Opinions on tarantula/inverts show

[vounti]

Hi y'all

I was wondering what was your opinion on inverts show ? It might be a wrong name, Im talking about these big meetings of breeders when you can buy and trade

I went to my first expo today and it was awesome to see species, size, etc before buying them. It was also cool to meet and talk to breeders

but it was also sad to realize that any person wanting a blue T getting interested in a P. metallica while knowing nothing to their behavior and care

what's your opinion ?

thanks

 

[HeartBum]

Most people not already in the community don't know about the shows to start with - I only found out about them once I started buying from breeders here in the UK, and would then get emails about events etc.

I'm pretty sure most breeders who are well-established enough in this community to get a table at a show would have the common sense to ensure anyone looking to keep a more defensive or venomous T would be able to tell if the potential buyer has any sort of experience and would advise them beforehand.

 

[Pmurinushmacla]

Only thing i dont like is how some of the ts are housed to show them off to everyone. You can buy a p. Metallica anywhere without people asking how experienced you are or giving you care info if you don't ask.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Hi y'all

I was wondering what was your opinion on inverts show ? It might be a wrong name, Im talking about these big meetings of breeders when you can buy and trade

I went to my first expo today and it was awesome to see species, size, etc before buying them. It was also cool to meet and talk to breeders

but it was also sad to realize that any person wanting a blue T getting interested in a P. metallica while knowing nothing to their behavior and care

what's your opinion ?

thanks

They are interesting but I don't care a whole lot for them.

Back in the early to mid 90's I've been to a few in Chicago. At that time I was enthralled. My very close friend kept snakes and reptiles so he took me there as he needed to get rabbits for his python.

I had a blast but my friend told me that some of the animals there were smuggled. I remember seeing an African Ridgeback frog in a dog kennel for $450. Sellers put a sign on the cage 'I Bite'. Largest frog in the world.

Current times, the last one I went to was 2020. The number one thing I couldn't stand was that the people operating the building just let too many people in at once.

Literally next to impossible to move. I had fat girls backing into and off of me. I got so enraged me and a co-worker that went with me left. Think I was only in there for 15 to 20 minutes, never again.

Also my best advice only buy from reputable local or out of state breeders at these shows. People selling snakes, reptiles and some tarantulas on the side, that's a red flag so proceed with caution.

 

[cold blood]

Only thing i dont like is how some of the ts are housed to show them off to everyone.

So you would rather sellers present their animals in a manner in which they couldnt even be seen?? Most buyers would disagree.

Fact...people want to see what they are buying.

You need to keep in mind that just because you see a t in an empty deli cup or something, doesn't mean its kept that way when its not at the show.

I recently did a show last fall, my first...I sold squat and my mistake was exactly that, I presented the ts in their enclosures, which made them less visible and completely destroyed my sales for the day...this spring they are all going into deli cups so they can be easily seen buy buyers.

 

[me and my Ts]

This is where I get majority of my T’s because I don’t like shipping them. Personally I really enjoy going to these shows, it only bothers me when I see people selling baby alligators and endangered turtles, etc… also you can get much better prices on supplies, enclosures, feeders, and the tarantulas too

 

[8 legged]

Some substrate and a plastic can. This is the simplest and most useful packaging at shows. I am also of the opinion that this is absolutely fine, or how else should you offer dozens of spiders etc. on your table?

 

[spideyspinneret78]

I've had mixed experiences. On one hand they can be fantastic ways to network with/ meet people that are breeders in your area. There can be a wide variety of species available and sometimes there are great deals. However, there are also some sketchy sellers there with a lot of WC animals. I'm not going this year because the last few times were pretty disappointing. Crowded, not that much available, and much more expensive. Plus I have to make a long drive to get there since I live in a small town now. Gas prices are through the roof. When I lived in SoCal, the experience was better.

 

[viper69]

Hi y'all

I was wondering what was your opinion on inverts show ? It might be a wrong name, Im talking about these big meetings of breeders when you can buy and trade

I went to my first expo today and it was awesome to see species, size, etc before buying them. It was also cool to meet and talk to breeders

but it was also sad to realize that any person wanting a blue T getting interested in a P. metallica while knowing nothing to their behavior and care

what's your opinion ?

thanks

Shows - good
Sellers- many don’t care- bad

Only thing i dont like is how some of the ts are housed to show them off to everyone

What should they do??

 

[SpiderDan62]

Love going to expos to see large variety of tarantulas and meeting breeder and enthusiasts. Attending expo in Denver next weekend.

 

[YungRasputin]

there’s really no way for a vendor to properly vet buyers at shows but there is also no way to properly vet buyers online either - preventing novices from getting advanced/master level species comes down to in-hobby culture - which would mean people should stop with this nonsense that P. metallica “makes a great beginner species”

again, i point to the venomous snake hobby because everyone within that hobby is going to tell the novice to stick to something low level like a false water cobra, for their first venomous snake or copperhead for their first “hot” snake - as well as asking about their mentorship - no one is going to say starting off with a black mamba is ok as long as you do your research

the ladder system is good but again, a lot of this comes down to in-hobby culture and isn’t something that could be corrected via change in consumerism - never really attended any shows tbh but i plan to in the near future because I’m on the hunt for Sicariidae

 

[Liquifin]

I think shows are mostly good all around. There really isn't any other way to acqurie new T.'s or exotic pets without shows/expos other than buying online. But even buying online is a hassle in comparison to buying what you see in person. So overall, shows are much better for the win as you can ltierally see what you're getting. Now, this doesn't mean all sellers have healthy specimens, but rather it's just much more trustworthy to see what you want or are getting in-person.

Only thing i dont like is how some of the ts are housed to show them off to everyone.

A lot of people at shows are mostly unaware of certain species of animals, so a visual is going to be needed of the specimen to spark their interest in potentially getting an animal. It's much easier to just show an amazing specimen, rather than explaining what makes them so amazing when being at a show in most cases.

 

[BoyFromLA]

I have not yet seen ‘inverts’ alone show. Every shows I have been were reptile shows, and within, only a few vendors were inverts sale.

It’s fun to be around, and it’s great to get to talk to actual vendors in person, and you can save shipping cost. However, over all, if you combine entree fee, parking fee, gas fee, it’s pretty much sums up as ‘shipping cost’ itself.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

If I ever decide to go to another exotic show it'll be to look at ball pythons never tarantulas.

Then it'll boil down to who is operating the building as in admissions to overcrowding or not. So by me, never again, another distant location I would.

 

[nicodimus22]

What many people who haven't been to one don't know: there is a cover charge just to get in, before you buy a thing, so that plus the cost of gas (unless it's very close to you) are about the cost of shipping via FedEx from a reputable online dealer.

I'm not saying don't go, but if you're going mostly because you want to save tons of money on shipping, first consider how much the transportation + cover charge is.

I've been to two shows at the same building, and I got a few slings at each. There was about an hour of standing in line outdoors once the building opened. Inside, it was overcrowded, hot, and difficult to walk anywhere fast through the mob of people. It was difficult to get a good look at the species names and prices on the tables with row after row of little vials on them. It might take 15-20 minutes to have a look over one vendor's wares. (Did I mention it was overcrowded?) This was a reptile show with maybe 4 or 5 invert dealers, so most of it wasn't for me. I didn't really enjoy the experience of being there, but I ended up with some nice Ts at fair prices. I'm not really interested in going to more, unless the online dealers go away and buying options become limited.

 

[Pmurinushmacla]

So you would rather sellers present their animals in a manner in which they couldnt even be seen?? Most buyers would disagree.

Fact...people want to see what they are buying.

You need to keep in mind that just because you see a t in an empty deli cup or something, doesn't mean its kept that way when its not at the show.

I recently did a show last fall, my first...I sold squat and my mistake was exactly that, I presented the ts in their enclosures, which made them less visible and completely destroyed my sales for the day...this spring they are all going into deli cups so they can be easily seen buy buyers.

Shows - good
Sellers- many don’t care- bad




What should they do??

I buy tarantulas from dealers online without a clue what the exact specimen I'm getting looks like, because I know what I want, and I know I'm not buying from an unreputable dealer. If I knew the people selling the Ts at the show were reputable, id probably be fine with not seeing a FOSSORIAL t (arboreals set up with a cork flat are semi visible from the back, and terrestrials are visible often, but id be okay not seeing a terrestrial too) if that mean it was set up in a more comfortable environment with less stress.

I understand its not the best way to make money, and I'm not condemning the people that practice the methods mentioned. A lot of people would rather see the T in all its glory beforehand, and that makes sense. However, that doesn't make me like it any more. I guess Ts being shipped is pretty much the same thing, but at least the container serves to keep them alive.

I will agree on one thing tho. If I was buying an adult T, I would want to see it before purchase. And adult enclosures would probably take up way too much room

 

[jc55]

I know when i was a vendor at the shows my tarantulas went into clear acrylic cubes so they could be seen by potential buyers.

 

[antinous]

I like them for the sole fact that I can meet with some likeminded people. Meeting up with friends from across the country is the primary reason that I go. The husbandry items are a second and then the animals are a third as I’m at the point collection wise where I’m looking for certain species, which tend to not really be present much at shows in my experience.

 

[TweedMcQueen]

Going to my first exotics show in a couple weeks here in Indiana. I have always had my spiders shipped but that is largely due to not really checking in to shows in the area. Theoretically I like the idea of seeing exactly what I'm getting, shopping around for best prices in the same place, and being around like minded people. And not paying for shipping. Not getting my hopes to high due to it being in a smallish town.

 

[Hardus nameous]

I have not yet been able to attend a repticon but I would if given the chance. They don't strike me as any different than comic book conventions, hamfests or gunshows. Even if I'm not looking for anything specific it's fun to browse around, plus you never know what you might find.
I'm not a fan of smuggling critters; if I think someone's unscrupulous I just don't buy from them.