Herp Expo 2010 - Rant!!

[lynette408]

I attended the Herp Expo in San Jose, CA this weekend for the first time.  While visiting one of the booths that were selling hatchling sulcatas, the jerk next to me asked "so, how big do these get??" *Even though he was asking the jerk running the booth* I pointed him in the direction of a 30 year old male sulcata in all of his several hundred pound glory.. so the jerk running the booth gives me a horribly dirty look and proceeds to tell the guy that they only get 'this' big - making a hand gesture which was grossly mis-leading about the full grown sulcata's size, THEN the jerk interested in purchasing one asks "so... would you give me a discount if I buy 2??" *face palm* At that point I had to walk away for fear that I would break somebody off. (and embarrass my boyfriend)  I was shocked and appalled at the IRRESPONSIBILITY of the booth owner. My boyfriend had to gently remind me that not everyone views animals as such, but more of "items" for sale.  It was disgusting.  On a lighter note, most of the other vendors there were knowledgeable, pleasant and enthusiastic about promoting healthy animals.

[Tylerobert]

Uggh. I know what you mean. I have heard people try to sell sulcatas before and they say 'oh they don't eat much more than a normal smaller tortoise.' ...Yeah right. They don't care about the animals at all; they are just trying to make a quick buck.

[mikachase]

Its sad that people don't get the information before they buy a pet, and when they are trying to get the information they get misinformation from people.

Sadly a lot of people just want to sell things and make a quick buck they don't care about the life the animal has after it leaves them. This is made worse by people who don't want to hear information about what they are buying they just want it because they want it and they want it 5 min ago. (Can you tell I work with the public?) lol

Hopefully anyone who bought from that guy will do some research before they do harm to an animal.

[lynette408]

Thanks for listening... You guys ROCK. 

[KQ6AR]

I've never understood why so many people breed Sulcatas. There are way to many, so they practically have to give the hatchlings away. & so many end up in shelters or rescues. They certainly aren't doing the tortoise any favors.

[Upstart68]

I had to talk an acquaintance I recently met out of almost paying $1000.00 for a full grown Sulcata. He never owned a Tort and someone on Craigslist convinced him an adult was easily a grand and if he  decided it was too much of a pet he could sell and would make his money back. He luckily called me and asked what I thought. I talked him out of any kind of a pet at all until he read a few books I needed to loan him.