In the market for vanilla scream pythons? Or maybe a Mertens’ water monitor or two and some bee pollen reptile food? You didn’t have to look far if you were at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Feb. 7.
The Nassau Reptile Expo brought together families and friends for a memorably intriguing day, with more than 175 tables of passionate reptile, amphibian, and invertebrate breeders. Reptile enthusiasts had the opportunity to learn about, and purchase, whichever creature they desired. The show will be repeated June 13 and October 3.
Allen Both, owner of Major League Exotic Pets in Howell, NJ, and in the business for 40 years, displayed various species of colorful geckos, chameleons, lizards, and pythons. Allen breeds and sells vanilla scream pythons, lavender albino pythons, Mertens’ water monitor, and many more.
“I have a very fond appreciation when people succeed with pets and the animals do really well,” Both said. “Too many of them perish because they do not get the proper care. When people do the right thing, they do the research, and they take good care of them, that’s kind of rewarding.” Despite being in the business for so many years, Both did not always foresee his future career being where it is now. However, his childhood love for reptiles paved the way for his current passion.
Joseph from Seaford brought his two young children to this event, noting that this was their second time attending a reptile expo. “It’s something different that we tried and ended up loving. Seeing how excited (my children) get at the lizards and snakes and stuff is, you know, that’s all you want to see as a dad,” he said.
Holly Saladino has been working with reptiles for 10 years and is the owner of HS Exotics and Supplies in Mastic Beach. In addition to geckos, Saladino carried a variety of products including bee pollen reptile food, plants, and food cup holders. She breeds her own reptiles and shared her personal favorite. “The orange guys, they’re called eurys for short or chameleon geckos. They stay really small, so when they’re full grown, they’re just adorable. Even though they’re small, they’re still really personable, so I’ve grown to love them over time more than the other ones,” she said.
Vendors at this expo share a similar passion for people and how they react to their animals. “My number one favorite thing is literally doing the events and talking to people, because actually, like communicating and educating people on these animals is so much more interesting than, you know, sending a quick blurb online…at least you can have a conversation with somebody (at an expo),” Saladino said.
Jason Minori attracted a crowd of people with his entertaining reptile demonstration featuring “Miss Jackson,” which is a Jackson’s chameleon, native to Kenya. “She is wild, bought from Hawaii. That’s where 99 out of 100 of them in this country come from.” He primarily focuses on this breed and said he has “studied it like all hell.”
Father and son duo Keith Berberich and Keith Jr. of 631 Boas and Balls in Shirley, spoke of their passion for reptiles is a key to their strong bond. Their company name is derived from their shared love of ball pythons and boa constrictor snakes, which were put on display at their exhibit. “When you selectively breed things to go together and you hit that one that you were looking for, it’s really rewarding,” Keith Jr. said.
Isabella Simone is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
