Reptile show caters to those with exotic taste in pets

If you’ve been considering a new pet but find cats and dogs a bit mundane, the Spokane County Reptile and Small Animal Expo on Saturday may be just the place for you.

The show – the first of its kind in Spokane, said organizer Craig Taylor – will have everything new pet owners need to get started.

Breeders from around the region will be showcasing their animals, including snakes, chameleons, frogs, iguanas, geckos, turtles, lizards, spiders and skinks. For those who prefer mammals, there will be hedgehogs, sugar gliders and rodents, though most of those are probably meant to be someone’s dinner.

Taylor has been keeping reptiles since he was 8. Twenty years later, his pets include a crested gecko, corn snake and bearded dragon. He also breeds and sells animals through his business, Exotic Reptiles Unlimited.

Vendors and rescue groups will have a wealth of information to share at the show, he said.

“They have way more experience” with the animals than the people at chain stores, Taylor said. They’ll talk with people about proper care, maintenance and feeding.

One big thing new reptile owners should understand is the commitment, Taylor said. It varies by species, but some animals will live decades.

“It’s cute as a baby, but 20 years later, it’s a lot bigger,” he said.

Many of the animals at the show will be babies, he said. And, there will be lots to choose from.

“If something scares you or whatever, you just go to the next table,” Taylor said.

Kimberly Lusk