Why Reptile Expos & Shows ARE NOT TERRIBLE |

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I love reptile Expos! Hoping to see some pop up in 2021. What do you think, do you like Reptile Expos?

[@luke_is_lame]

Yeah

[@tikayle9130]

Heck yeah! I've had the same experience as you at the expos here in Utah.

[@samfish2550]

Yeah, I actually went to my first one last year.

[@xx_slimshady_xx4445]

Me too

[@tomwinkler9282]

Hopefully going to my first one the first week of February. Not looking to buy just for the experience

[@tylerrugge]

It’s silly to generalize and say all expos are bad. There are good ones AND bad ones. I’ve been to several expos in the states and can say most of them have been really good expos and I also have never experienced loose animals or people misbehaving. I’m sure there are some expos that are shady but that doesn’t mean we should demonize all reptile expos. IMO expos are one of the best places to purchase reptiles/supplies and connect with other people and learn more.

[@africanarboreals3755]

Agreed! It’s where I’ve met some of the best people for info and even making friends and connections with breeders for some deals in the future 😅

[@tylerrugge]

@@africanarboreals3755 same!! I’ve connected with so many cool people at expos

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I totally agree, and your point about generalizing being silly is bang on!

[@CMR213]

Idrk who this is targeted at since in the first 30 seconds of go herping’s video he says that he doesn’t know if it’s like this in other places.... I like wickens wicked reptiles (a lot), but I think go herpings video was just on his experiences as a seller in his area not a generalization that all expos are bad. That’s just not true.

[@briannelson3830]

I have come to enjoy your content

[@b.lonewolf417]

Another factor to consider about GoHerping: It really appears to me like a lot of his work with reptiles involves *rescue* scenarios, specifically. As such, I imagine that he must certainly be oft exposed to the bad side of reptile keeping, when he encounters animals in unhealthy state because of negligent or uninformed care. I get the impression that such experiences have a significant impact on his opinion, regarding topics such as spider balls and reptile expos. Combine that with a fact that he clearly has such a big heart for reptiles, and I can only imagine how that might engender a negative outlook. In contrast, you might imagine someone like Emily of Snake Discovery. She does participate in rescuing reptiles, as well, but she also very frequently experiences the many *positive* aspects of the reptile community and hobby. As such, she can remain grounded in reality and aware of the bad things that go on -- while still maintaining a positive outlook AND projecting that to others through her own content.

[@RoseProseFroze]

Yeah... Animal Rescue and Treatment can make you... a bit skeptical about people sometimes. Like everyone likes how bulldogs and spider ball pythons look until your the person dealing with all their health issues. Breeders are especially looked down on (at least when it comes to cats and dogs). because the bad ones outnumber the good ones in huge quantities and they contribute heavily to the overpopulation problem (I'm don't think this problem applies to reptiles yet but that might be due to how reptile people tend to have more than one animal and how hard it is to get data on rehomed animals since they all go on craigslist). TLDR Dog and cat breeders should have to get permits before they breed or they get fined because there are too many dang animals in the system.

[@ayajade6683]

He also bases in my opinion too many husbandry decisions on emotions versus research/facts

[@magickaldust1213]

Very well written comment!

[@HeccoGecco]

@@RoseProseFroze FINALLY someone who won’t just call people “uneducated” for saying certain animals with deformities/health issues shouldn’t be bred and that no one should breed (dogs & cats at least) without some kind of certification 😂

[@Diablopetnurse]

Completely agree,I’m a vet nurse and 80% of reptiles have issues due to bad husbandry- I myself have a rescue that I purchased off someone because I felt horrible for it- the owner probably shouldn’t have bought it at an expo without having any experience in reptiles

[@Matt-dc8lp]

Problem with expos is there is a lot of impulse buying...which is great at a game/card/comic book/etc expo, but less good when you're dealing with living breathing animals. People buying things when they have done little/no research on their care nor have any sort of setup for said animal. Also, often there's a lot of imports.

[@r3lativ3lyd3lib3r8]

I agree, although that's not necessarily a problem with the expo itself. Those people would likely impulse buy a reptile regardless. I see it all the time on a Facebook reptile rehoming group I'm in. People offer up a reptile and then just get a ton of random responses like "wait what is it? okay how much?" It makes me so uncomfortable to see that. Like why would you not research your new pet? Def an issue on the buyer's part and one part of the hobby that I hate 😓

[@Matt-dc8lp]

@@r3lativ3lyd3lib3r8 true, although at least at a pet store they "hopefully" get some care advice and buy the necessary equipment. I know that's a big hopefully as many pet stores are employed by teenagers with little/no experience or knowledge of the things they are selling. My experience with expos though is the sellers are so busy/distracted and it's so often loud that there's basically zero 1-on-1 time. If bought online at least the person has time to Google it and go out and buy the needed equipment before bringing home the animal.

[@crystalmarpoe9537]

Agree to the impulse buying. You should do your research before buying, give it some serious thought.

[@Jadex56]

The expo I went to two years ago, I ended up leaving with two rats and then had an asthma attack while cleaning their cage :'( Luckily the seller took them back but definitely felt awful at the time.

[@ratbones620]

In my opinion at expos breeders should be required to ask people questions about the animal they want to buy. Like housing requirements, proper diet, etc. I think it would cut down on a lot of impulse buying.

[@CaptainDumbass]

I feel that this is really just a case by case basis. Goherping talked about the expos he's gone too, WWR talked about his expo experiences, and you can only determine how good an expo is if you've gone to one. Some are good, some are bad, I dont think it's fair to say expos as a whole are good or bad.

[@badsocks756]

WWR is in Canada, that's why he's bad a different experience

[@nmc5684]

Why are mum and dad arguing?

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

GO TO YOUR ROOM!

[@Boba_dog]

​​@@WickensWickedReptilesfine...

[@Deletemeplease2]

I do want to say that GoHerping is from the south US where Repticon is the biggest con in the region. I’ve been to several Repticons and there are honestly super gross people who vend there. Just in my area, there’s a guy who sells sugar gliders who has had his license revoked multiple times due to unhygienic enclosures, did “self-neuters” without anesthesia, and stuffs at least 30 of them in a tiny cage all weekend and those gliders are all yellow as hell. He’s still allowed to vend. When I first got into reptiles and before I knew any better, I had taken home a snake with scale rot and another one with mites. There was another vendor there who had previously had all of his animals taken away because he was an animal hoarder, and a few years later he was vending BP’s. I’m in no way saying that all cons are bad and I’ve met some great people, but I definitely understand GoHerping’s issues with Repticon. I think there needs to be restrictions and higher standards set in place so they just become the new norm. Tbh they probably won’t though because Repticon is a huge cash cow.

[@bornimperfect]

Gotta agree, I go to just about every local reptile con and the only ones ive seen sick animals at has been repticon. Saw a vendor whos animals all had stuck shed, missing toes, mites and one was missing an arm and the injury looked like it was recent. it was horrifying. I also felt bad for the good vendors near that booth cause they probably got mites from that infestation. Also had a different vender who kept trying to pressure me, a brand new snake keeper, into buy a retic. All the other local cons have been great

[@brandiyoung4726]

I actually subscribe to both you & go herping and watched both videos. I live in the states, in WV. I will have to say here in my area it’s more of go herping’s version of expo. The Expo venders just go from one show to the next , and will tell you when and where the next event is. They hit several states around WV. With that said, you can usually weed out the bad venders by their looks & personal hygiene. If they don’t care for themselves , they don’t care about the animals/reptiles either. I have never seen loose animals, but I have seen some that wish they were loose.

[@ThunderOrb]

My experience has been kind of a blend. Never seen animals running loose, but I've seen flippers and people that don't care. Listened to a guy at the last one unable to tell a woman if the snake she was interested in ate frozens. You'd think he'd know if it's his snake.

[@brandieluna6459]

can u hit me up? I have never been to a show and wanted to go to the one in Richmond va in marchish.. ? am I better off just buying from MorphMarket?

[@Jadex56]

In MN and have only been to a couple shows up here. The shows I have been to arent as large as the ones in the GOHerps video but they didn't seem to have many issues that he talked about.

[@heymrhimr]

@@brandieluna6459 Late response, but I definitely recommend checking out your local expos! My rule is for handle-able reptiles that I ALWAYS handle them to check their health and personality before buying. If the breeder doesn't let me handle the reptile (assuming it's a handleable one), I don't buy it.

[@codytanksley6673]

Same. I haven't been in over a decade because of how bad it was when I was a kid. Expo was in NY.

[@thenaturecentre]

Diamond has let us down with his lack of ear nibbles

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

hahaha

[@rawritsataco]

Canadian experiencing Canadians: everyone was really honest! ... It's like a breeding ground for positivity.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

hahaha yep basically

[@megb7715]

Yeah, I feel like it's a very different experience in much of the US. Not just in the case of expos, but experiences with people in general. This is where that poor hitch hiking robot met it's bitter end.

[@rawritsataco]

@@megb7715 I love Canadian kindness. It warms my frigid yank heart

[@MrsVrba]

Kinda makes me want to move to Canada, but I’d never survive their winters...

[@dannyphantom121]

@@MrsVrba More likely u wouldn’t survive bc u can’t get a job there unless u live there for so many years.

[@thejerseyherper5320]

Is this because he only gave your room a 4 star review lol JK jk. I absolutely love reptile expos and can't wait to go when they re open

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

HAHAHA, yes, secretly super bitter

[@luke_is_lame]

😂😂😂

[@Ashtongonzalez]

😹😹😹

[@BritishSpartan87]

lol which review vid was it?

[@RealQwerty1998]

Lol I didn’t realize that was wickens reptile room when I watched that video but thinking back omg how did I not realize!

[@luke_is_lame]

Goherping and Wickens Wicked Reptiles rap battle time.🤣 Edit: thx for the likes

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

hahaha nah, I like that dude, just not his opinion on expos

[@zacsdiyreptiles7146]

Dbcb rap nuggies

[@kingsreptilekingdom]

Great idea

[@rickcroney1286]

My experiences at reptile expos, while limited, have been quite positive! We never had anyone try to force us into sales or push animals upon us. We did receive excellent information from vendors who knew we weren't going to buy now but want to get the proper knowledge to make a future well informed decision. I know there are dishonest, shady people out there but I found that the vast majority of the interactions we had were awesome! Canadian Reptile Expos Rock!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I've had much the same experience

[@Cassiopea525]

At my local expo one person sold a death stalker scorpion to a 13 year old who had never kept arachnids before. Another table spotted it, sold the kid a bark scorpion at a significant discount, and the other vendor was kicked out of the show for being irresponsible and was forced to give the kid a refund on the death stalker. The ones that sold the kid the much less dangerous bark scorpion (which they demonstrated were safe by handling bare handed before selling) educated the kid thoroughly on scorpion care and warned him to be more careful if he expands his collection in the future. I’ve heard of a snake escaping only once and was caught again quickly.

[@bridget5089]

That's awful, I've been to invert expos before and that is very disappointing to hear. That is very scary that there are people so sadistic..

[@Cassiopea525]

@@bridget5089 Our reptile expos seem to double as invert shows. But that seller was banned from the shows- and the only other people who host shows also enforced the ban so they'll never be able to sell at a local show again after pulling that. That incident made me way more confident in the shows because I saw with my own eyes how the host and most of the sellers feel strongly about responsibility. It was the talk of the show and was still being discussed at the next show. I'm glad the kid eventually got a safer beginner scorpion.

[@Pallised]

as someone from the U.S., I can say that I’ve never had an experience similar to what GoHerping described in his video. although i do live in a bigger city, even the lower-budget expos have been pleasant. all of the vendors were extremely informative, and most of them quizzed people before selling any animals.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

seems right

[@wwlchen1178]

Not a fan of the goherping guy. Every video of his is negative and critical. Now I may have been unlucky enough to click on the 2 videos where he went negative but I highly doubt it. If I want doom and gloom I'll go talk to my coworkers. I don't need that negativity.

[@maggiesaunders9713]

He’s just not afraid to share his opinion and he has high standards of care that expects people to treat their animals with. He is a little controversial in the reptile world, but I’m sure more people would seem that way if they spoke honestly about those topics. Not that Adam isn’t, everyone just has different opinions

[@wwlchen1178]

Just the way he comes across. Everything is negative and someone else's fault. Maybe I'm projecting but his tone is a turnoff. Don't need to tear people down. You find someone who is abusing their animals and keeping them in a deli cup for a week, call them out. But don't make every single vendor just like that guy. Too negative for me. I have nothing against him, his channel just doesn't appeal to me. But to each their own. And I'm not trying to bash him. Just my thoughts.

[@zacsdiyreptiles7146]

@@wwlchen1178 putting zen habitat together and complain was last straw for me to watch him. He is awkward and looks like he couldn't build a shoebox.

[@Tink00]

I love watching both you and GoHerping to get different perspectives, so I really appreciate the response video. Gonna go to my first expo in April and take both your advice with me ❤️

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Please do!

[@matthewtrigueros9450]

Goherping reviewed you reptile room, he gave it 4 stars

[@squid4399]

He knows

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

yep, he was super nice about it :)

[@squid4399]

@Stella Vrapi reviewing your sad reptile rooms or something like that

[@squid4399]

@Stella Vrapi I believe it was the third to last one

[@matthewtrigueros9450]

@Stella Vrapi Its called "Rating Your Shameful Reptile Room Setups"

[@avrilmarine3098]

When worlds collide

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Love the dude's channel, just don't agree on Expos

[@avrilmarine3098]

@@WickensWickedReptiles understandable, I do as well and saw his video on it and I don’t disagree, every expo is a bit different

[@someone-zu6lm]

I definitely felt kind of weird after watching Alex's video. I think he drew attention to some problems that can show up an uncomfortable amount in the reptile community in general including at some expos, but I would have preferred if his video were something more along the lines of "what to avoid in a reptile expo" or "good vs bad reptile expos" or "my experiences at reptile expos" because I think expos can be both bad or good. They're really quite special because they allow you to meet the vendors, see animals in person to check yourself for signs of illness, etc. Some animals might come from haphazard breeding operations, but you can do research on who you buy from before you do. Plus, you can meet more people in the hobby! The biggest downside is probably the potential for mites, for sure, since they're so contagious, but thankfully that's a very treatable problem if you happen to run into it, frustrating as it is.

[@TheScienceguy77]

Alex's video was based on his own personal experiences, he literally says it in the beginning.

[@maggiesaunders9713]

Thanks for making this video, Adam. I watched Alex’s video the first day it came out. I love both of your channels and respect you both. Looking at both sides of the story really helps, because there are truths on both sides

[@motorcitymangababe]

I see go herping video as a "you see this shit at an expo run" more than shitting on them in general but its good to be both sides of the coin from my 2 fav herping channels

[@maxglen1906]

I personally have gotten some of my favorite animals from reptile expos. I love them because you get to see them in person and get to actually know the breeder than instead of just buying online.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I also love them

[@galanthius8924]

The shadeeeeee

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

hahaha wellllll

[@LaBelleGeckos]

Here we have a few known vendors that misrepresent wild caught as captive bred. And at least one that has known animal trafficking and poaching convictions. We also have some outstanding vendors even in our little local show. Overall I do think they do more good for the hobby then bad.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I agree, some bad but mostly good

[@abbyb.3980]

It does depend on where you live, I think. In places where reptile keeping is more common, I think expos tend to have higher standards. But where I live, our local expo is a nightmare. I’ve seen loose animals, dead animals, people buying from one table and then selling it for a higher price at their own. Bins on bins full of emaciated, dehydrated imports. Mill bred sugar gliders. Sooooo many shady vendors. I saw a man put a baby corn snake in his mouth and another man tried to get me to take a silkie bearded dragon that looked... terrible. I no longer go to expos because I’ve been so turned off by them and if there was a good breeder vending there, I kept their information and followed their social media so now I don’t even have to go to an expo to see what they have. I think if the expo had better leadership they could turn things around for the better, but I honestly don’t see that happening soon. So I sympathize with Goherping because his experience seems very similar to my own, and it really makes you want to back out of the hobby completely if I’m being honest. (Now I’m debating on going back just to covertly film what goes on.)

[@Mark-rc8kg]

you should make that wild caught video. or maybe wild caught vs captive bred pros and cons. i think clints reptiles made one similar but it’d be cool to hear your take

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

good idea

[@queetschy682l]

In that regard thinking about invasive species might be interesting. As they are often hunted where they are invasive, wouldn't it be better to catch and sell them to people who appreciate and care for them.

[@Mark-rc8kg]

@@WickensWickedReptiles thank you. not that there are too many or any pros for wild caught 💀but i think you get what i meant

[@StupidCatLady]

I see both sides, but I think there needs to be a bit more self regulation from the companies that host the expos. This would protect the reptiles and consumers. Scams are common, sick animals are common. We just need to work as a community to improve the over all environment of expos. :)

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

depends on the expo I guess

[@StupidCatLady]

@@WickensWickedReptiles I does. I've been to a few and had good experiences, but I've had friends in the hobby who have dealt with bad vendors and sick animals at expos. I do appreciate that the hobby is in a way, self regulating. It makes me proud to be part of this community. Now we can work together to continuously improve our community :)

[@earthlovingmomma1703]

Go herping is burnt out on reptiles, and it shows. His content has down graded alot in the last 6-10 months.

[@danib2326]

he’s been going through a transition which may make it seem like he’s ‘burnt out’ but also he has expressed in videos that he did get tired of making the same type of content not that he was tired of the animals themselves

[@sonnygibson6679]

@@danib2326 true

[@earthlovingmomma1703]

@@danib2326 I'm one of those people that if you're burnt out, make a change. Dont keep doing the same stuff if it isnt making you happy. I understand transitions, but his content is suffering from it.

[@AuroraExotics]

Well said! Can't wait for expos here to get up and running again. The social experience is another plus!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

totally agree!

[@Sam-rt6hy]

I respect both of you guys and it’s cool to see both sides of the argument. While I wish all expos in the US where similar to those in Canada, i’ve also experienced some of the things that Alex talked about in his videos. Dont get me wrong- I absolutely agree that the positive outweighs the negative- but there are very much so things that we need to fix at expos here in the US. I also don’t agree with your shipping point, because animals are given either hot or cold packs during shipping to help regulate temp and at expos they have nothing. This was a great video and it’s awesome to have someone outline the positives for once 😊

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I do try to show the positive sides :)

[@dan_ta_lion]

Some vendors do provide heating in their cases, shipping reptiles are a much risky path since usually Fed ex guys do not care about live animal packages, Alex recently got a ball python with a slight wobble (it was a morph without issues), he suspected it was caused by the heat pack being taped loosely and it dropped on the head of the snake, it died eventually. I honestly heard more horror stories from shipping reptiles than reptiles being displayed in deli cups.

[@errinwellman1960]

In my humble opinion, this is by far the superior channel. I don't think we need to tear anyone down to build someone up. But the big pluses on this channel- transparency on knowledge limits, down to earth, never tried to fake it. Every single animal has top tier care. And even through your move the animals looked well cared for.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

wow, thank you!

[@rhyno1351]

I like go herping too, but the best part of his channel is the one where he’s on laughing gas. Other than that WWR is the better channel

[@IzzyAndAndy]

Yeah, I like goherping, but a lot of his takes lately, on here and his other platforms, have been pretty ill informed. :/

[@SwingAndAMiss.]

Reptile Expos are one of my favorite passtimes They are also where I like to bring friends if they are skeptical about having reptiles as pets. They realize just how cool and varied all the species are, and usually end up becoming very fascinated with one species or another

[@dontreply8346]

Respect for mentioning the other channel’s video. It was the first thing I thought of when I saw your video recommended right after that video. Makes me want to subscribe!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I appreciate that!

[@rileymcnalley4184]

The only loose animal I ever saw at a reptile expo, was a giant tortoise walking around, with an entourage of his keepers and people amazed at seeing a tortoise so big

[@dynamosaurusimperious6341]

Remember the Steve Irwin Show. I use to saw it last year at 6:00 A.M. when everyone was sleep,and it was just such amazing show

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

yeaaaa

[@dynamosaurusimperious6341]

Yea,sadly i didnt excatly watch all of the episodes tho

[@rp573]

That little young dude is always trying to prove something isn’t up to his standards. I quit watching for that reason

[@Dana-kj9qo]

I’m glad I’m not the only one who got that vibe

[@ayajade6683]

Doesn't help his standards are often outdated information or emotional decisions. Tbh he has burn out on reptiles

[@MrsVrba]

How old IS he? He looks like a high school student, but he’s living on his own, so he can’t be THAT young...

[@lazyplatypua9643]

Thank you for this video. I'm having my first reptile expo here in Russia in a few months, and I was a little nervous about buying an animal there, but now I'll probably bring home one new friend after it.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

hope you have a great time :)

[@ForeverLumoz]

Another amazing reptile channel is Snake Discovery. They have a couple of videos about buying at expos. Try checking them out alter this one.

[@jeramiahneyland1603]

In America it’s very different we have a higher ahole to normal people ratio 😂 don’t tell me other wise

[@reaganalice6207]

I'm totally stealing that line lmao

[@jeramiahneyland1603]

@@reaganalice6207 😂

[@violetsongbird761]

I stopped supported GoHerping a few years back because he came out with several videos in which he was against taking reptiles to vets which is a horrible and irresponsible thing to promote to his audience that is mostly children and inexperienced keepers. I also had a very negative experience with the community he cultivated on his discord server and a lot of bullying went on that neither he nor any of his mods did anything to stop.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

yeah reptile vets are very important to this hobby

[@AlienTheCat007]

Eeeeyo I commented something similar on his channel. Honestly though it just depends on where you are here in the states, because every state is different...every county in the states are different. It even depends on what city you are in. Like, micro level regulations and quality control in America, so I wouldn't doubt that his experience was vastly different from mine, for example. Just have to have a good head on your shoulders and Expos are fine and like you said, a really great and positive way to support people who love animals as much as you do!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

thankss o much for watching :)

[@John3-17]

This is so great. My fiancée were talking about this, this past weekend. She is very new to the hobby, and we were talking and expos came up. So we had a pro and con conversation about expos.

[@Alicia.Marie.13]

I love our local expo but unfortunately I have heard some sketchy stuff from others from the states. I think Alex has high expectations and I respect that. I'm glad he shed light on some things but you are right there are definitely GOOD expos!

[@Kate22192]

A lot of it probably comes down to personal experience. Sounds like he unfortunately experienced a bunch of bad ones.

[@doommarauder3532]

Here in sweden its illegal to ship living animals except for insects. Never been to an expo but its really convenient for alot of people to meet up in one place to get feeders and animals.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

they sure are great!

[@emilycooper6539]

I’ve seen lose animals in the Chicogo expo and I wish they wouldn’t just sell to anyone but it’s far better than pet shops because theses people know their stuff and if people care to ask they will help them get the right stuff and push them to do much research!

[@nicoleknight2059]

Thanks for making this. The other video popped up on my feed and I rolled my eyes so hard I saw the future. I have vended a reputable expo and can say from both sides it's mostly positive.

[@fuzzymelon1261]

my grandpa would take me to expos just for fun. I loved to look at the animals and even hold some. we never bought anything bc we knew we couldn't care for it. I fell in love with cresties and Leos bc they were so darn cute

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

very cool!

[@cierrabuntz4880]

I wouldn't say his channel is better than yours, I've really become disappointed in it honestly. It's very hypocritical to say that its wrong to put animals in deli cups for a few days and to "flip" animals when your business is based off of flipping, selling and shipping animals across the US. Also, being an LVT I get pretty tired of the constant shitting on the veterinary industry. (don't get me started on the raw cat food vid). I said this in a comment on his video, that the expos I have been to here in Vegas have been great, just as you have described in Canada. Odds are, the animals are treated much better by breeders than in most chain or reptile stores. I love expos and I've been waiting for them to come back to purchase more critters and to also expose some friends of mine that aren't too keen on reptiles. Great video Adam.

[@tangofett4065]

I’ve never been to a reptile expo since I’ve only been a reptile owner for about a month. I couldn’t imagine though that there are a lot of laws being broken and the animals being mistreated. These are people that center their lives around the pets that they sell and care for. I could be wrong, but I don’t think that it was be as bad as it’s been made out to be. Btw, you and the “Leopard Gecko” channel (that lady from the UK), are my favorite reptile channels. I also like Elle’s channel as well. Since I’ve gotten my first reptile, I keep rotating all of your channels repeatedly. All of your channels make me happy about my new pet and also make me want to expand my reptile family

[@spider_flash509]

Unfortunately there’s always money hungry people. For example those that breed spiderball pythons and sell them as a pretty, beginner snake to people who don’t know the truth about the morph. Some breeders may also not give their snakes a lot of space or enrichment. Power feeding is also a thing, where you make a snake eat more than is healthy so it grows super fast and big, but dies very early. There’s a lot of good, but sadly there’s bad too.

[@MagicMusicSbGl]

I saw someone buy a hognose at one table and walked over, grabbed a new deli cup, wrote a higher price, and tried to sell it •-•

[@shaynjones110]

Well now I am nervous for the reptile quiz 👁👄👁💧

[@zyephenz8466]

I don't really watch Goherping anymore. He did a video talking about buying animals from people on cragslist a while back and he just sorta outed himself as kind of a shitty person who will swindle and lie to the people he's buying from if he can. I think he applies his own dishonesty to other people and sees other people through that warped lens. Like he thinks of doing it himself so assumes other people must think and do the same. He's just a very negative person. Your vids on the other hand are always positive and constructive, so I appreciate that.

[@soraxstacy1477]

I've been in two Reptile Expos, and both of them were extremely bad. I saw a handler duck tape a python's mouth just so that people can take pictures with it. They were also beardies being sold by almost most of the vendors that were in extremely poor health, Chameleons where they were practically all bones and that was my first expo.

[@log-qv3sn]

☹

[@amyb5339]

I try really hard to bring ppl up on the comments, because it is SO easy to squash the very essence out of some nice person by throwing a bunch of shade (no bueno). This is my honest forthright assessment of character. You, Adam, are positive, and have an overall hale fellow well-met attitude that many of your viewers appreciate (maybe some Canadian character seeping out, eh?). Goherping does not share these qualities (he is a whiney downer with only mildly interesting content) , which is why I do not watch or sponsor his channel, regardless of how many Teslas he owns. 'Nuff said. Thanks Adam.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

thanks for the kind words :)

[@emrichardson8192]

Right! He comes across as a know-it-all little snot most of the time. snobby and Condesending about everything from the animals to his car. I've always tried to aviod watching his stuff, but I get sucked in just by the array of different animals that ends up coming through his "company". despite knowing I have to bear through watching that kid. Id much rather watch someone who acknowledges when things arent the best but is uplifting in encouraging us all to do better. Instead of acting like a little brat.

[@reptimom8842]

Well said. I cannot stand his content either. WWR saying hes probably better than him is such an insult to wickens. Especially with the stuff goherping puts on his discord. (Like his tegu killed one of his other lizards) ontop of the overall death count of his animals. I cannot support someone who doesn't put their animals first. WWR doesnt have to try and convince me he cares, it shows in every intro how happy he is and how much he loves his animals. (And how much Diamond loves his ear 😄) The same cannot be said for Go Herping.

[@Polygonyall]

@@reptimom8842 wasn't that afroherpkeeper?

[@itbethatway2]

You really can't handle deadpan humor lmao, nothing wrong with his vids, hes pretty realistic and I appreciate that he doesnt sugarcoat things

[@samirabythesea]

I do think not liking expos due to personal experiences is perfectly fine, as various expos in various locations can be good or bad and it just depends on your location I think. I’ve never been to one but I’ve been to conventions where reptile sanctuaries have some animals on display and for people to interact with, but I’m hoping later this year I can go to one!

[@waverindarkness3385]

Re: the felon thing. I haven’t seen the other guys video yet but what is the issue with felons selling animals? It’s so difficult to get a job or a house after you’ve had a felony. Why not sell reptiles instead of getting caught up in shady shit? It’s a GOOD thing. Edit: ok turns out they were convicted of animal abuse and are still able to sell animals. That’s kinda messed up.

[@gavin5239]

Depends on the felon honestly.

[@capnmoby13]

We love our expo here in Utah. We were lucky enough to have it in October, with social distancing rules, reservations for entrance to control the crowds, and it was awesome. It was refreshing to be able to look at what the vendors had to offer without fighting crowds!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

That is awesome! I miss expos

[@jamfamreptiles1286]

Agree with your thoughts 100% on the expos. I live somewhat close to you in Cambridge and went to the Toronto expo alot with my son and bought some reptiles there and cant wait to go back when things go back to normal. Alex's channel was something I went to alot but unfortunately for a while his interest seems to have dropped off imo. I like your positive honest no conflict content and I think you do a better job. Keep it up my friend!

[@xx_slimshady_xx4445]

I’m just happy you ended up in his reptile room video:)

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

and he was so nice about it too!

[@xx_slimshady_xx4445]

@@WickensWickedReptiles he really seemed to like it though

[@michaelpryor78]

If it wasn't for expos, a lot of breeders wouldn't be able to breed. Simple as that. When you have a crazy huge KZbin channel that you make money on like GoHerping, it's easy to sit there and condemn certain aspects of the trade

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

fair point

[@victorg7036]

I have had a seller tell me that a Ball python I've bought is eating F/T rat pup regularly but I later found out that the snake would only eat live small rats, was extremely picky and extremely shy. Its so shy that if it even sees me trying to feed it, he won't eat for 2 or 3 weeks and i have had a couple pet rats because of that.

[@FunkyGeckos]

I think every expo has it's pros and cons. I have seen shows with alligators, yes alligators (in Arizona must I add), sitting on the floor and being used as a prop to sell products. I've also been to a show recently where every seller was following guidelines and making it a point to educate and do things right. Expos I think reflect the hobby as a whole. We have some amazing people in it and some not-so-great people and all it takes is a group of not-so-great people to ruin the image of expos for someone. I think it's good to have discussions like this. If we assumed everything was good OR bad, nothing would change. Excellent video Adam!

[@jeffbing6689]

GoHerping is starting to remind me of Stan Marsh when he gets diagnosed with Cynicism,I still like he’s channel, thanks for staying positive

[@trisha2286]

Go herping isn't senile. Reptile expos in the US can sometimes be unregulated, ran improperly, be sketchy, etc. I'm not saying its always the case, but enough times to be a problem. Also, I've had a seller at expo near me sell me BP that was sick (I didn't know at the time) and didn't live more than a week. This was a few yrs ago now, but I think bout sometimes and get sad

[@BlakeHunter44]

The Repticon that comes to my city has always been a good experience. The breeders want to be there and care about their animals. I watch GoHerping because i’m interested in the content, but I do think he’s a bit too cynical about certain aspects of the hobby

[@spider_flash509]

That’s great that the people care about the animals. I think alex’s cynicism comes from his experience being more of a rehome and rescue type channel/person rather than a breeder. So he more likely only sees the bad parts.

[@BlakeHunter44]

@@spider_flash509 that’s true. I’m sure when dealing with people trying to get rid of reptiles, you have to deal with some of the less enjoyable people in the hobby

[@danimoller9465]

Dang man he called us in the US out😂 I’m sure that has happened or happens at US reptile expos. I’ve never been to one but now I really want to!!! If only the world wasn’t shut down.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I miss expos

[@danimoller9465]

@@WickensWickedReptiles I get that. I miss everything man like being able to go to places like an expo or even a movie theater without a mask/just in general. I loved the video also I never knew how interesting and really cool expos were!

[@incognito602]

This makes me feel so much better about getting my first reptile at an expo! I'm waiting for a western canada expo to buy a hognose, as I've heard there are some for much cheaper. Most non-expo hognoses I've seen have been around 1000, and I just can't afford that without risking future care costs.

[@eleanorhancox899]

I really cant exactly comment on the expos because of how late I started in the hobby, and was never able to go to one, but I don't think everything there is bad or good. There are always perks, good or bad that we just have to work through. Also Adam thanks so much for the variety in your videos! I always enjoy all the fun ideas everyone on this channel has, it really keeps every body interested and stimulated!

[@Paula-sw2tt]

Only had one bad experience at a reptile show and I have been to many. A vendor sold my daughter a sick African fat tail gecko. Azure took it to a vet a couple of days after she got it, because it would not eat. The vet said that it had been sick for a while and provided some medicine. The gecko did not survive. I later found out from the breeder of most of my cresties and gargs that the vendor who sold my daughter the gecko was getting a bad reputation. But that seems to be a one off.

[@kyleeanne229]

the expo’s in illinois are just 1 day, once a month. some vendors will go to nearby states the same weekend, but not all will. I love expos! they’re a good environment for learning about animals, and seeing a wide variety of species all in one space

[@cory1275]

I live near goherping and I have to agree with him. I bought a snake from the “felon” and it was very, very sick. I also looked at a snake who had ticks. We need better regulation here in the US! Otherwise, I love meeting local breeders and getting supplies!

[@appalachiabrauchfrau]

I've couch surfed and freight hopped in the area pretty substantially and I know a group of crusties who catch and sell after pooling their money for a table at each con on the coast if they can hitch to them, they get a pretty good profit. People want to see the best in their community but there's shady corners in every room.

[@Katiethewizard]

Yeah i definitely think this is a matter of Canada vs. the US. In the US there are a LOT of unregulated reptile shows with super dubious people, whereas in Canada it sounds as if they are a lot better vetted. Especially in places like Texas, the culture in some places is very not reptile friendly, and sometimes you might find the same people rounding up rattle snakes for death are the people selling reptiles at shows. The midwest/ east/ west is better about this as the expos in the St. Louis area are amazing!! I would LOVE to go to a show in Canada, they sound great😭😭

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

wait, you have shady wildlife people in a state that has more tigers than in the wild population of their native range... NO WAY! hahaha

[@Katiethewizard]

@@WickensWickedReptiles I know right?? Crazy LOL 😂 Also I wanted to say that I love the positivity you bring to reptile community. My leo Gumby definitely appreciates it too as some of your videos inspired me to get the lil guy! Stay positive❤

[@jaslyn3705]

Another aspect is that i only got into reptiles through an expo! There were attended in my city every quarter of the year and i loved to go there just to look at all the cool animals :D till one day i was finally able to buy my first ball python. Without that oppurtunity to go and see all the vendors with their animals i probably wouldnt have choosen a reptile as a pet.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Thanks for sharing!

[@christinapalmrose114]

I am new to owning herps but I can definitely understand why GoHerping has become disillusioned with the community (and expos). As someone new here this is what I have noticed: 1. There is a collecting type mentality with reptiles vs other pets. It seems to be that people want morphs and because they want a lot of animals they justify lower quality care. “Why have just three reptiles in large ideal enclosures when I can have 20 with bare minimum care?” 2. Reptile breeders don’t seem to vet their buyers. You say that they do at your expos but that hasn’t been what I have seen. Most don’t seem to care if the people buying the animal even know how to properly care for it. 4. Many regular people are breeding their reptiles “just because” but don’t really care if they will be able to find a home for what they produce. 5. Many breeders are breeding for what looks cool with little thought for the health of what they are breeding (*cough cough* spider ball pythons). 6. There is a difference between being in a deli cup with no hides under bright lights vs a dark box for shipping. These animals at expos are obviously stressed and arguably unnecessarily. They could be shown in better enclosures. I can only assume that they are not due to the volume of animals breeders want to show and ease of showing. 7. Popular KZbin channels have posted finding random reptiles at expos. Emily found a five stripe skink(?) in one of her videos. I really appreciate how honest GoHerping is. Many KZbinrs like the “positive spin”. Sure listening to Clint or Emily is informative. But I really like how real GoHerping is. I hope he can regroup. It would be a shame to see him go.

[@dan_ta_lion]

Um how does shipping in a box a better option, at least in delis they can be monitored while in shipping you sometimes get a dead animal, usually fed ex/usps delibery guys are careless when it comes to live animal packages, Ive heard more horror stories from shipping reptiles than in reptiles being displayed in delis. Reptiles will only be under lights for 6-8hours at most.

[@brutusinthesin5883]

Goherping isn't being real he is being pessimistic.

[@kevinthegrizzly5074]

The reptile expos down here are AWESOME! We purchased two our best feeders from our expo. They were both healthy and the breeder, SMS morphs, had METICULOUS records. Our expo is head and shoulders above the big box pet store chains. They have the best prices on supplies and food, PERIOD. Keep up the excellent work Adam. Thanks 👍🏾 buddy. Take care ,🇺🇸🇨🇦.

[@juelz713]

Yes, I would like to see a video on wild caught and the websites that sell wild caught.

[@spiderj379]

Hey Wickens. You should make a video about whether you should use newspaper/paper towel or substrate. "Top 5 Substrates to use for your reptile" "Should you use paper towel or substrate?"

[@acedaggie15]

While you're talking about other youtubers... can someone talk about Brian B.'s egg cutting? I get egg cutting can be fine, but when comparing him to how Snake Discovery does their egg cutting his seems less ok. ie he doesn't wait for first pip, and he makes a much bigger cut. Also, he doesn't follow up as often when it comes to hatch and survival, and that always makes me wonder.

[@jaykrizzle]

Does egg cutting cause pain or harm an animal? I dont think so

[@acedaggie15]

It's not that egg cutting is harmful when done properly, but when you start cutting eggs when they are 'supposed' to be ready it can be harmful. Development can be temperature dependent and if you open them up when the embryo isn't developed to where it needs to be it can kill the snake when maybe it would have lived. I just want someone to talk about his egg cutting practices compared to other youtubers, and I wish B.B would do some MORE follow up after egg cutting.

[@KatDeel]

Are there bad individuals at expos? Yes. Are expos as a whole bad? No. When I first got into the hobby years ago, I started going to expos and I've learned so much from them. Before we had tons of forums, expos were one of the best ways to get information from experienced keepers. It's also a fun way to introduce people to reptiles, because it's an opportunity to see so many unique creatures. I think we, as a community, need to do better in weeding out bad keepers/breeders and collectively raise our standards of care. Overall, I think there are more positives than negatives, but definitely still a need for further regulation (from within the community). Its been so long since I've been to an expo (thanks covid!) and I really miss getting to be around all the animals and fellow enthusiasts!

[@itbethatway2]

I don't see how this is much of a response to anything. If you went to american expos and had experiences there I'd see your point but you are talking about an expo experience from a completely different country, so while I'm glad that you had positive experiences this doesn't bring anything to what goherping was trying to discuss.

[@ayajade6683]

Considering many other reptile channels go to expos in the United States and have the opposite experience he's in the minority of what actually occurs

[@itbethatway2]

@@ayajade6683 exactly this

[@jordanh6760]

It might be different in the US. There is for sure an epidemic of terrible animal owners and sellers. If all expos were like you say, it would be great.

[@subhub637]

I never realized how many reptiles were wild caught. I went on morph market and underground reptiles has SO many wild caught. Chameleons, monitors, tree boas 😬😅

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

100%

[@subhub637]

@@WickensWickedReptiles Could you make a part two to this video? I feel like there is ways we could improve the reptile expos to cut out the bad breeders if that makes sense. My brothers gf won’t go to the expo with me next month because she believes most of the breeders there don’t care for the reptiles. Also i really love your point in the video about if you are against the containers in expos you gotta be against shipping because they are in there longer or around the same time.

[@thereaIitsybitsyspider]

I've seen people walk around wearing snakes and scorpions, but never reptiles running around on the floor.

[@fexxkarp4962]

Wooo~~ goherping crossover when

[@margodeheij8976]

Carefully optimistic that in the second half of this year we might be enjoying another expo in my country. So looking forward to meeting, greeting, smelling lol, and seeing what's new. On topic; my experience with expos is more like that of WWR. I live in the Netherlands and vendors at the expos I have been to generally really care for their animals and the hobby, are friendly and pleasant to deal with, and willing to share information. They are often people whose hobby got big, or really, really big :) That said, Adam's remark about the hobby policing itself is something we see over here, as well. We all realise that reptiles are not the most mainstream pets and want to avoid getting a bad rep with the public.

[@ordainedhydra3628]

In my experience, the shows in the North Eastern United States are some of the best ones to go to. The Manchester Reptile Expo in New Hampshire is a good with vendors like NERD being there, and the New England Herepetological Society hosting educational seminars during the expo. Really the most sketchy thing I've seen there was when some guy's concealed carry firearm (no weapons allowed on the premises btw) fell out of his holster and onto the floor next to me and the vendor I was talking to.

[@missmorzilla]

I love my local shows. The people there have always been people that care about about the animals they sell. If there are problems you can bring it up to the people running it and it gets addressed. I've been slowly building some relationships with some of the vendors aswell and they go above and beyond to give the best service. I've seen some vendors that are definitely a little green. I walked up to a table to look once holding some of the tarantulas I got from other vendors. Some people were asking the vendor some questions and the vendor looks at me with my tarantula mask and arm full of ts and goes "oh you should ask her because she looks like she knows alot" which is a little offputting but that's definitely not everyone of them. Most have been in the hobby for forever and are very knowledgeable. I've never been pushed into a sale. The closest thing was when I got my ivory millipedes and the guy gave me a big discount for getting 10 instead of just a few.

[@tiahan603]

Great video could you make a video about uromastyx care lighting and heating

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Yes, soon

[@shannonwallace168]

I'm looking forward to my first one when the world opens up. The UKs big expo from what I've seen is run well, everyone is extremely friendly, and they do care about the animals. I have chatted to a few of the staff/volunteers, and they're just lovely, and have pointed me towards information, and the best places to stay, booths to visit, and a good pub the night before! They do also ban certain morphs such as Spider royals, enigma leopard geckos etc, which seems to have been well received too. Another brilliant video :)

[@laurelh1975]

I think part of the issue is simply the Canada v. America aspect of it. While I do understand the point you're making, that generalizing is bad, in a way...you sort of make that point too but in a positivity way? And a lot of your points stem back to "I've never seen.." "I personally.." Don't get me wrong, I know GoHerping was essentially doing the same thing.. except that I feel he's been more directly involved in expos in the past, and gotten information from other sellers/buyers. So you and he are both generalizing for the locality of expos you get. (And I am not saying all American expos are bad, all Canadian expos are good. Just pointing out you guys are looking at essentially a different sampling, if you wanna call it that.) Frankly I'm glad for GoHerping's video because until now, I have only come across videos shouting their praises and downplaying any issues you may encounter. I'm not saying it's totally embittered me and I'll never go to or buy at an expo, but it just helped me personally to mentally balance the scales (no pun intended) and not go walking into them like they're the best thing since sliced bread. At the end of the day, I think it's simply to help people be more aware of the issues they may encounter, so they have a better idea of what to look for in a seller and to know what to steer away from.

[@zarbev]

I regularly go (or rather, went) to an expo here in Germany and the only problem I ever had was a guy trying to randomly push a breeding pair of hognose snakes on me even though I literally was only asking him if they WERE hognose snakes because I'd never seen one in real life (and the tank was labelled ball python, which didn't help). Anyway, I got my ball at that expo from a really nice professional guy, so I can't hate it, because it brought me my Tumsh

[@sagealeese3919]

Floridian here! I’ve only been to one here, but it was pretty normal. It was very small. Mainly leos and bps. It wasn’t amazing but it wasn’t bad either.

[@scottmcconnell1296]

I used the expos to get my children interested in reptiles and amphibians when they were small, and to expand my own horizons. Plus, just fun to see what is being bred in captivity now. Yes, there can be shady people there just like at any event. Be educated and be cautious, but most dealers are great and helpful people.

[@ProfessorHerp]

The most important thing about expos is the free sharing of information among hobbyist. Its just like conferences in different topic areas that present publications. Being able to meet up and discuss husbandry is SUPER important. Look at Tinley and all the BIG breeders/keepers that go there.

[@rust-2450]

The fact that reptile expos seem to really encourage impulse buying is what makes me tend to dislike them. Perhaps that's just because I'm new to the reptile world, and I'm not used to it, but seeing people just be encouraged to impulse buy animals stresses me out. I already have two rescues that were originally bought from an expo nearby. One leopard gecko bought by a child who gave it extreme mbd and stuck skin, and one very sick axolotl who was kept in a heated tank with a turtle. A responsible breeder would have realized these two people didn't know about the species and shouldn't be buying them, but with how fast sales go at expos it can be hard to properly educate or interview buyers

[@ox-micha-xo]

It's mainly ok where I live but they do monopolize mice selling, have gotten lied to/sold bad Tokay geckos (seller said they were thin cuz they laid but they were sold caught and he just flips whatever he can find) but they kicked him out of the show. Not perfect locally, but the ARE some great sellers/ppl, some are shady. Maybe the ppl that run your venue are more disciplined then they are in small towns in the U.S.

[@Beamin439]

my only "meh" experience from a breeder at an expo was when i was buying crested geckos from him and i asked him about housing females together. he said he does it all the time and has been housing females together for 20 years of gecko breeding with 0 problems. so i bought 2 females to live together in 1 tank. that lasted about 2 months before i had to go buy another tank because they were fighting. doesnt mean the guy was lying necessarily. its just ironic. like seriously? 20 years of breeding thousands of geckos and housing all the females together and youve had 0 problem. i buy 2 females and they start fighting within months.

[@Psychoclaw]

I've gone to expos in the US off and on since I was 12 and I'm 35 now. While there's always some interesting characters, I've never seen loose animals or animals in horrible condition, and I've absolutely never felt unsafe or worried that I'm surrounded by felons? There is one guy who always has some super political stuff up at his table, so I just don't buy from him :D In my experience, if a seller doesn't take good care of their animals, the rest of the community comes down on them, which is super easy to do now with internet reviews.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

agreed!

[@webbrowser6454]

I've been in the hobby and going to expos for 15+ years. Almost always a positive experience, say 98% of the time. However the last point you made about the vendor quizzing you reminded me of the last show I attended. So I bought a snake hook and was still perusing when I got to the aisle where the hot vendors tend to bunch up. Dude sees me with the hook and starts giving me the ol' sales pitch, "hey you look ready" this and that. I tell him it's just for tap training and the wife wont allow anything stronger than tarantula venom. I look and they're beautiful, rhinos, gabbys, mambas... They are very pretty. And very "cool". But its just not in the cards for most people and this dude was coming on pretty hard like the used car salesman just trynna hook you in with that test drive. Needless to say, I said no thanks. Just thought I'd make a point that there are vendors like that, willing to push anything onto an ignorant customer who doesnt know what they're getting themselves into just to make a buck.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

cool!

[@samirabythesea]

this is my third comment on this video but I do enjoy seeing both viewpoints being presented in respectful and professional manners without it being like confrontational or anything.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

no need for confrontation, just wanted to show my view :)