Your Guide to the Pittsburgh Reptile Show Experience

Amanda

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Pittsburgh Reptile Show & Sale podcast! I’m Amanda, and with me as always is Rick. And wow, what a weekend we just had at the Epic Reptile Expo—September 6th and 7th absolutely flew by.

Rick

Hey folks! If you made it out to the expo, honestly, thank you. The turnout was amazing—seriously, we saw faces from all over, some folks who haven’t missed a show in years and a whole bunch of newcomers too. It made the energy in that vendor hall... I mean, it was electric.

Amanda

It really was! I had so many people come up and share their stories—families who brought their kids for the very first time, folks who picked up a new snake or gecko, even veteran keepers who just wanted to talk shop. I think the biggest theme was just how excited everyone was to see the room full of quality vendors with 1000's of exotic animals from all over!

Rick

Right? I loved how many different critters were real crowd-pleasers this time—there was that absolutely stunning blue-tongue skink, and don’t even get me started on the little baby hognoses. It’s never just about snakes, either. I overheard a group of kids completely obsessed with one of the frog setups—what was it, those red eye tree frogs?

Amanda

Red eye tree frogs, yes! And the breeder had so much patience, answering like a million questions. Oh, and we had more vendors than ever bringing in rare morphs—there was a worlds first retic at Reach out reptiloes booth, that vendor never got a moment’s rest. People love seeing new morphs in person, I mean you just can’t appreciate them online the same way.

Rick

Speaking of experiences—I gotta share this real quick. I actually bumped into the same sand boa breeder who got me hooked years ago, back at my first expo. It’s true, I’m a bit of a sand boa nut—if you listened to episode three, you know. Anyway, their table was absolutely swamped, mostly with families, and I got to see this little kid—he couldn’t have been more than seven—just lighting up when he held a snake for the first time. I guess that’s what keeps us coming back, y’know?

Amanda

Definitely. We had so much feedback this time, too—people raving about the community vibe, how approachable all the vendors were. I even saw people swapping care advice with each other while waiting in line for those vendor deals—very on brand after last episode! It just feels good to know we’re building something special together.

Rick

So, let’s dig a little deeper—what actually makes the Pittsburgh Reptile Show stand out? I mean, you can go to a pet store any day, but it’s not quite the same. Here, it’s everything from snakes and lizards to turtles, frogs; heck, we’ve even had exotic cats and birds make appearances alongside feeder animals and—did you see those arachnids this time? Huge turnout on the invertebrate aisle!

Amanda

Absolutely! It’s one of those places where you don’t just see animals, you get to meet breeders and hobbyists from all over the country. I keep telling people, if you want to ask about an animal’s exact age or what it eats, you can just... well, ask. Everyone’s there to share knowledge, not just to sell.

Rick

And the supply tables—you can load up on tanks, feeders, lighting, habitat decor, the works, and usually for way less than you’d pay at the local store. Did you know we have a supply vendor who is offering the publlic wholesale pricing on almost all of their supplies?! I saw a family with an actual shopping cart, like, just rolling through with their whole list. If you’re setting up a tank from scratch, it’s the way to go.

Amanda

That reminds me—I got to help a first-timer at an earlier show. She was so nervous, just wanted to pick out her first leopard gecko for her son, and you could see the nerves at first. But by the time she made the choice, her whole face just... transformed. It’s those little sparks of excitement that ripple out and fill the whole room. And yeah, those leopard geckos are still a hit—if you missed episode five, by the way, we went deep on their care.

Rick

Love when that happens. Also, can we talk about the vibe? People chat, linger, swap stories. Even if you’re not buying anything, you’re learning—there's always an expert or breeder who’ll show you the difference between two morphs or let you hold a new species for a minute. It’s such a community thing, not just a marketplace.

Amanda

Let’s switch gears and talk tips—especially for anyone thinking about coming to their first show, or maybe inviting a friend along. Here’s my number one: If you’re seriously looking to buy, get there early. That first hour or so is when you get the best selection—especially if you’re on the hunt for a specific morph or those harder-to-find supplies.

Rick

Absolutely. But—and I tell this to families all the time—if you’re more interested in a more, uh, relaxed, almost zoo-like experience, maybe wait until after 11am. By then the initial rush dies down, you can take your time, talk to vendors, and actually enjoy seeing the displays without feeling rushed or crowded.

Amanda

And don’t be afraid to ask questions! Breeders and vendors truly want to help you learn. Like, if you’re curious about care routines or hesitant about a particular animal’s temperament, this is the time to get honest, hands-on info before you ever make a decision. We actually see a lot of first-timers hanging around the educational displays or demos, just sort of... absorbing everything. It’s part of what makes the show really family-friendly.

Rick

Yeah, I’ve seen kids leave with a brand new pet and the info they need to keep it healthy, which is, like, the dream outcome. We want it to be fun, but also genuinely educational. And you don’t have to buy a thing to enjoy it—just come see what the reptile world is all about.

Amanda

Exactly! Plus, quick shoutout to the next show—we’ll be at Pittsburgh Mills Mall again, that’s 590 Pittsburgh Mills Circle, Unit 461 in Tarentum, PA. The entrance you want is the North Theater entry, right across from Bath and Body Works. Doors open at 9am, and we go until 3pm. Tickets are six dollars cash at the door, or seven if you’re using a card, and under 4 gets in free. You can also get your tickets on our website if that’s easier.