I actually could not wait for this day for the past 2 weeks. I got free admission to the reptile show in Hillsboro this weekend. I went today. I'd been waiting for this for nearly 2 weeks. At first, I wasn't going to get anything this time around. So, I wasn't going to borrow any money. But then I thought to myself "What if I go there and I see something I haven't seen before, and I've always wanted?" There's quite a few of those. Day geckos are my big thing! I love them! But only the little ones. I'm not quite as fond of giant day geckos, like the Standing's day gecko. They're all beautiful, but my most favorites are the smaller day geckos. I also love frogs. I've always wanted glass frogs. They are so cool!! I also love dart frogs, but don't have the room to set them up here.
Anyways, I asked my sis to let me borrow $400 from the special savings. That's actually a savings account we set aside to make a special summer trip this year. I promised her I would only use that money if I saw something at the show that I absolutely couldn't live without. So, she got the money for me, and then I was ready. I could not wait for today to come. I don't get to go out on personal trips all that often. My sis does her doordash thing, and I am OK with that. As long as the week's work is done. That's how she usually spends her weekends. But then I am stuck here with no way out, just babysitting the dogs. I don't mind it. I love my dogs. But sometimes, I just want to go out and have a little fun for myself. This weekend I wanted to go to this reptile show.
I won't mention how I got free admission to this event, because I don't want other people taking advantage of it, but let me tell you, it has something to do with the death of Val Kilmer the other day and an April Fool's meme. LOL! Not laughing at Val Kilmer dying, I'm laughing at the situation in how it happened between me and the coordinators of the reptile show.
Anyway, so we got there. I wanted to see how this went as opposed to the last reptile show I went to back in 2021. We did have to pay $10 to park. I couldn't get that for free. Bummer!! I did not have to pay for parking in 2021. The only real requirement to get through the gate was to wear a damn mask! That was worse!! But I blame Fauci and the demoncraps. But I did manage to get my sis and myself into the event for free. It almost didn't happen though. Because the guy I chatted with apparently did not communicate with the people who were attending the entry to the event. But I showed that I did chat with him, and they said that's all they needed to see. And I asked if that could include a friend, and they said yes. So, both my sis and I got in. When I got in, I knew what I wanted, and what I didn't want to see. I love reptiles and amphibians, but a lot of people who go to these also like arachnids. I don't. So, I avoided those like the plague! Though the mantises were quite cool!
There were some people there selling puppies. One family had great dane puppies. Another family had aussie/poodle puppies. But the poodle didn't show that much, there was less than 1/16th of the poodle. They were adorable!!!! And they reminded me of Ele. Only they were red. I got to hold one! The only thing poodleish about those puppies were the tails, and the fur was softer than Ele's. Another fascinating thing I saw was this breeder, who was holding an Amazon tree boa female. I loved it! And it loved my sis. First, this lady was holding it around her neck, then when I came along, the snake saw me and I got to pet it. Then, it saw my sis, and it seemed to really take to her! I never seen a snake form an instant attraction to anyone! It went right to my sis like a puppy!!! That was one thing I saw that I almost just had to have. But I didn't get her. I'd have loved to, but I didn't. I just didn't feel she was something I just couldn't live without. So, I said no and moved on. I was sad though.
I saw another breeder who had a pair of baby yellow-headed geckos for $50. I used to have some of those! I thought about them, over and over and over again. And then I thought no. I don't need them now. Then I saw some siamese rats that I really wanted. They were nice and friendly too! I always wanted a siamese rat! I held a young male in my arm, and petted him. He fell asleep on me. I so badly wanted to bring him home. Again, I stood there for a while, thought about it over and over and over. I just could not reach a decision whether I wanted to bring him home or not. So, I put him back. Again, I was sad to do that, but I just didn't feel like he was something I just couldn't live without.
Well, one thing I can tell you for sure, the price of reptiles is sky-rocketing!!!! 20 years ago, even 2 years ago, I remember when tokay geckos were no more than $20 a piece!!! At this show, the cheapest one (with a piece of it's tail missing) was $100!!!!!!! That was just where it started!! I saw them for up to $150 and even $240!!!! Whew!!! What changed?? Did tokay geckos get on the endangered species list or something? You can go to Florida, find them in the wild, and catch them, bring them home and cage them up. It might actually be cheaper to do that than to get them from a breeder anymore. I had a tokay gecko back in 1995. He was huge! And funny too. My dog back then used to love to tease him. I would laugh every time he did that. But the poor gecko wouldn't think it's funny. Neither could get to each other, and I didn't let it go on for too long. I knew if I did, it would stress the gecko. But that gecko lasted me quite a few years! I named him Harvey.
Well, so I came home empty-handed, but full-hearted. It was fun while it lasted. But I just couldn't find anything I absolutely had to have. I did come back with some good stories to tell. This minute, I am still thinking about that boa that seemed to really love my sis! I never thought snakes made bonds with people. But it seemed this one did! Well, if you made it this far, I thank you. Here's some pics of animals I'm looking for for your viewing pleasure...
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| White-spotted glass frog |
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| Neon day gecko |
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| Gold dust day gecko |
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| Lined day gecko |
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| Peacock day gecko |
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