Before leaving work on Friday, I mentioned to my boss that Allen and I were going to be selling herp chotchkas at a reptile expo on Sunday.
My boss, a non-herper, looked bemused. What is a reptile expo? she said.
To answer the question:
It’s a convention hall (in this instance the White Plains County Center) where aisle upon aisle of snakes, lizards, frogs and turtles (as well as spiders, hissing cockroaches, and miscellaneous other animals) are sold for sums ranging from $10 to $10,000.
Most of said animals are displayed in plastic takeout containers or cages, like these snakes.
Iguanas are kept in wire mesh cages.
Chameleons are also usually displayed in cages. But sometimes, they're allowed to hang out on a tree branch.
Bearded dragons, that neither slither nor leap, are shown off for sale in oversized Tupperware tubs and fish tanks.
Large beardies happily ride around on an arm, shoulder or other part of the anatomy -- before and after purchase.
Geckos come in takeout containers.
You'll find frogs in fish tanks.
Turtles in tanks and tubs.
Then there's all the paraphernalia necessary to feed -
House -
And maintain your herp collection:
Mostly, I just enjoy looking at the people and the herps.