Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As usual I did not have time to see everything at the Daytona Expo. The very best snakes there were Tom Crutchfield's Red Dominican Boas and Fords Boas and Jeff Murrays Insular Epicrates and Annulated Boas. Thousands of people spent very little time looking at these snakes, many even walking by without realizing that they are EXTREMELY rare in US collections. Tom Davis had a female baby Pearl Phase BRB with the most perfect round pearls I have seen. There were not too many Epicrates at the show. Number of tables was down. Number of tables with people selling reptile related stuff was about the same. Number of tables with animals was WAY down. Number of BUYERS was even further down. IMO people do not come to this show to buy reptile related knick knacks or even supplies. They come to see the animals. This downsizing cannot be blamed on the economy. Internet interest and sales of reptiles are still pretty strong. This show which was the biggest and best is being slowly killed by competition from too many little shows where vendors sell rough imported animals at very low prices and harassing treatment of vendors by Florida Fish and Game.

I agree w/all points except 1. The economy has hurt MOST businesses! I know I'm not buying any animals and most of my sales happened at tax time!

My ads here on kingsnake have produced good sales for me with very little decline since the economy went bad. Rainbow Boa prices dropped a bunch before 2007 as more people began producing them. Prices for them have been relatively stable since then. People with the really good reptile stores report okay sales right through the economic slump in their stores but declining sales at the big shows. A friend who has been in the saltwater exotic fish business for decades says that the economic slump has not hit him too hard with sales stable in his store and he thinks that it is because people are being careful with their money and not making big purchases and not taking expensive vacations and they have more money to spend on smaller close to home things like their hobbies. It is likely that along the same line many people are going to the smaller local shows. It is a shame because the big shows have been really great.
Jeff

Did you get any pictures of your favorites? I wish I could have gone. I work in the jewelry industry and it's been the same at all our major shows as well.

I spend so much time at my table that the limited time I am looking at other tables I do not even take the camera with me. Tom C and Jeff M have much better photos of their snakes than I could shoot at a show. I really should have taken a photo of Tom D's baby female Pearl BRB for this forum though.
Jeff

Having alot of shows does make it more convenient in some ways, but disappointing at others...6 years ago, there was only about 2-4 shows in Toronto throughout the year...the only other show in the province (I am Canadian by the way, for those who don't know) happens twice a year I think..but it is too far for me to travel and from what I heard, its not as big as the Toronto shows anyway.

However, over the last 2-3 years, the reptile show put out by a company in Toronto (Port Credit Pet Center) expanded the number of shows they have, to several other cities, including in the city I live in. So now we have two shows in the city I live, two or three in another one, plus the original 2-4 in Toronto...When there first was just a show in or near the city I live in, it was a pretty good show..now there are shows every month, sometimes two in the same month...the local show is nothing like the Toronto ones i went to in the past...though still a decent selection, given the time of year it happens (in May, so kind of before prime baby season and rather late for hold backs).

I haven't been to one of the Toronto shows in awhile, not since the IHS was held there, in fact..though I am hoping to go to the big breeders two day show in mid September...if I can afford it. But I think alot of little shows, has forced breeders/vendors to limit what shows they go to. Especially the vendors who travel a long way...and prefer to hit a bigger show to ensure they get enough sales to cover at least travel/vendor expenses.
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

There are a few pics of rainbow boas and the Jamacan boas (I think it was them anywa) taken by Cindy (aka PHFaust). Just do a search for her nick in the photogallery section and you will see all the pictures she took at Daytona.
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

Better late than never. Just got home and online from the show.

Go to the link below and that should help.
NRBE Photo gallery

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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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Cindy,
...Find any snakes on the hunt?
Jeff

>>Cindy,
>>...Find any snakes on the hunt?
>>Jeff

I sure did! The boys who took me didnt break their promise. I told them that to keep me quiet and not turn me into a whining girl they had to find me venomous or a gator. Ill have a blog on it soon! 2 cottons tho.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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They were actually able to keep you quiet???? Those thunderstorms prolly had lots of snakes including the Cottonmouths out moving. Rainy summer nights down there in central Florida were my best road hunts.

>>They were actually able to keep you quiet???? Those thunderstorms prolly had lots of snakes including the Cottonmouths out moving. Rainy summer nights down there in central Florida were my best road hunts.

LOL At one point the frogs and toads were totally deafening! I recorded apparently 10 mins of it. Must have forgotten to hit the stop button...
NRBE Field herping blog

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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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Good hunting report. Interesting that you found two Cottonmouths and no harmless Watersnakes. Most wet area snake hunting in Florida whether nighttime road hunting or daytime digging in burrows along the banks you find the occasional Cottonmouth and loads of Watersnakes.

Cindy shot a bunch of photos and talked to LOTS of people at the show. These are three of Cindys PICs of my snakes from her 2010 NRBE gallery. One PRB, One BRB and One CRB

>>And even a few BRB shots! Thanks, Cindy!
>>
>>(On pages 11 and 12, for those inclined to peek.)
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Looking back I think I only got pics of one ball python...
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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>>That's pretty much my plan for Anaheim.
>>
>>Nice picts!

Thanks, basically will be doing the same thing in Anaheim and Tinley park. My whole desire is to bring the show to you.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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