Remember how I said I would have business cards for the Spring 2017 Wasatch Reptile Expo? I totally nailed it. Look at this beauty. ↓
Thanks to Vistaprint for making it all possible!
I also got an official ReptiFiles tee shirt, but forgot to get one for Chad too….it was embarrassing. In my defense, he forgot too haha. We always have October, right?
In the end, we didn’t give out as many business cards as I hoped, but I met a lot of great people, and that’s success enough for me. 🙂
Adapted from “How Going to the Mall Feels” by Sarah’s Scribbles
10. Caiman lizard @ Mark’s Ark
Mark’s Ark is always a good vendor to visit, if only for the sheer variety! This time around I was most excited about the juvenile caiman lizard, but they also had a green tree monitor and a couple blue tongue skinks.
Cutie! Fun fact: Caiman lizards are also known as water tegus.
9. Giant crested gecko by Beziman Geckos
If you’re not familiar with crested geckos, the average adult crestie is about 8 inches long and weighs between 45-60g. But at this spring’s expo, Beziman Geckos brought an adult female who was 12 inches long and 109g!!! Not obese. Not crossbred with a leachie. Just. Huge!
I pray they will have success with breeding her, because I want colossal cresteds to become a thing.
Pics really cannot capture just how HUGE this girl is. I should have brought a ruler.
8. Gorgeous red iguana @ Seaquest Interactive Aquarium
Seaquest has been putting forth a good show since their first appearance last fall. I missed Zeus the savannah monitor, but was glad to see they brought their stunning (and tame!) red iguana.
Isn’t he handsome?
7. WRIKS (Wasatch Reptile & Invertebrate Keepers Society)
Between a super sweet snuggler of a savvy named Jabba the Chubbs and a black throat monitor named Manny, WRIKS’ petting zoo game was on point. The society members were also personable and happy to talk about everything from husbandry to tattoos.
Left: Subadult savannah monitor, Top right: Mossy leaf tailed gecko, Bottom right: Juvenile black throat monitor
6. Scales & Tails
Scales & Tails is always a highlight of the expo, with rare display animals like a gila monster and African rock python. Their employees were also fun to talk to—I had a great conversation with one of their educators while handling Buddha, their wonderful 10.5′ male Burmese python. I was happy to see that they brought their kookaburra this time! He was happy to laugh for us.
Left: Mariah officially has big snake fever. Top right: Gila monster. Bottom right: Sulcata tortoise.
5. Terrarium Art
Terrarium Art sells flawless pre-made terrariums modeled after tropical, forest, and desert environments. But particularly interesting this time around were their storage bins-turned-terrariums! Not sure how they did it, but I need to figure it out because glass terrariums are freaking heavy, not to mention expensive.
Left: Desert terrarium design (snake is a toy), Right: Tropical/forest design, Bottom: Storage bin converted to terrarium
I also fell in love with a chuckwalla hybrid they had for sale. If I had $750 to spend, that big hunk of love would have been MINE.
Never did find out what he was a hybrid of…
4. Bone Beetle
The award for most interesting vendor goes to Bone Beetle. With snake vertebra bracelets, framed invertebrates, preserved fetuses, a complete bat skeleton, reptile skulls, and a jarred gaboon viper, their table was an absolute must-see!
So cool. Loved the butterflies!
Yes, that is an actual bat skeleton. In a lantern. Hanging upside-down.
3. Upscalez Dragons
Upscalez is a very promising new bearded dragon breeder for the area. Typically I don’t endorse beardie breeders, as they’re typically amateur operations that do nothing but damage an already oversaturated market. But the woman behind the operation, Amy, is extremely knowledgeable and all of her stock were the healthiest, happiest bearded dragons I’ve seen. If you’re in the market for a baby beardie, hit her up!
Left: Juvenile dunner bearded dragon. Right: Juvenile hypo bearded dragon. Bottom: Female bearded dragon, one of Upscalez primary breeders.
2. Red Rock Retics
Red Rock Retics is the best breeder of superdwarf reticulated pythons in Utah, and quite possibly the entire United States. The breeder, named Richard, is a genuine snake whisperer who has been around retics for over 50 years. The result? All of his pythons are ultra tame, and respect him as much as he respects them. One day I will be ready for a retic, and then I will buy one of his white phase albino superdwarfs. His current stock is at roughly 87% superdwarf, and his goal is to reach over 90%.
Top: Purple sunchild retic. Right and Bottom: White phase albino superdwarfs.
1. Gargoyle Queen Reptiles
Gargoyle Queen took first place this spring, thanks to some absolutely STUNNING gargoyle geckos they brought to the expo. They weren’t for sale, but projections are that they’ll have high red and high blotch babies next year. I can’t wait!
My photos really don’t do these geckos justice.
Congratulations to the Spring 2017 Wasatch Reptile Expo top 10! Thanks for making it a good show.
Honorable Mentions
Yellow belly pastel spider ball python by S & K Reptiles
Wasatch Snake Removal made an appearance! They gave out tons of excellent educational material, and familiarized visitors with gopher snakes (a very common species around here).
True to my goal, I held another tarantula—a Honduran curly hair with Kim’s Cold Blooded Creatures. I am proud to say that I was less freaked out this time! Also, my husband held a tarantula! There was quite a bit of swearing involved, but hey, progress is still progress. 😉