What to get at reptile expo

[snake man12]

Does anybody have some suggestions for what to get at the East Coast Reptile super expo on Nov 12.Its in oaks pa. I know I will be buying some frozen mice. But I only plan on spending 50 or 60 bucks on the snake.

[millertime89]

honestly, if you don't know what you want, don't get anything. I think that's the smart thing to do anyways. Talk to breeders and learn as much as you can. However if you have a few things you're looking for post up and we can possibly help you narrow them down.

[Gungirl]

honestly, if you don't know what you want, don't get anything. I think that's the smart thing to do anyways. Talk to breeders and learn as much as you can. However if you have a few things you're looking for post up and we can possibly help you narrow them down.

Great advice... If you can't decide between a few things do as millertime suggested and give us things to choose from.

But most importantly As I stated in another thread about what to get at an expo....get what you love!

[alessia55]

I'll probably be at that show :D It's usually a pretty small show though, just fyi. It's not like the Hamburg show... There's usually about 20 or 30 tables tops, mostly ball pythons but bearded lizards and some other snakes too. :)

[RegenerationRep]

I was thinking of going but more then likely I wont lol what species are you interested in?

[snake man12]

I was thinking gray banded king.I did some research. Dumerils boa maybe. Or another bci. There were plenty more than bp s and beardies. I got my boa and corn snake there.

[lady_bug87]

Geckos!!!!

[snake man12]

I got a tokay gecko two months ago but he passed

[lady_bug87]

aw that sucks :S sorry to hear get a corn... I like the orange ones...

[snake man12]

I was thinking sd retic but need t raise some money

[millertime89]

argh, retics are addictive, be careful.

[Snakefood]

aw that sucks :S sorry to hear get a corn... I like the orange ones...


Aren't they though!! :yes: I have 2 Amels!:rolleyes:

[lady_bug87]

Aren't they though!! :yes: I have 2 Amels!:rolleyes:

I know! I wanted one and I went to the expo FULLY intended on getting one and then I came home with my coral Albino RTB.... next show maybe lol

[Snakefood]

LOL!! I went to the show expecting to come home with a granite female, and came home with a male amel!! Then I had another male amel dropped off to me with an anery female by a customer who had had them dropped off to him!!

You never come home with what you went there for, IMO

I love coral anythings!! I am going to use my 2 amels and my anery to start a snow project, my end goal being coral snows.

[millertime89]

I sometimes wish people would drop off snakes to me.

[Snakefood]

it's actually kind of a sad feeling, they usually come with some kind of sob story, these 2 included!

[youngster]

ULTRAMELS are where it's at :)

[snake man12]

What do u think of colombian hogg island cross boa. I already have a colombian but a hogg would be cool

[lady_bug87]

LOL!! I went to the show expecting to come home with a granite female, and came home with a male amel!! Then I had another male amel dropped off to me with an anery female by a customer who had had them dropped off to him!!

You never come home with what you went there for, IMO

I love coral anythings!! I am going to use my 2 amels and my anery to start a snow project, my end goal being coral snows.

my coral has the cutest peppering I have ever seen and she has a lot of blushing on her sides and cheeks I hope she hangs on to her saddle that would be so awesome

[youngster]

From what I heard hybrids are tricky. I would be careful, another thing is that I doubt there will be any columbian hog island crosses at your expo.

[RegenerationRep]

Gray Banded Kings are cool and for the budget you have you could get a pair!

[snake man12]

From what I heard hybrids are tricky. I would be careful, another thing is that I doubt there will be any columbian hog island crosses at your expo.

I have seen many hybrids at this particular expo. kinda leaning towards kings

[snake man12]

Just thought maybe a colombian rainbow boa. I hear they are more docile than brb's

[Nismo89]

I always hear about people saying Brazilians aren't docile. IMO yes they can be nippy from time to time but my little Brazilian has only actually bit me once otherwise its just half hearted strikes and you just pick them up and they stop. Either way any Rainbow Boa is a great animal to have in your collection because they are so beautiful looking.

[snake man12]

I wanted to get one last expo but instead I came home with a rtb

[millertime89]

I always hear about people saying Brazilians aren't docile. IMO yes they can be nippy from time to time but my little Brazilian has only actually bit me once otherwise its just half hearted strikes and you just pick them up and they stop. Either way any Rainbow Boa is a great animal to have in your collection because they are so beautiful looking.

never been bit by mine, I've had a few half hearted strikes, and one pissed off strike (my fault) that I dodged.

[Strutter769]

What do u think of colombian hogg island cross boa. I already have a colombian but a hogg would be cool

So you can cross a Hog Island with a Colombian? I know they're both boas, but it seems odd to intermix the two. How about..say... an Argentine with a Suri? Same concept, right? Doesn't seem that one would mate with the other?

[millertime89]

they're simply different localities with the same basic genetic makeup. You can breed a carpet python to a GTP, a burmese to a reticulated, there's crosses like that all the time. Columbian rainbow to brazilian raindbow, we could keep going.
edit: these hybrids are generally frowned upon by the "purists". I think burm x retics look cool though.

[alessia55]

they're simply different localities with the same basic genetic makeup. You can breed a carpet python to a GTP, a burmese to a reticulated, there's crosses like that all the time. Columbian rainbow to brazilian raindbow, we could keep going.
edit: these hybrids are generally frowned upon by the "purists". I think burm x retics look cool though.

I'd love to see some photos of these crosses

[millertime89]

here's blood x ball (dubbed "super ball")
Super Ball Python Collection Page @ ROUSSIS REPTILES (http://www.roussisreptiles.com/collectionpages/balls/super.html)
here's a carpondro (carpet x chondro) from morelia mental
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff140/steg_album/DSCF0123.jpg
here's the thread
Carpondro's hatching (http://www.moreliapythons.com/forums/showthread.php?30760-Carpondro-s-hatching)

I'll get the rest in a bit.

[millertime89]

here's a bateater (burm x retic) from NERD
Bateater | Reticulated Pythons (http://newenglandreptile.com/nerd/index.php/Reticulated-Pythons/bateater.html)
http://newenglandreptile.com/nerd/images/stories/retics/bateater/bateater3.jpg
here's the colombian x brazilian, from this very forum. I think it looks kinda cool
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/epicrates/87686-brazilian-columbian-x.html

[Strutter769]

here's a bateater (burm x retic) from NERD
Bateater | Reticulated Pythons (http://newenglandreptile.com/nerd/index.php/Reticulated-Pythons/bateater.html)
http://newenglandreptile.com/nerd/images/stories/retics/bateater/bateater3.jpg
here's the colombian x brazilian, from this very forum. I think it looks kinda cool
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/epicrates/87686-brazilian-columbian-x.html

Didn't I see a show on the fear of this combination happening in the Everglades, creating "Super snake!?" It's beautiful though!

Anyone else have any visual example of this sort of cross-breeding?

[millertime89]

you might have, however what people don't take into consideration is that burms are somewhat hardier snakes than retics. Retics require consistently higher temps year round to survive, temps that florida can provide during the spring, fall and summer, but come winter its difficult. This previous winter was tough on the invasive burmese population, I can't imagine what it did to the retics. In addition, the pairing often produces slugs, however IF the babies make it to breeding age, they would then be able to breed with both regular retics (producing jungle retics) and burms. People are worried about them expanding north of the everglades, but it simply won't happen without consistent global warming resulting in consistently warmer Florida winters.
Bateaters aren't some "super snake" as the sensationalist media would have you believe, they're smaller than retics in length but heavier bodied, but not nearly as heavily bodied as burms.

[Strutter769]

I remember hearing the winters are too hard on the snakes for them to thrive, like you said. Does this cross tend to have a more docile temperament of the Burm, or the notorious attitude of the Retic?

[millertime89]

retics really don't have an attitude either, that stems from, for the longest time, retics in captivity were all wild caught. If you speak with many retic breeders they seldom have bad attitudes if they're captive born and bred. But burms ARE more docile, and according to NERD bateaters (their name for the cross) have a similar disposition to Burms.
PS just don't get between a retic and its dinner, you might end up on the menu, they've got an intense feeding response.

[Strutter769]

Ok, maybe one day I'll be able to get past that then! Attitude or not, they're beautiful.

[millertime89]

I love me some retics, I'm hoping to get an SD morph or two in the next few months.

[snake man12]

:)Wow that ball/blood is amazing I want one but I bet they go for a pretty penny

[millertime89]

I'm personally fond of the carpondro and bateater. But I've never seen a price so I'm assuming they aren't cheap.

[Strutter769]

Any other combos I can "Google" for a possible photo? I'm struggling with a combination that would be practical (healthy) and of course beautiful. What would you guys/gals like to see created?

[millertime89]

those are the only ones I know of, I don't know if anything else would work honestly, it would def have to be boa x boa or python x python, but I can't think of anything else that really compliments the attributes of the other species nicely.

[snake man12]

I know what I'm getting, another boa:) I'm see what kinds they have maybe a pastel or even maybe just another normal who knows. P.S I'm so excited :):):):):):):) ok maybe I over did the smiles

[stephanbakir]

you might have, however what people don't take into consideration is that burms are somewhat hardier snakes than retics. Retics require consistently higher temps year round to survive, temps that florida can provide during the spring, fall and summer, but come winter its difficult. This previous winter was tough on the invasive burmese population, I can't imagine what it did to the retics. In addition, the pairing often produces slugs, however IF the babies make it to breeding age, they would then be able to breed with both regular retics (producing jungle retics) and burms. People are worried about them expanding north of the everglades, but it simply won't happen without consistent global warming resulting in consistently warmer Florida winters.
Bateaters aren't some "super snake" as the sensationalist media would have you believe, they're smaller than retics in length but heavier bodied, but not nearly as heavily bodied as burms.
Retics are MUCH more hardy then burms, burms are really prone to RIs.
retics really don't have an attitude either, that stems from, for the longest time, retics in captivity were all wild caught. If you speak with many retic breeders they seldom have bad attitudes if they're captive born and bred. But burms ARE more docile, and according to NERD bateaters (their name for the cross) have a similar disposition to Burms.
PS just don't get between a retic and its dinner, you might end up on the menu, they've got an intense feeding response.
Burms and retics are both considered docile animals, retics are just more active while burms are much slower/lazier.

[snake man12]

Yes I've heard burms need high temps or they will develop ri. But Correct me If I'm wrong but don't retics need higher temps than burms.

[stephanbakir]

Its about the same, but in 99% of cases, even with bad RIs you can just up the temps and the retics will lose the RI in a few days, its still worth using meds to help them though.

[alessia55]

I know what I'm getting, another boa:) I'm see what kinds they have maybe a pastel or even maybe just another normal who knows. P.S I'm so excited :):):):):):) ok maybe I over did the smiles

Congrats! That's very exciting. I can't wait to see photos once you pick it up! :)

[snake man12]

Me too I'm so happy:)

[millertime89]

huh... guess its another case of misinformed people spreading misinformation, my apologies.
kinda like the african rock x burm = SUPER SNAKE! bs

[Kiljosh]

I will be at this show looking for bulk mice for my BP plus a Rheostat and Thermostat for his new 55gal tank I picked up this past week.

Bringing a friend who I helped get his tank all ready and professional so he can maybe get a Ball to put in it! Its been sitting in his room for like 2 weeks now fully setup and operational with no snizzle in it.

My girl who bought me my first snake for my birthday is also coming, possibly to get a lizard or frog! Should be fun.

[snake man12]

They always have plenty of mice and rats and also rabbits

[alessia55]

I'm gonna be there too with my cousin, my dad, and my boyfriend :) Super stoked! My cousin is hoping to pick up a kingsnake

[Kiljosh]

Yea I am getting sick of driving into town every 2 weeks to pick up mice to feed.

Last show in Hamburg I got 50 pinkies for my baby MBK for like 15 bucks so Im hoping to find a similar deal for ~20-30g mice.

[snake man12]

I've seen adult mice in 50 packs for20 dollars. I can't seem to believe how much price difference there is If I buy one mouse its 1.99

[Kiljosh]

Thats what I mean, Im pretty sure I can get packs of 6 pinkies for $10 maybe more than 6 I dont know never bought them. Point is 50 for 15 is like WOW and makes the drive very worth it in my opinion. Ill also be getting a bunch of bedding I think.

[snake man12]

Yeah I want to get some cypress mulch for my boa

[youngster]

You'll be able to get 6 pinkies for way less than $10
At the expo I went to they were $15 for a pack of 100

[Lankyrob]

I will be at this show looking for bulk mice for my BP plus a Rheostat and Thermostat for his new 55gal tank I picked up this past week.

Bringing a friend who I helped get his tank all ready and professional so he can maybe get a Ball to put in it! Its been sitting in his room for like 2 weeks now fully setup and operational with no snizzle in it.

My girl who bought me my first snake for my birthday is also coming, possibly to get a lizard or frog! Should be fun.

Just curious why you want both? A thermostat is best bet for controlling temps - much safer than a rheostat.

[millertime89]

Just curious why you want both? A thermostat is best bet for controlling temps - much safer than a rheostat.

true story yo, rheostat controls voltage, not temp.

[Kiljosh]

I still have to figure everything out but here goes....

Currently I have a thermostat hooked to two lights(one at night) in his current tank. I have a rheostat hooked to a length of heat wire for my other snakes "bin". When I move my BP to his new 55 gallon I'm moving my MBK to his current home, a 20 gallon.

So I'm thinking I'm going to get a rheostat to put on ONE light for my MBK in the 20g. Turn it all the way down that way I can view his tank at night and it won't affect much besides ambient temps. Then use a thermostat on a Heat pad I have but don't use for the bottom of his tank to heat it.

Then I need another thermostat for the heatwire which I'm going to transfer to the new longer 55g tank since I have so much extra length. And finally a rheostat for the same reason(nighttime viewing) and to possibly help the cool side temps out. I don't know what it's going to take to heat the thing yet. Gotta get all of this stuff on Saturday and get it set up, then depending move him on Sunday/Monday night after he eats. I have 3 lights total right now, so 1 for my 20g and 2 for my 55g. One on the hot side, one in the middle. The wattages are all different on them though so thats why I have to play with it/get a rheo. Plus rheo's are cheaper. 4 thermostats costs more than 2 thermostats and 2 rheos.

Make sense? lol

[Kiljosh]

You'll be able to get 6 pinkies for way less than $10
At the expo I went to they were $15 for a pack of 100

100/$15 is a heck of a deal but when I said 6/$10 I meant at the local Petsmart. Which I could be wrong on the amount you get but all the packs of mice they sell are around 10 bucks.

[millertime89]

yes that does make sense now.

[youngster]

Don't get a $20 rheostat.
Just swing by Home Depot and pick up a dimmer.

[Kiljosh]

I was under the impression that to use a dimmer switch I'd have to modify it.

I'm not bad with my hands but I most definitely DON'T want to start a fire!

[millertime89]

dimmer switch is fine.