Repticon Exotics Show is a Big Hit in South Carolina

All over, the global economy has been hit hard, but local and not-so-local people in South Carolina are still trying to find the time and money to pursue a passionate hobby: herping. Herping is the admiration, buying, collecting, breeding, and/or studying of reptiles and amphibians. Support for this hobby was shown in outstanding numbers at the Repticon Exotics Show in Columbia, S.C. on March 28th and 29th of this year. Despite the pouring rain, reptile, amphibian, and exotic fans showed up in droves to support the breeders and experts in the herp community. The Elrod family (J&M Exotics), who puts on the Columbia Repticon show each year sent out a grateful email to all vendors and VIP attendees, thanking them for coming out an giving them one of their highest vendor and guest attendances ever.

Vendors in attendance were both locally and nationally known. Some of the most memorable names to be seen in the show on banners or sighns were Animal Supply House, Zoomed, Exoterra, Rainforest Junkys, Macspoison, and J&M Exotics, but the list goes on and on. A full list of the vendors that attended can be found at Repticon.com.

VIP attendance was high as VIP tickets got guests into the show an hour earlier than general admission and covered both days of the event. The show boasted veterans of the herp community but also lots of kids attended the show as well. There were plenty of knowledgeable herpatologists and experts there ready and willing to help teach the kids about the amazing and misunderstood creatures that make up a lot of the world's diverse ecosystems. There is even a frog-puppet who teaches children about the importance of reptiles and amphibians to the environment and the herp community.

Recent issues with the frog-killing Chytrid fungus and species extinction due to environmental damage in this time of enviromnmental awareness and "going green" has shown a light on the herp community and shows ike the Repticon Exotics Show are getting more support and attention.

With the hopes of another record attenance, Repticon will be opening its doors again in June and also in November of this year in Columbia, S.C. at the Jamil Temple. It is sure to be another wonderful experience for both herpers and non-herpers alike.