At the Reptile Expo

Reptile Expo Floor

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.

snakes under glass

Iguanas are kept in wire mesh cages.

Iguana up for adoption

Chameleons are also usually displayed in cages. But sometimes, they're allowed to hang out on a tree branch.

Just hanging around

Bearded dragons, that neither slither nor leap, are shown off for sale in oversized Tupperware tubs and fish tanks.

Juvenile bearded dragons basking

Large beardies happily ride around on an arm, shoulder or other part of the anatomy -- before and after purchase.

John from the Long Island Herp Society

Unconventional traveller

Geckos come in takeout containers.

Not our natural habitat

You'll find frogs in fish tanks.

Dart frogs

Turtles in tanks and tubs.

Red eared sliders

Then there's all the paraphernalia necessary to feed -

Snake food

Packaged food

House -

Critter cages

And maintain your herp collection:

Mostly, I just enjoy looking at the people and the herps.