Creepy, crawly, slithery critters abound!  The reptiles at the 12th Annual Sacramento Reptile Show were the stars at the Sacramento Convention Center.  The show, which began Saturday, will continue through Sunday and should average about 10,000 reptilian enthusiasts and animal fans alike over the weekend.

With strollers packing in the 15,000 square-foot Exhibit Hall, people of all ages appeared amazed at the wide selection of chameleons, bearded dragons, pythons, and poison dart frogs.  Vendors with colorful signs were selling everything from reptilian food, assorted enclosures and incubators.  Many of the vendors were offering promotional discounts for this special show.

Jeremy and Angel Epstein, of Upscale Reptiles and Pets to Go, began the Sacramento Reptile Show to help educate the public on how to responsibly care for their pet reptiles.  Started in 1998 as a 10-vendor show at a hotel, the show has proven to be immensely popular, now averaging about 3,000 reptiles, 80 vendors and 40 professional reptile breeders with educators and suppliers.

"We really do our best to reach out to the families," Angel Epstein said.  "That is our future. We are very excited about the industry.  We want the hobby to continue."

Vendors and breeders play an important role speaking directly to families about buying pet reptiles so they know exactly what they are getting into, she said. This helps families plan a budget on what they will spend on their reptile, and how large the animal will grow, she said.

Dave Collings, breeder with Rainbows-R-US Reptiles, promotes two different types of snakes: the boa constrictor and rainbow boa.

The price of snakes depend on the breed, the sex and the coloration, he said.

"Exotic males tend to be worth more at first than the females, then as time goes on the females become more valuable," he said.

With corn snakes or leopard geckos in the $25 to $30 price range, families will find a reptile within their budget.  However, all native species or venomous or imported animals are not for sale.

Reptile newcomer Elisa, and mom Glenda chose to purchase a baby corn snake at the show.

"Originally, it was going to stay at school with her [eighth grade] science class," said Glenda, "but at the end of summer it will come back to [our] house," Glenda said.

"My cousin got one and I wanted to get one," Elisa said.  The corn snake will live for about 10 to 15 years, she said.

Fostering respect through education was an important message throughout the show. Julie Allen, naturalist and environmental educator at Nature's Critters, performed an hour-long demonstration bringing out normally "scary" creatures for children to touch and hold.  Allen's educational programs and activities encourage young children to appreciate and question the world around them.

"When you are a young child and you love animals, it carries on into your adulthood," Allen said.

Allen spoke of her belief that people should not be afraid of reptiles and crawling critters.

"I teach kids to not get [certain] animals as pets," she said. "And when they do adopt a pet, I teach them to care for them."

"The children learn to value life," she said. "When they see a snake or a spider, they don't scream and want to kill it; instead, they appreciate the animal and leave them alone."

These values are exactly what Christian is hoping to teach his 3-year-old daughter Pandora.

"I am an animal enthusiast, all around," he said.  "Any opportunity to get out and see cool animals is great." 

Along those same lines, Laurel Peterson, a biology teacher at Salida Middle School in Salida California, began the Reptile Education Club to nurture her love of reptilian creatures, and inspire her students to be involved with wildlife wonders.

"I love snakes," she said. "A principal came to me with the idea of starting my own club. I have been doing this for 21 years now."

Peterson's club members are mostly sixth graders. All of the students, and parent volunteers, handle snakes, geckos, and lizards while answering questions and letting other children hold the animals for the very first time.

Mya, 7, appeared thrilled to hold a snake at the Reptile Education Club booth.

"It was cool!" she said. She also described the snake as heavy and is considering getting one as a pet.

"You have to be passionate," Allen said. "Every animal I have is precious. I think if you have that kind of enthusiasm for all animals, it gets to be contagious."

The 12th Annual Reptile Show will continue Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J St., Exhibit Halls C-E. Ticket prices for one-day admission are $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are free.  

Upscale Reptiles' website is located here.

All photos by Kassandra Perlongo.