A Slithering Surprise: Our Final Reptile Expo of 2024!
As the crisp air of late fall set in, our family - Mom, Kiley, and Dad - embarked on one final reptile adventure for the 2024 season. This marked our second Show Me Reptile Expo, and this time, it was held at a new location in Rhode Island, but still in the Warwick area. Our plan was simple: browse, enjoy the sights, maybe pick up a few supplies, and most importantly - no new reptiles! But as any seasoned reptile enthusiast knows, plans at an expo are as fragile as a shedding snake’s skin.
Celebrity Reptile Personality:
Dad, fresh off a board game purge, had digital cash burning a hole in his virtual pocket. His sights were set on practical items - some cork bark, a few reptile hides, and perhaps some heating and lighting elements. We made our rounds, saying hello to familiar faces like Mythical Exotics and Picture It Pythons, soaking in the scaly spectacle. Then, an unexpected highlight - Kiley spotted Dakotah Blue Exotics, a YouTube personality we regularly follow! Meeting Dakotah in person was a thrill; he was just as funny and informative as he is online. Dakotah specializes in various Gecko breeding projects, promoting bioactive enclosures, and even has his own line of substrate and supplies! His table had various bioactive plants and geckos for sale. If you ever see him at a reptile expo, stop in and say hello, it’s well worth the time!
While it was exciting to meet someone of reptile celebrity status in New England, we couldn’t help but wish for even more reptile YouTubers to frequent our area. If Kiley ever met Ed & Emily from Snake Discovery, Clint from Clint’s Reptiles, or Dav Kaufman, she might just pass out from excitement! Meanwhile, Dad would probably geek out over meeting Bob and Kent Bledsoe from Green Room Pythons.
The Rainbow Distraction
As we continued to explore the show, eventually came the moment our "no new reptiles" plan crumbled. Dad, the same man who had spent all year in the “No Snake” camp, found himself drawn to a Corn Snake. Not just any Corn Snake - an Okeetee Corn Snake, a natural-looking beauty with rich coloration. His recent light bedtime YouTube research (because that’s how all great decisions start) had convinced him that Corn Snakes, along with Ball Pythons, make great, docile pets. But before committing, we kept browsing.
It was then Mom found the Rainbow Boas. And just like that, our family was deep diving into Rainbow Boa 101 over lunch in the car. Feverishly scrolling through information and YouTube videos on our smart phones! These stunning snakes, with their iridescent sheen, are the closest living relatives to Anacondas - just in a much more manageable size! We decided they required more research, but the interest had officially sparked. I am sure that will turn into a future reptile family introduction blog, but we need to make some room first!
Stay On Target! Stay On Target! (Dad's best Gold Five impression - you Star Wars nerds should get that!)
Back inside, the focus shifted back to Dad’s potential Corn Snake. Enter Graham’s Reptiles, a charismatic and knowledgeable breeder with a collection that immediately caught our attention. Dad was torn between a striking black, gray, and white “Stormtrooper” morph and a vibrant Albino Snow Salmon morph. But just as he was about to make his final decision, Kiley’s eyes locked onto the Albino morph. And when Kiley wants something, she commits emotionally. Tears welled up as she realized Dad might choose a different snake. Dad, oblivious at first, finally turned to see her near heartbreak - and melted. Decision made. Peaches, our new female Corn Snake, was coming home with us.
Graham, amused by Dad’s waffling, admitted he had considered holding Peaches back for his own collection. But, as fate would have it, she was destined to join ours. On the way home, we picked up a perfect 10-gallon front-opening enclosure - curbside at PetSmart, along with the necessary supplies. Dad, channeling his inner reptile whisperer, placed Peaches into her new home - and that was the last time he handled her...
Total Failure = Total Win
Determined to build trust slowly, Dad has taken the choice-based handling approach. Every few nights, he places his hand in the enclosure and lets Peaches investigate at her own pace. So far, she inches closer each time but hasn’t fully committed to climbing aboard. (For reference, it took months for Lizzie, our Leopard Gecko, to get comfortable, but she eventually climbed up his arm!) Meanwhile, Peaches has outgrown her first home and now resides in a 20-gallon enclosure. When it came time to move her, Dad quickly realized that while adult Corn Snakes are docile, baby Corn Snakes are tiny, lightning-fast noodles with attitude. Mom had to step in and handle the transition as Dad fumbled with the wriggly little escape artist.
And here’s the kicker - we have since caught Dad handling our new baby Hognose. Maybe, just maybe, he’s getting over his snake-handling jitters after all!
So, our “no new reptiles” plan? Total failure. But Peaches? Total win. Here’s to a great inaugural season of reptile adventures – maybe we will see you this year in 2025!
A Little Bit About Corn Snakes:
Corn snakes are a very popular option for a pet snake, known for their vibrant orange and red patterns that resemble kernels of corn! Over the years, as obvious with Peaches, Corn snake breeders have come up with a variety of morphs. These gentle, non-venomous snakes are native to the southeastern United States, where they thrive in forests, grasslands, and even abandoned barns. Their natural camouflage helps them blend into leaf litter, making them excellent at sneaking up on their favorite meal - small rodents. Because of their adaptability, corn snakes are commonly found in both wild and suburban areas, often slithering through fields or climbing trees in search of food.
With their friendly and curious temperament, corn snakes make fantastic pets for beginners and experienced reptile care givers alike. They are calm, easy to handle, and rarely show signs of aggression. When they’re not basking in the warmth of a cozy rock or burrowing into soft bedding, they love to explore their surroundings, weaving through branches or testing their climbing skills. Corn snakes are also skilled escape artists, so their enclosures need to be secure! Dad has ensured Peaches’ enclosure is as secure as Fort Knox, or so he thinks it is! Whether in the wild or in captivity, these charming snakes are always on the move, making them fascinating creatures to observe and care for.
How We Care For Peaches:
Diet: Currently Peaches has graduated to fuzzy frozen thawed mice. Originally, we were feeding her frozen thawed pinky mice. Dad could not understand how something as small as she was could even start to chomp down on even a pinky mouse! Remember, frozen thawed is the best option for the animal’s well-being. Although they catch prey in the wild, within a confined enclosure there is more room for them to be hurt by said prey.
Habitat: Although she started off in a front opening 10-gallon terrarium we have graduated her up to a 20-gallon long terrarium as she is growing rapidly. This was actually good timing as it paved way for baby Maple’s enclosure. We have not gone bioactive yet with Peaches, we will most likely wait until she has grown into her 4x2x2 adult enclosure. For now, she has aspen shavings for substrate, various cork bark, rocks, and sanitized tree branches from the back yard, and a few different hides. When choosing your own branches make sure you stay away from anything oily or with sap. Always do your research, depending on species! We keep a freshwater bowl in her enclosure at all times.
Heating & Lighting: This is actually not that difficult. Corn Snakes can suffice on a normal day/light schedule for ambient lighting. So, no fancy LED’s for grow lights yet! The one thing we did find out, as she is albino, UVB may not necessarily be the best idea. For heating we have a simple 85-watt Arcadia Deep Heat Projector on a thermostat. Keeping her warm side around 90 degrees and cool side around 75-82 degrees.
Great Resources:
Bioactive Supplies – The Biodude or NEHERP.
Care Guides - ReptiFiles and Wickens Wicked Reptiles.
