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Have never been to this show.Are there usually alot of vendors with alot of hots there?I am flying from in the west coast and wondering what to expect.any input would be great.

thanks in advance,john

I've been to a few.

Hi John:

It's usually a very good venomous show. This time of year because of weather & people needing $$ for things other than reptiles who knows.

I might a suggest that you find out what the laws are for your State. Venomous posession laws vary from State to State. It is very difficult to get the required permits in California for instance.

Al

Find the C. vipera

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You can't enjoy your collection if it kills you.

n/m.

Very true Phobos. Considering the holidays the turn out may not be as extensive as usual. However if anyone is interested, there will be another Hamburg, PA show February 26 (last Saturday in Feb) 05.

the number of people attending, as well as the number of good vendors, have been declining. I remember when diamond, glades, and Mardi would all be there, and a bunch of others. The first show I went to there was almost overwhelming with the amount and variety of snakes. Now it just seems like wild caughts and venomoids. It's still a hot show though and still enough to draw me in I suppose, especially with the impending ban. Hopefully this show will be better.

Basically, with so many of them, it used to be that with one or maybe 2 a year, you'd have a a giant turnout. Now with so many of them, it's becoming diluted.

Then, again, with the entire venomous market dwindling, its not entirely unexpected. I do more visiting at these shows, than buying...I think I've bought 1 snake at Hamburg in the past 5 years (even then I didn't go there looking for anything, I just arranged to pick it up there....)

I got more to look for books, and distribute info for trips, A/V banks, and just chat with people. It's an excuse to take a ride.

the two show a year schedule was much better, especially the one in April. With the recent proposededly (is that even a word?) passed reptile ban, I may just give up on hots all together for now anyway. I'm thinking about just sticking with darts, or buying a gila or two and being done with it. It's getting out of hand with the number of bans, bites, and vendors that seem like they want to end the reptile hobby by selling to ignorant people. And places like Hamburg make it even easier for inexperienced people to buy snakes. Sorry for getting off topic.

We have had a hot show here in San Antonio, Tx for a few years now and it has been great for me. I lost my known shipper status with Delta a few years ago and never really bothered to get it back so the hot show is pretty much where I do my venomous exchanging now. I like the fact that it gives you a chance to talk to your customers face to face allowing you to assess their comptency a little more effectively than chatting on the phone. And, like you, it is a good opportunity to talk to and meet people that you don't see that often or would otherwise be doing phone or e-business with. Why do you say the venomous market is dwindling? -Derek

Simply, from going to the shows, and seeing the same animals for sale, and the same dealers coming up with ingenious new sales pitches to get someone to buy a snake, and having to sell them for mere pennies to make a sale.

That, and the fact, that we see the same ads on Kingsnake getting posted, over and over and over, indicates to me, that it's shifting from a sellers, to a buyers market. It's simple supply and demand. There's getting to be a better supply, and less demand, which as more and more states adopt regulations banning hots, is only going to result in a limited market.