Last year, my friend and fellow Odyssey writer, Isadora Zuidema, and I visited Repticon while it was in Orlando. We found a Groupon that offered tickets at 15 dollars per two people, so it was relatively cheap. Hosted at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, the location was not too far away from UCF.

A giant inflatable cobra told us we were in the right place as we walked into the warehouse. Reptiles and amphibians of all kinds colored the tables like a mile long mosaic as far as the eye could see. A woman walked by with a marbled python coiled around her arm while another man had a Tokay gecko clinging to his shirt with its blue and orange feet.

Many vendors set up shop for the day here and guaranteed customers bought bags of freeze-dried crickets and frozen rats for their pets at home. One table sold toads and frogs exclusively. Red-eyed tree frogs and Pacman frogs croaked as we walked by. A conservation society for turtles, terrapins, and tortoises showed a diagram of the reptiles and their endangered brother, the gopher tortoise. A yellow-bellied slider swam in a tank surfacing near the heat lamp for warmth.

Top Hat Geckos advertised their lizards in miniature biomes. The ever-popular leopard gecko with its yellow skin and brown spots looked through the glass at us. Leopard geckos are great first pets for kids as they are easy to handle and take care of. There were over a dozen of this species, but also more exotic breeds such as the Tokay, Gargoyle, and Golden Dust Day Gecko.

A breeder displayed his collection of at least 30 different snakes. They were mostly Ball pythons but were specifically bred to portray unique scale patterns. Some were albino with shiny, white bodies and red eyes while others had names like "Butter python" to reflect their unique yellow scales or "Dalmatian" to reveal their black and white spots. Potential owners were able to pick them up and watch their temperament. They were all docile and curious.

Many people have a fear of snakes, but what I saw at Repticon proved that they are innocuous, if not timid, creatures. They are not slimy or dangerous and take years to reach man-eating size. Reptiles are essentially dogs with scales. Nothing reinforced this more than the Fairytail Dragons vendor.

Fairytail Dragons sells outfits, custom harnesses, and leashes for bearded dragons and other lizards. And it is not just any ordinary leash, it is genuine leather cut to look like wings. The dragon wings are adorable on lizards! They serve a practical purpose as well: to discourage birds of prey from a would-be easy meal while still allowing your pet to look cute. The company also makes small hats for snakes in an effort to reduce the terrifying stigma around the reptiles. Believe me, it works.

Repticon is especially fun if you have a scaly pet, but even if you don't, it is worth a visit. You will find many animals looking for a loving home. If you are interested in attending, the next event is held on Dec. 1 - 2 in Orlando and on Nov. 10 - 11 in Tampa. Check it out!