There was a time when I was flipping the pages of National Geographic when a photo of a snake came into view and as if I was bitten with shocked for a moment.
Since then I hesitate to read a magazine related to animals.
Even if I have ophidiophobia or ophiophobiaphobia (fear of snake), I muster the courage to go to the Calgary Reptile Expo last week at the Cedarbrae Community Centre.
I didn’t make it last year for some reason (more likely because of the phobia).
So what changed?
Well, I do love tortoise and turtles. I even have one turtle back home.
Aside from wanting to see the cousins of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I wanted to tell you what it’s like to go to the Calgary Reptile Expo.
Let’s start with some tips:
Tip for the attendees:
- Bring cash. If you have none, you can withdraw in the ATM machine inside the Cedarbrae Community Centre.
- Go early when there’s not much people yet. You might also want to get the best parking spot.
Though I stayed for 30 minutes much was spent debating with myself whether I should take photograph of snakes. Find out if I did.
Here are my photographs along with the price that surprised me:
Speedo is my favourite tortoise in the Calgary Reptile Expo. I wonder how fast can Speedo walk with motivation.
What’s the difference between tortoise and turtle? Tortoise dwells on land, while turtles live in the water some or nearly all of the time.
Another fun fact: tortoise can outlive human beings. It can live for 80 to 150 years.
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Not so fun fact: the only thing I can remember in my biology class was the frog I used in an experiment which wasn’t fun at all.
Science is meant to inform not induce phobia to the inquisitive minds of the students. Did you have the same experience?
Have you touched a tarantula? I’ll be content watching it from a distance.
But for those who like to hold a tarantula, make sure not to drop it because a fall even from a short height can cause a deadly rupture of the tarantula’s exoskeleton.
This type of scorpion is most likely not poisonous. (It’s just an assumption.) While the poison of some scorpions are dangerous it can also help save human lives.
Writing this post and editing the photographs of snakes seem bearable. Touching it?
I’ll never . . . ever volunteer; I’m not Katniss Everdeen from Hunger Games.
And more snakes. If you can only see how I was writing this post. (I hid the photos from view.)
Final Thoughts
Out of the animals in the Calgary Reptile Expo, I’ll most likely have a tortoise if it can live in a home that resembles its natural habitat.
If you are thinking of having a reptile as a pet, the expo is a great place to ask questions and see the critters up close. Kids can touch some of the animals like Speedo the tortoise and parents can find out the cost of owning a reptile.
As for me, I’m content of attending the event this year and tell you about it.
Have you been to the expo? Which of the animals you like the most?
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