in. The big boy (George now) is still out wandering around.
It was great to meet Robin, Deborah, Mike, Chuck, Trey and Cathy, I wish I could have met you all.
Well, my new snake fix is sated for a while, until the next free paycheck anyway!!!

Unfortunately I was not able to attend. I will have to wait for The reptile & alternative pet show on march 21 in Fort Lauderdale :( , I have a heavy machinery auction coming up in Feb. that lasts 10 days, so I couldn't justify runnibg to ATL for the weekend :colbert:, I will have to just enjoy everyones pics :)