Michael & Scotty (I keep forgetting which is which) of Cyclura City with one of their gorgeous Cycluras. Did you know that the horn of the Rhino Iguana* is an aphrodisiac, reportedly more powerful than Viagra. His thumb has been stuck in that position for sometime.

                                                                                              *Yes, I know this is not a Rhino

The new craze is chameleon hats. They change to match whatever outfit your wearing.

LLL. What does that stand for? Is it that old Bob Dylan song Lay Lady Lay? Or maybe Lots n Lots a Lizards. Anyway LLL is like the Macy's of the reptile industry. They are the Anchor store. They set up around a thousand square foot reptile shop wherever they go and do it in 4 or 5 hours. Actually I think LLL has something to do with Loren Leigh, the owners name.

Some people carry a chip on their shoulder. I think this is better.

Alex of the AHA has Rosy cheeks, Rose colored glasses and a Rosy Boa. The AHA also had a great display of native Rattlesnakes.

Terrariums put together by Jungle World Exotics were flying out the door.  Much to the angst of wutuko, the terrarium god (there is a god for everything).

I can't keep the various morphs of Ball Pythons straight. This is one of them

Here's another

 

And another. Actually this is a Lucistic Ball Python. I used to breed Lucistic Texas Ratsnakes and this looks the same, just with a bigger head.

Tanya & Randy, My right and left hand guys in running the show. They actually met at the third Tucson Reptile Show in 2004. They are tying the knot in May. Come to the 2011 Tucson Reptile & Amphibian Show and find LOVE. 

Dr. Funk found love, just don't tell his wife.

Steve (on the right) has been involved with reptiles since he was a kid. He is now division manager for Exo Terra, One of the largest producers of Herp related products in the world. Steve is also a premier terrarium builder, as you can see from his arm rest. 

The bizarre sexual practices of the Pacman Frog

What's Aaron staring at? Follow his eyes.

Nice Snake!

Manny Rubio did the first signing of his new book: Rattlesnakes of The United States & Canada. He doubled the geographic range of the book by including Canada. That's like a book on the Hippos of Africa & South America. But anyway, the book is great. I read it cover to cover in 2 day (The print is big and there are lot's of pictures).

A very artsy photo of Dale, proprietor of Recycled Road Kill.

Deana of Top Stitch of Sonoita Had the largest selection of fur baring reptiles at the show.

Misty, of Exotic Predators & Prey, using a high-power graphing calculator to solve a complex differential equation. She does them for fun between sales.

Terry, of Rainforest Reptiles of Arizona (the company name is a bit of a nonsequitur), explaining to a customer, that as yet, Ball Pythons don't come in blue. However, the guy had enough bucks to have Bob & Ryan, of The Painted Python, do one up for him in whatever color he wanted.

I was a guest on a TV program a few days before the reptile show called The Morning Blend. John, above, the massage therapist for the U of A basketball team, was also on the show. He thought coming to the show and setting up to do massages was a good idea. So did the lady with no face, above and many others who took advantage of the chair. John will be back next year.

Her necklace is actually alive. This is an ancient Buddhist training technique, kind of like walking with a book balanced on your head. If she doesn't move with penultimate precision and oneness with the universe, then the deadly Tralfamadorian Chinch Bug will do it's worst and she will board the reed boat to cross the River Styx to the realm of the...

I love mixed metaphors.

Tuesday the Alligator is the most popular attendee at the show. I was on Martha Velasquez's TV news show the day before the Reptile Show along with the PHX Herp Society's Russ Johnson, Tuesday, Rowdy the Water Monitor and a host of smaller reptiles. While on camera a little Variable Kingsnake Martha was holding, bit her finger, I was very embarrassed as I pried open it's little jaws. Martha didn't flinch or skip a beat. She is a true professional.

After loosing a couple of kids last year, we started taping Tuesday's jaws with two layer of tape.

Susan on the phone with the sultan of Brunei, trying to interest him in a clutch of Irian Jaya Carpet Pythons--cheap!

Robert & Ramona taking it easy after a long day of selling Alterna (Gray-Banded Kingsnakes).

Nice red color on these Bearded Dragons. This might look like a prelude to mating except for the male is the one on the bottom, or so he told me.

I've bought a half dozen frogs and lizards from Nate of Santan Reptiles. They now grace the walls in front of my house.

Three members of the Ophidian Society, a little known Egyptian snake cult. When threatened, their snake tattoos come to life and attack the aggressor. Don't mess with the Ophidian Society.

Don & Sally of Shores E'nuff Snakes. They produce more weiners per year than Oscar Myer.

A Uromastyx orgy. Rarely seen in captivity.

Short-Necked Skinks from Africa, the long-neck morph.

Nikki takes Visa & MasterCard

Christian went over his limit, but it was worth it!

My wife Cathy and I. We are humorous enough. No need for funny captions. However, If you have any suggestions: click here.

My son Ryan after an experiment with a chronosynclastic infindibulator gone terribly wrong. Although flies and crickets are cheaper than video games.

Another partially successful experiment with the chronosynclastic infindibulator. Karen is quite happy with the result.

James & Lacy. James is far too big to make fun of.

Guess what type of snake this is? Win a free pass to next years show. (Limited to first 5 correct answers).  We've got our 5 as of 3/1/11.

Correct  Answers 1. Kat Parks

Pastel Slider. Cutest turtle at the show

Professor Kelly Paul. Honorary PhD in yellow lizards from Whatamatta University, Frostbite Falls, Minn.

River Road Pet Clinic's first time at the show. If you can guess what street they're on, then, you're not stupid. Dr. Julie Yeager (The one with dark hair) gave a great talk on metabolic bone disease. After her lecture, even I'm taking calcium.

Delight (what a cool name) & Pete make science inspired jewelry. You can see the snake necklaces, but my favorites are the DNA and Solar System necklaces. 

Hottest thighs at the show

Every year I'm amazed by Robert's glass lizards, frogs, snakes and even the non-herp stuff. I bought the White Snake for myself (even though I don't like the band) and a bunch of other stuff for gifts.

The mascot of Tom's Rodent Ranch. If you think this guy looks tuff, you don't want to get on Tom's bad side.

Rowdy, of whom I have spoken.

Where else but the Tucson Reptile & Amphibian Show can you buy Sm, Med & Lg Waterfalls

Some of the first snakes I ever bought were from Jim over 20 years ago.

Tortoise vs. Wife

Tortoises don't bitch, don't talk, grow bigger, live longer, cheaper to feed, you can go herping for a week and they don't care. If only they were a bit prettier. 

Like father, like son.

The caption reads: Gila Monsters don't spit their venom. Whoa. Thanks Robert, I'd been worried about that.

The Expo center has a large gem show during the Tucson Gem Show in February. These people just never left. We found them hiding in a back room, so we let then set up a booth.

The exotic venomous snake section of the show put on by the Phoenix Herpetological Society included around 40 species including a 12 foot King Cobra (the largest venomous snake in the world); an albino Monocled Cobra; Gabon and Rhinoceros Vipers (longest fangs); a Saw Scaled Viper (kills more people per year than any other single species). The list goes on & on.

Josh is the name, Ball Pythons his game.

He likes Ball Pythons too.

Vera is an Award-Winning Balloon Artist. She is truly amazing. 

I'm not the only one who thinks so.

I wouldn't want to run into this guy while taking a dip in the Amazon.

Future Crocodile Hunter

Albino Cobra, complete with matching basket. For an extra $10 Swami Rabinowitz was giving snake charming lessons after the show.

Lampropeltis mexicana alterna (Gray-banded Kingsnake) courtesy of Amazing Gray's

Ryan & Bob. Blue, purple, red. Any color python you want.

Notice how bare the tree is. At the beginning of the show it was covered in reptile jewelry and christmas ornaments. Mia is a goods sales lady.

Not scared of Rattlesnakes.

Greg and his handler, Archimedes.

Neat fingernail polish. (Are polish, the stuff on nails and Polish, as in being from Poland, spelled the same?).

Have you ever seen anybody show this much interest in a cockroach before? Do you think they'll eat it right there or take it home and stew it?

Bet you can't lick just one.

Northern Blue-tongue Skinks from down under. They're docile, slow, eat dog food. A great pet.

Howard pointing out the cute 1/4 inch fangs of this lovely tarantula--NOT! 

Spider people are weird.

There were so many cool herp tattoos at the show I'm thinking of having a contest next year.

Some form of European Adder.

The perfect snake for the golfer in your life.

Michele & Bethany kept smiles on their faces despite long hours working the door to the show. We found that they were keeping one of the Herp Societies Colorado River Toads under the table and taking a lick when things got boring. 

Another satisfied patron.

Joey, of Gekkards, shows that Geckos are people too.

The (480) Python crew.

Tarantula Inc. also does turtles (thank goodness). They must have had a dozen different species.

With all the different species of tortoises at the show, I decided to perform an experiment. It's been said that African species fall faster than European species. Well after multiple trials, Galileo was again proven right. African and European species fall at the same rate (actual acceleration was calculated at 9.8 meters per second per second. You can see the full results in the well known: Journal of Irreproducible Results). Of course there were quite a few fatal injuries during the trials (science is a tricky business, you can't make an omelet without killing a few tortoises). Fortunately I had my trusty copy of Ernest Liner's book: The Culinary Herpetologist. So, Sunday night dinner included: Russian Tortoise Kebabs (pg 232), Sulcata in Jelly (pg: 240), Greek Tortoise in Grape Leaves (pg: 269), Braised Leopard Tortoise with cumquats (my favorite, pg: 274).                     (This is a joke)

Dr. Julie Yeager declined to participate in the tortoises acceleration experiments.

This little girl had no reflection. A common finding during the ongoing vampire craze.

Touching a big lizard brings a smile to many a faces.

Russ Johnson the president of the Phoenix Herp Society gave a talk about his favorite subject, The Phoenix Herp Society.

Dave is another big Ball Python guy. There is about five million bucks floating around in the Ball Python biz. Steve buys a $5000 snake from John, Bill sells a $4000 snake to Steve, George buys a $7000 snake from Dave, Dave buys a $3000 snake from George. 

There's a lot of money changing hands, but it's all the same money.

Dave & the rest of the D&M group. I don't know where M (Melanie) is. 

Keith and the Klemme Reptile clan. Someone is a good artist. I'm betting on the hat guy, but it might be the bearded guy.

Turquoise Gecko munching on Turquoise fruit-flies on a blue Palo Verde Tree.

Jared and crew of Reptiles & Reefs from Phoenix. Jared is lucky. It's late at night and I running out humorous anecdotes. 

Chad & Darci and there 3 kids. Unfortunately the kids have been raised around Chameleons for so long, they completely blend with the environment. Actually, they may not exist.

Wendi of Frogs With Altitude (I love the name. She hales from the Colorado Rockies), breeds Poison Dart Frogs. Like other frog breeders, her skin has become toxic. do not except change or shake hands without wearing latex gloves.

There's so much to see, he's frozen in indecision.

The only extra-terrestrial species at the show, G. plastica, from the planet Tralfamador. A beautiful species, but difficult to keep unless you have access to a steady supply  of Tralfamadorian Cinch bugs.

Tom, of Tom's Rodent Ranch, picking Purina Rat Chow from between molars

My wife and daughter sold so much reptile jewelry that the entire economy of the tiny backwater island of Santo Marko is supported by the production turtle earrings

Favorite snake is the Blond Trans Pecos Ratsnake

See You at The 2011 Show September 24 - 25