RCReptiles.com

[reptilehunter]

Cold creatures a hot item
Reptiles all the rage among pet owners


BY JEAN STARR
Times Correspondent

This story ran on nwitimes.com on Saturday, September 16, 2006 12:39 AM CDT

If you like your pets cold-blooded, you might want to check out the North American Reptile Breeders Conference and Trade Show. The event, on Oct. 7 and 8 at the Convention Center at Tinley Park Holiday Inn Select, offers a huge array of reptiles, a wealth of educational presentations, information and peripheral supplies.

Brian Potter, owner of Chicago Reptile House said interest in reptiles is exploding. He gives most of the credit to Steve Irwin, whose fame as the Crocodile Hunter was worldwide until his recent death.

"When he was on the weekly show, it drew millions of people," Potter said.

"No one was ever able to change people's opinion on reptiles on that large a scale."

One reason for the reptile rage, according to Potter, is their ease of care.

"With a snake you can go away for up to three weeks and all you need to leave is water," he said. "And they're great for those with allergies."

The show will draw exhibitors and their reptiles from all corners of the world. One of the hottest trends right now is ball python morphs. Potter said breeders are combining ball pythons in unusual colors and coming up with all kinds of patterns and colors. They're going for thousands of dollars, he said.

One focus of the show is education. Jim Nesci, owner of Cold Blooded Creatures in Mokena, Ill., plans to bring along some of his reptile buddies, including Big Al, a 15 year-old Aldabra Tortoise.

Nesci, who does educational programs throughout the Midwest, acquired Big Al last year. He is the largest of Nesci's entourage, tipping the teenaged tortoise scale at more than 250 lbs.

They call him Big Al the Kid's Pal, said Nesci, because he loves kids.

"I've done shows where he will go and sit with the kids for an hour and a half," he said. "He stretches his head out of his shell and lets the kids scratch his neck."

One of the things Nesci tries to hammer home to anyone interested in acquiring a tortoise is their longevity. They've found some tortoises that apparently have been alive for more than 200 years, he said.

"Steve Irwin's tortoise was 176 years old and passed away before he did," Nesci said. The two tortoise aficionados met in Chicago in 2002 for the release of Irwin's movie, "Crocodile Hunter, Collision Course."

Other members of Nesci's traveling reptile revue that will accompany him to the event include a 6-foot-long monitor lizard dragon and Lucky, the young alligator found at the DuPage water treatment plant.

Some of the other unusual reptiles that can be seen at the show include boa constrictors, crested geckos, monitor lizards, Woma pythons and Honduran milk snakes.

IF YOU GO:

What: North American Reptile Breeders Conference & Trade Show

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 7 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 8

Where: Convention center at the Tinley Park Holiday Inn Select, 18501 S. Harlem Ave., Tinley Park, IL.

Cost: is $15 for adults for a weekend pass and $8 for children under 13. Ages 5 and under are admitted free, and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts can enter for $5 with proof of membership.

FYI: (708) 932-8044, e-mail info@narbc.com , or visit www.reptileconference.com <http://www.reptileconference.com/>.

This year's show also will feature a photo contest open to all attendees. There is no entry fee and photos must be turned in by noon on Oct. 7. Color or black and white images are accepted as prints in 8 by 10 size or larger. Five categories will be judged, including snakes, lizards, turtles and crocodilians, amphibians and herps, and humans. For more information and a complete list of rules, call Bill Love, (239) 728-2390 or e-mail bill@bluechameleon.org.

Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm, directed and curated by Rob Carmichael and operated by the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Department, will display a variety of exhibits featuring venomous reptiles. They won't be for sale, but visitors will see more than 30 types of rattlesnakes, the world's largest species of tarantula and a 14-foot King Cobra. For more information, call (847) 615-4388.

[deborahbroadus]

WoW..this sounds completely awesome! I wish I could go.