Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This weekend I attended a local reptile swap, and am writing about the fact that everyone there looked completely unwashed, unkempt and just plain out filthy. What is the deal with this? Not trying to step on anyone's toes, but it is a bit annoying/disappointing to see that I may have been one of the only people there who actually showers on a regular basis. I understand that it does take (in at least some form) an eccentric person to want to live and take care of reptiles, even if it's just that person's taste for pets, but man alive, these people were disgusting. Has anyone else noticed this, or is it just me? I know all of you are probably going to rail me for this post, so give me a chance to respond. I don't intend to make a generalization, just want some opinions. It's annoying to see other people's lousy generalizations (about people who keep reptiles) confirmed by all the toothless, unwashed people at the swap.

Depends on what show and were your at in the states.We have a little reptile swap at our Lakeview Museum and most of the venders are clean,well spoken and sober.We do have our fair share of tattoed and pierced freaks but i bathe also.hehehehe
I have been to some swaps that could have been a show put on by homeless people.One of my favorites are the men and women who are over 300lbs wearing spandex with a shirt that let's there guts hang out,and wife beater T's are certainly a plus.It just shows all people from different walks of life can enjoy reptiles.....Paul

i agree, it's nice that a variety of people can enjoy reptiles, but honestly i think it's even cooler when you take a stigma and reverse it. i am pierced and have a half sleeve tattoo... i have a pair of corns that i breed, and i'm a licensed life insurance agent (all 50 states licensed!) during the day... i wear dress pants and a shirt to work, get home, throw on jeans and a hoody and defrost the mice to feed the snakes.... i guess my main thing is lack of CLEANLINESS, it's just gross... as i was walking into our local swap (streamwood, illinois) in front of me was probably a 325 lb man in a pair of oversized dirty revolting overalls... i guess it seems to me that so many of the people in this forum are able to speak and converse in such intelligent adult ways about genetics etc. -- why not reverse the trend (that i have noticed)of being just plain trashy and filthy (take the damn toothpick out of your mouth and talk to me like an adult)!! haha, who knows, maybe i'm just a jerk, just an opinion, i'm sure there are places that are WAY different, just my experience at the local swap !

I was talking about the streamwood shows.Im from Peoria.Small world..Paul.

unbelievable!! the lee watsons swap right? man, a lot of animals, fun to go to, but i can't take too much of being there just because of how dirty the whole damn place feels. wierd... kinda off topic, but do you do anything with leopard geckos? i want to get a couple for kicks and would much prefer someone local. let me know if you read this, and thanks, small world indeed.

Ive been to the Streamwood show twice now.That was 2 times to many.I like to think all those people there come from Indiana.heheheheJ/K.Im not much into gecko's bro but the gecko forum can probably point you in a good direction...Paul.

so the streamwood show really must be one of the nastiest ones if you are saying that... i haven't been to any other shows... are there other local shows that occur on a regular basis? --(i don't want to go to the streamwood show, but i refuse to pay a buck-30 for feeder frozen mice)

Peoria isnt big enough to support a weekly show.If one does get planned i will email you....Paul.

Lay off Indiana! Not all us Hoosiers be like dat! LOL.

-----
1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

.......Streamwood is only 5 hours from Iowa too. So Im sure at least some of those "summer" teeth people are from my state. If not most...lol.
-----
2.1 bay of la rosy boas
1.0.8 kenyan sand boas
3.3 ball pythons
1.0 central american boa
4.9 leopard geckos
3.3 assorted cali king
1.0 greyband king

And here I was gonna say "Welcome to the South", until you started mentioning IL & IN! LOL - Don't worry, there's a lot of the same type in here in Tucson - & not just at the once a year herp show either! LOL

I have been attending some local reptile shows for the past seven years, and actually breeding and selling at one of the local shows for the past three years. My wife went with me my first year I had a sellers table and refuses to go any more. That year the show was hot inside due to improper AC and there was one wheelchair bound child that appeared paraplegic. She was red, sweaty, and her poor lips were dry and cracked from dehydration. Her parents were cruising around with a big burm around their necks and seemed oblivious to this childs comfort/needs. Broke my wife's heart and she can't make herself go to the shows anymore. I too get the impression that more than half of these folks don't work, pay their bills, or give a rats behind one way or the other if they do. They walk around with hardly any decent clothes on their backs or their kids backs, yet spend gobs of cash on herps. It truly is amazing. However, I am sure these same "folks" attend sporting events, concerts, etc., or any other social events, but you just haven't noticed - LOL!!

KevinM

these people do attend all kinds of events. i guess since the reptile shows are my thing, that's what i notice, and also the fact that there is a stigma attached to being a reptile owner that you are in some way strange, deranged or something of the sort-- but definitely, they are everywhere!!! and i totally agree, my friend and i both were thinking, "these people look the type to spend a grand on snakes before they'd pay their car payments to keep it from getting repossessed. " -- amazing! you can tell the difference too, the older, more experienced breeders are family people who have grown together loving to do it, they all appear clean, professional, just people you WANT to deal with...
thanks for the response, just wondering if this was a local deal for me!!! --just my opinion, i am always open to new ideas!

>>I have been attending some local reptile shows for the past seven years, and actually breeding and selling at one of the local shows for the past three years. My wife went with me my first year I had a sellers table and refuses to go any more. That year the show was hot inside due to improper AC and there was one wheelchair bound child that appeared paraplegic. She was red, sweaty, and her poor lips were dry and cracked from dehydration. Her parents were cruising around with a big burm around their necks and seemed oblivious to this childs comfort/needs. Broke my wife's heart and she can't make herself go to the shows anymore. I too get the impression that more than half of these folks don't work, pay their bills, or give a rats behind one way or the other if they do. They walk around with hardly any decent clothes on their backs or their kids backs, yet spend gobs of cash on herps. It truly is amazing. However, I am sure these same "folks" attend sporting events, concerts, etc., or any other social events, but you just haven't noticed - LOL!!
>>
>>KevinM

Just to chime in here...

I was a parent of a disabled child for 3 years until she passed away in her sleep. Those chapped lips, no control over body warmth and such are unfortunately something very common with disabled children. Now I don't think the parents were being responsible by carrying around a burm with a child that is disabled like that-because it is a "possible" health hazard for any disabled child because of that salmonella thing. Unfortunately, disabled children also have immuno deficiencies along with the disability.

My daughter used to chew her lips off.. yes, chew them off, in public nonetheless. I was harassed multiple times by people about her problem-it didn't help that she "appeared" normal until she tried to move. She also had severe sweating problems, just like the girl you mention above, that required constant attention.

I'm not trying to defend those people, they very well could have been blind-but they very well could have known if she was ok, too. Just relating my experience.

-cat
-----
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://chaoscat.lowerground.net/herps/
My collection and herp photography

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

My daughter, Thank (insert your god here), is a healthy girl, but before I became disabled with MS, I worked in a pediatric clinic in Phoenix AZ. One of the docs there was a specialist in "long-term-care" children. Some of the kids I saw go through my office were so badly disabled that it was all they could do to look at you, and as a first response, most people say, "oh that poor child". My first response was usually, "oh those poor parents", because having a disability myself is hard to deal with, but I don't know if I could deal with my child having it instead. My heart goes out to you for caring for such a special child, and for having to go through the pain of loosing her.

As far as dirty herpers....I laugh so hard when I hear that stigma...I have friends that are the type described in the herp shows, and they're afraid of snakes! LOL And here I am, I don't think I'm grungy But I'll be the first to admit, there is a little derangement going on in this head Grungy is everywhere, just gotta know when to look away
-----
Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

Don't worry too much about that kid...I was born disabled 43 years ago & can tell you that that is probably the toughest kid you're ever gonna see. Not only because her her disability, but made even stronger by having parents that apparently don't sweat the small stuff. IE the condition you saw her in may be the norm for her & her parents knew it. Parents who over-coddle their handicapped kid can be creating a real problem for them in later life...trust me I know....but this thread digresses from CORNSNAKES!

That must be an American thing then. I have been to many reptileswaps here in The Netherlands and in Germany and there nothing but normal (clean) people come to the show. I have stopped going because I can't stand large crouds anymore. The enormous heath many people produce makes me sick to my stomac. I wish I could handle it better since I like looking and buying snakes at shows. What I do notice, but that is a pure man thing, is that so many very nice looking woman come to snake shows.
-----
Marcel Poots (Holland)
'Where is your crown King Nothing?' James Hettfield

I have been many shows across the east coast and midwest and have to say that the NARBC (Chicago & Philadelphia) show was the most professional show I have seen yet. BUT, I have never seen so many snakes in the range of $10,000 and up. I attended many All Ohio shows and always thought they were good but it was a long time ago and since then they've been raided due to the sale of illegal herps by a few bad apples. The Maryland show is very nice but small, but I usually see quality animals.

While we're all strange in our own way, the people attending never bother me compared to the select few vendors that show little care for their animals. I have unfortunately heard of many good people no longer selling at shows due to heavier and stricter guidelines and pressure by local agencies. This is a shame because it just makes more room for the fly-by-night, get rich quick wholesale brokers that have multiple animals stuffed and jampacked into single containers.

I have even been to hot shows where despite having a 'hot' room, I've seen vendors take their hots out at the table. On one occasion, I even saw a guy drop a super tiny viper. Hots always draw a really strange crowd but I can't say that I don't mind peeking at snakes you would otherwise only see at a zoo.

Some shows, I would be afraid to sell herps to some since I have heard that even at cleaner shows, mites are still sometimes a problem. I havent attended any shows recently due to the assumption that breeders only have left over animals this time of year. Some of the best animals I have were purchased through the internet/online. I personally love it when a dealers site has pics of their facility or herp room. Crowds at the shows suck anyway.

You are a lucky human indeed if you have the finances to raise reptiles AND afford dentistry! Some of us have to choose between one and the other! LOL!

I'm in California, near Sacramento and attended my first show here last year. It's put on by a local petstore/corn snake breeder and I have to say I was impressed. I liked the variety of people, but I didn't see anyone who looked really dirty. East Bay Vivarium and LLL Reptile both have booths at the shows here and it's always a crack up to see the tatooed, pierced and still professional staff they both hire. The truth is while I look like a soccer mom these days it wasn't so long ago my hair was purple & my lip was pierced. The only thing I noticed about people at the show is that most of the shoppers there look like they just got pulled away from a 2-day D&D tournament at the comic book store. It makes me feel right at home.

On a side note, doesn't it make you wonder what the people who post here look like?
-----
Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost(pastel) - Eek & Boo
1.1 Amel - Parker & Scarlet
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
Lizards
1.0 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo Agouti - Moon
1.0 Silvered Black - Pluto
1.0 Powder Blue - Corner
Plus the breeders
Cats
1.1 Siamese - Blue & Fiona
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

YES! Everytime I read a post I try visualizing that person, and what I think he or she might look like. It'd be interesting to know how close I've been. Maybe we should have a post-your-own-picture thread? Would that be too off-topic?

~Kristine

see, that's the thing though, i'm tattooed and pierced, but no kidding, i'm in a dress shirt and nice pants each day to self life insurance, and i can always maintain a professional look... i love the tattoos and piercings... i'm talkin FILTHY HUMANS, bathe people!!! bathe!!!

Question is, which picture should I post?

The nice sweet motherly picture all prim and proper (you know the kind you'd actually take to meet mom)

or

the Wild Child with the tattoo on her neck in the skimpy leather outfit and collar (the kind that would scare mom)..

Oh decisions, decisions....

Sorry guys, I'm in an evil mood today.
-----
Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

The 2nd one! The 2nd one! LOL (I'm feeling evil too! LOL). Not a pervert kid either! - you'd probably call me a dirty old man! roflmao!

NP
-----
Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

--
-----
Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

Don't need the kids blackmailing me when they are 16.
-----
Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost(pastel) - Eek & Boo
1.1 Amel - Parker & Scarlet
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
Lizards
1.0 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo Agouti - Moon
1.0 Silvered Black - Pluto
1.0 Powder Blue - Corner
Plus the breeders
Cats
1.1 Siamese - Blue & Fiona
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

I have gone to the Streamwood swap for the last … maybe 18 months? I have to generally agree with you about the clientele. It’s a shame, really.

I work for a law firm in downtown Chicago, live close to the loop, and keep many a reptile & amphibians. Do I tell anyone? No way. I cannot stand the strange looks you get when you tell people you own snakes. I had a cat in 5th grade that bit my lip so hard that I had to get 4 stitches. None of my husband’s snakes, or the lizards, or my arrow frogs has ever done any damage. But our two cats – they are hellions on 4 little furry paws! They’ve bitten us more times that I care to count. I have scars to prove it!

Where was I going – oh yeah, the “great unwashed” at the swap. It does give an unsavory representation of reptile owners. Heck, even the arrow frog peeps have dissed snake owners, with their crazy tattoos, and metal band tee shirts. (I chimed in on that debate, for certain! No metal tees here! Tattoos… well…)

Well, the next time you go, just be certain to dress up, and “represent”! I’ll keep an eye out for ya! I bet I can pick you out!

maxwells

see, that is exactly what i'm talking about. i sell life insurance for zurich during the day, i'm a clean guy! -- it's good to hear that there are those of us who care as much about our hygiene as we do about our animals...! i'll keep an eye out as well!
brandon

hahahahaaaaaaaaaaa..

there are alot of dregs in them thar places huh?....hehehe

look again....there are alot of normal people...and even a few educateds and classy people.......we even notice alot of slim females worth second looks.......(watchit ,wife alert)..LOL

...........
anyways..............alot of people like snakes "'cause they are "wierd"......they get rid of them as fast as they buy them........(or lose them out the trailer door))""

anyways..........>

end of ramblings