In addition to cash I'd add smaller bills. Especially if you are looking for low priced items. Handing vendors a 100.00 bill for a $5.00 tub of mealworms at 9:00 on Saturday morning won't make you many friends. If you're looking for high end stuff then fine but if not trade your 100.00s for 20.00s if at all possible.
Do research on husbandry and specific species of that reptile. Have a game plan for transporting long distance. Have an enclosure all ready set up add things as you go but have the essentials like humidity and basking. Be prepared for that reptile.
OMG that makes me so happy! Yes absolutely come on down! I will be around the show most of the day! If you don’t see me though go to the rainforest junkies booth (walk into the expo and directly to the right) and have Mike call me! I’ll make it happen!
To add on to the USARK auction, it's a great place to get amazing deals on reptiles. At the last October Tinley I got a snake valued at $300 for $101. It does seem like people spend big money on the non-reptile related things. Whether it's an Xbox or a suspiciously shaped glass bottle of booze. But the animals seem to go for cheap. The high rollers aren't dropping thousands on snakes and lizards. At the Schaumburg NARBC auction my bf got a pair of retics in the live auction worth $2500 for $400!! But with that knowledge also comes responsibility. Don't impulse buy a reptile at auction just because the bids have stopped and as they're saying "... going once, going twice..." you realize you can afford to win that specific animal. Like you said, if you don't have a game plan and already have a set-up you can give that animal, don't shoot your hand up just to get it. Can't wait to see you guys at the show this weekend. 😊 And also, first Saturday of every month is the Perrysburg, OH show that Midwest Expos puts on. They have a USARK table at every one of their reptile shows. I volunteer at the 2 Michigan shows at the USARK table. Hoping that I can eventually work around my day job to also make it to Perrysburg some time.
I definitely want to hit those shows! And yes great add on for the auction! The exact snake I had my eye on last March show went to the the auction and i was the winning bid! Saved a few hundred and it all went to a great cause!
Bags and backpacks. Bring something to carry your purchases so you can keep your hands free to socialize. March is cold so if you plan on driving you wouldn't run out to put your animals in your car. You might want to take trips back to your hotel and return to the show. Too late now, but if you are traveling make reservations ahead of time. There are hotels in the area but they fill up fast.
In addition to cash I'd add smaller bills. Especially if you are looking for low priced items. Handing vendors a 100.00 bill for a $5.00 tub of mealworms at 9:00 on Saturday morning won't make you many friends. If you're looking for high end stuff then fine but if not trade your 100.00s for 20.00s if at all possible.
So true!!! 20s are always a safer option to have plentiful
I love the person dressed as Waldo at the beginning! Must have been the show Snake Discovery did their Waldo themed meet and greet😂
Do research on husbandry and specific species of that reptile. Have a game plan for transporting long distance. Have an enclosure all ready set up add things as you go but have the essentials like humidity and basking. Be prepared for that reptile.
Amen!
Nice tips, I hope I can go to a reptile expo near me. It's on the smaller side, but it has quite neat vendors. 🙂👍
Thank you! Small venues are great as well! It’s all about at the end of the day working with quality vendors and meeting good people in general!
Hi Nick, my kids LOVE watching your videos and want to come with to Tinley tomorrow just to see if they can find you and say hi.
OMG that makes me so happy! Yes absolutely come on down! I will be around the show most of the day! If you don’t see me though go to the rainforest junkies booth (walk into the expo and directly to the right) and have Mike call me! I’ll make it happen!
@@NJPExotics thank you so much! My teens will be so excited! We’ll be there right around 10 and will hopefully spend the whole day there 😁
Yep at 10 i will definitely be there!! You guys will have a blast i got to tour a bit of it today during setup! Lots of cool stuff!
To add on to the USARK auction, it's a great place to get amazing deals on reptiles. At the last October Tinley I got a snake valued at $300 for $101.
It does seem like people spend big money on the non-reptile related things. Whether it's an Xbox or a suspiciously shaped glass bottle of booze. But the animals seem to go for cheap. The high rollers aren't dropping thousands on snakes and lizards. At the Schaumburg NARBC auction my bf got a pair of retics in the live auction worth $2500 for $400!!
But with that knowledge also comes responsibility. Don't impulse buy a reptile at auction just because the bids have stopped and as they're saying "... going once, going twice..." you realize you can afford to win that specific animal. Like you said, if you don't have a game plan and already have a set-up you can give that animal, don't shoot your hand up just to get it.
Can't wait to see you guys at the show this weekend. 😊
And also, first Saturday of every month is the Perrysburg, OH show that Midwest Expos puts on. They have a USARK table at every one of their reptile shows. I volunteer at the 2 Michigan shows at the USARK table. Hoping that I can eventually work around my day job to also make it to Perrysburg some time.
I definitely want to hit those shows! And yes great add on for the auction! The exact snake I had my eye on last March show went to the the auction and i was the winning bid! Saved a few hundred and it all went to a great cause!
Bags and backpacks. Bring something to carry your purchases so you can keep your hands free to socialize. March is cold so if you plan on driving you wouldn't run out to put your animals in your car. You might want to take trips back to your hotel and return to the show. Too late now, but if you are traveling make reservations ahead of time. There are hotels in the area but they fill up fast.
Yes! Always good to plan the hotel stays ahead for sure! All great tips!!!
Water!!! Good shoes - phone charger - small backpack or waist bag
YES!! Very good ideas!
Not sure if you mentioned it, but bring hand sanitizer and quarantine if you buy a snake because shows are a cesspool for MITES!!!!
Yes! I did mention the quarantining of your new animals! Absolutely. But hand sanitizer is a great touch to have as well!
Don't leave an expo without seeing an emerald tree boa.
110%!