![]() ![]() ![]() Roberts says he keeps his prices low (around $35 a frog) because he considers breeding these endangered creatures a type of educational outreach. “One of these little guys, in the wild, has enough poison to kill three elephants and 50 men.” Only in the wild because they eat bugs that eat poisonous plants so they acquire an alkaline-based plant poison,” says Roberts. These quarter-sized amphibians were used by indigenous people in Colombia to make poison darts. John Roberts from Madison is the only vendor selling vibrantly colored frogs from Central and South America. “But once they get older and used to people, they are as friendly as dogs or any other pet.” “When snakes are young, they are skittish because they are new to the world and I’m a lot bigger than them,” Handeland adds. The more time you spend around them, the more you realize they are just friendly little reptiles,” says Handeland, who is holding Godzilla, a meaty 8-year-old python. “Some people see a snake and are totally freaked out. Now, he’s the proud parent of five snakes, three spiny-tailed lizards and a half-dozen Leopard Geckos.” It’s also a way to make a “little money.” Handeland always wanted a pet snake as a kid. Andrew Handeland from Waukesha says breeding Royal (or Ball) Pythons and geckos is a hobby he enjoys with his sons and wife Holly. Most of the vendors are small-scale breeders from Wisconsin and neighboring states. Royal Pythons were for sale at the Wisconsin Reptile Expo. Although vendors are also hawking terrariums, enclosures, reptile food and specialty pet supplies, the main draw is a chance to bring home a new cold-blooded friend. It’s filled with hundreds of animals, including snakes of every color and size, frogs and several species of lizards. The biannual Wisconsin Reptile Expo has taken over the dining room of the VFW. They just like to hang out wrapped around your neck. But I’ve seen dogs and cats that have caused a lot of more harm to their owners than a snake ever could.”Īrmstrong agrees. “Some people think reptiles, especially snakes, are dangerous. Ours have been super chill and they’re just fun to have around,” Cardona says. But they’re at the VFW Post 7591 on Cottage Grove Road this Sunday afternoon in search of a new addition to the family - specifically, a Crested Gecko, native to New Caledonia in the South Pacific. "My favorite animals there are typically the rhinoceros iguanas," Collison added.A Bearded Dragon (left) lounges on Sam Gomez at the Wisconsin Reptile Expo.Ĭharlene Cardona and Phil Armstrong already have several pets including milk and corn snakes and a 2-foot-long Sand Boa. Some will be available for guests to hold and interact with while others will be for display only. The animals come from all over the country, Collison said. Snakes, lizards, frogs, arachnids, tarantulas, scorpions, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, chinchillas and more may make an appearance. Entry for children 9 and under are free while those 10 and older are $5 each.Ĭollison said that while every reptile show is different, a large variety of animals will be there, even beyond reptiles. Saturday at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds. The Lafayette Reptile Expo will take place from 10 a.m. It's just kind of a fun family event that you can learn a lot about the animals there." "It's also a place where you can buy an animal if you would like to. You can get them there for your animals, as well as tanks, supplies, feeders, things like that. "You can buy the particular things that are hard to find elsewhere. "It's a place where you can learn about the animals," Collison said. − Lafayette will be host to the first local Reptile Expo Saturday at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds at Teal Road and 18th Street.Īccording to Tony Collison, the show promoter, this is an event for animal lovers of all kinds to enjoy. ![]()
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