Corn Snakes 101 - Buying Your Snake at a Reptile Show

While you may not live close to a corn snakeyour part of the country, the next step is to identify
breeder, you could still meet one in person (toa corn snake breeder who will be attending the
purchase a snake) by attending a reptile show in yourevent. Once again, the Internet is a great place to
area.start such a search. Here's how I would go about it:
These shows run the gamut from one-day events
with 30 or so breeders to three-day events with1. First, make a list of professional corn snake
hundreds of breeders. And due to the immensebreeders. You'll have to spend some time online,
popularity of the corn as a pet snake, I guaranteeperhaps even using a corn snake forum like the one
you'll find at least one n snake breeder at nearlyat But you should be able to come up with a list of
every reptile show in the United States.ten or so breeders fairly easily.
These shows are a great way to expand your2. Next, after you have list of about eight to ten
options when shopping for a snake. Professionalbreeders, make a second column beside each
breeders travel from all over the country to attendbreeder's name and label the column "Shows." What
reptile shows (especially the bigger events). So youyou are doing here is creating a helpful checklist for
may have a lot more options for purchasing a cornfuture research.
snake by attending such an event.3. Use this checklist to keep track of your research --
There are two ways to find out about shows thatwhich breeder is attending which show, etc.
may be coming to your area: (1) using the Internet4. Leave space for some additional note taking under
and (2) checking out Reptiles magazine.each breeder's name. When talking to breeders via
Using the Internet, you could just do a Google oremail or on the phone, use this space to jot down
Yahoo search for "reptile show" plus your city ornotes about snake availability, ordering process, or
state's name. For example: "Reptile show +California"anything else you want to remember later on.
Reptiles magazine is another good place to learn5. Now all you have to do is contact each corn snake
about upcoming shows in the U.S. At the end of eachbreeder on your list by phone or email to start filling
issue, they have a list of events covering the nextin the blanks.
few months at a glance. You can pick up a copy ofI hope you have found this article helpful, and I wish
Reptiles magazine at most major pet stores, such asyou well in your continued research into corn snakes.
PetSmart and Petco.Good luck.
Once you've discovered a show that's coming to