Repticon Raleigh is Back!

Jay Tacey

Welcome back, everyone, to the Repticon Reptile Shows podcast! I’m Jay Tacey, here with Lisa, Michael, and Guy, and today’s episode is all about Repticon Raleigh coming back to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. This event is always a crowd-puller, and honestly, I’ve been looking forward to it all season.

Lisa Parker

Can I just say—my very first Repticon Raleigh as show manager, I thought I was ready. Yeah, right! We’re talkin’ Expo Center at the Fairgrounds, 4285 Trinity Road, the last weekend in November—so Saturday the 29th from 9 to 4, and Sunday the 30th from 10 to 4. And y’all, those doors open and the stampede is real. Literally thousands of people, families, you name it, all squeezing in to check out live animal displays, shop, and, you know, ogle at the geckos or the tarantulas. The energy just buzzes the moment we unlock those doors! The first time? I’m running around the venue, trying to hand out wristbands—someone’s lost a box of crickets, my walkie talkie’s blasting, and suddenly I realize we’ve got vendors still hanging up their signs as guests walk in! Organized chaos, but honestly that’s what makes it so electric. I was hooked.

Guy Mc Farlane

You know, that kind of atmosphere is exactly what animal expos should feel like. Hundreds of exhibitors, live demonstrations, education at every corner—it creates immediate curiosity, both for kids and grownups. The family element can’t be understated. You see children face-to-face with a bearded dragon for the first time, and maybe, just maybe, someone’s about to become a lifelong herper. It’s exhilarating! Plus, you just can’t beat North Carolina State Fairgrounds for space and setting.

Michael Arnold

Exactly, Guy. There’s just something about reptile fans coming together in person that you can’t replicate online. Repticon’s always been about those in-person connections—seeing rare animals up close, and, you know, meeting the folks actually breeding them. The show always has that wow factor, not just for the animals, but the hands-on education, too. People come in thinking they’re just going to window shop—then they’re walking out with isopods or a bay tree in a bag. I mean, that’s how new hobbies start, isn’t it?

Lisa Parker

Completely! And I will say, as wild as those pre-show minutes are, once that first family finds the snake exhibit or a vendor helps a brand-new keeper pick out their first gecko, you see why we put in the work. It’s magical. Like, “whew, made it through another one—and let’s do it again tomorrow.”

Jay Tacey

I love that, Lisa. That energy’s contagious. And you know, building on stuff we talked about in our Johnson City episode—smaller shows have that cozy feel, but an expo at a venue like this? There’s genuine awe. Alright, so let’s talk about a few vendors bringing their A-game this time around because, honestly, some of these booths could be full-on natural history exhibits by themselves.

Jay Tacey

So, let’s get into some highlights. First up, Roller Ventures from Bedford, Virginia—that family just brings everything under the sun. We’re talking reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, live plants, small mammals. It’s wild! If you’re looking for a booth where you can admire a leopard gecko, check out a tarantula, then pick up a pothos, that’s the place. A little bit of everything, and very approachable for both brand-new folks and veterans alike.

Michael Arnold

Yeah, Jay, I’ve seen their setup at other expos, and it’s—what’s the word—accessible. You get to start conversations about animal care or even learn a new plant pairing for your terrarium. And I keep seeing folks leave their booth with, like, a trio of frogs and a fern. It’s very “one-stop-shop.” Also, you sometimes get to chat about dog breeding if you’re curious, which is a bonus tangent I didn’t expect!

Guy Mc Farlane

And then you get The Gecko Don from Greensboro. What stands out for me is their tailored focus—specializing in unique geckos, all with a certificate of authenticity, which... I mean, as someone who values provenance and animal welfare, that’s such a strong practice. They’re also big on bioactive habitats, right? Like, you’ll not just buy a gecko; you’ll learn how to create a living, breathing enclosure for it, plus you get custom care advice per animal. That’s an educational approach, not just transactional, and it builds good habits in the hobby.

Lisa Parker

And let me tell you, The Gecko Don’s booth is always buzzing—literally and figuratively! Their staff are ready to walk beginners through step-by-step setup for bioactive habitats. There’s even hands-on demo stuff, like, pick up a piece of cork bark and ask what moss to pair with it, and you’ll get a whole mini-lesson. The certificates make the animals feel special, like finding that limited-edition vinyl at a record store. These are keepers, not just pets you pick up and forget.

Jay Tacey

Speaking of habitats, we gotta mention RolyBois from Greenville, South Carolina. They’ve carved out a niche in inverts and bioactive terrariums; their specialty is isopods and springtails, and their booth—oh man, their displays could give some museum exhibits a run for their money. You can’t miss them because there’s, like, this living wall of isopods and vibrant plants.

Michael Arnold

I gotta jump in here—I’m obsessed with how they craft those little micro-worlds for animals that, honestly, don’t get the spotlight nearly enough. Isopods and springtails are unsung heroes in bioactives. And if you follow RolyBois on Instagram you’ll see their process reels—it’s really creative, makes you rethink what “pet keeping” looks like. Do you know, have they ever shared how they maintain such bright, thriving plant growth with isopods present? That’s tricky stuff for a lotta folks; you get the balance wrong, and suddenly it’s mold city in your enclosures.

Guy Mc Farlane

They’re big on sharing best practices at expos, too—not just pushing products, but having those real hobbyist-to-hobbyist chats. “Here’s how you get this plant to thrive, here’s why you want a certain isopod species for decomposition.” There’s a lot of science behind that, and I think—well, the average visitor comes away with more than they expect. And their social media? It’s, uh, memorable. Their posts make cleaning up detritus and mold seem... cool, somehow?

Lisa Parker

Totally! And their booth looks amazing every time. They just have that flair for catching folks’ attention, and the whole interactive mood encourages you to ask questions and pick up something new, whether you meant to or not. That’s expo magic at work.

Lisa Parker

The other thing that hits different about Repticon Raleigh—outside of the vendor lineup—is just how many species you get to see that you’d never find at a regular pet shop. You can go from gazing at a rare gecko at Gecko Don, swing by RolyBois for some wild isopods, then find yourself at Roller Ventures admiring, I dunno, a baby boa or maybe even a puppy, all within the same aisle.

Jay Tacey

Yeah, it’s a genuine smorgasbord for herp nerds and total beginners. Plus, you can chat directly with breeders, peppering them with questions, getting husbandry tips straight from folks who have hatched or raised those animals themselves. And that’s honestly the best part for me—just talking shop with people who genuinely care about reptiles and seeing that click of understanding in a new keeper’s eyes.

Michael Arnold

And speaking as a Carpet Python guy, I always end up learning something new about setups, especially bioactives. Like, I’m definitely gonna poke RolyBois about how they balance moisture, airflow, and plant health, especially for trickier species. Their social media hints at some secrets... but there’s nothing like getting those details in person over the vendor table. Sometimes, I get totally nerdy and end up with notebook pages full of “bioactive hacks.” I’m not even sorry about it!

Guy Mc Farlane

Education is embedded in every activity—whether it’s a meet-and-greet with a corn snake at Roller Ventures, a hands-on demo at The Gecko Don’s bioactive table, or building your first cleanup crew with RolyBois. These aren’t just vendors; they’re ambassadors for their animals. And, y’know, if you come in hesitant about handling isopods or geckos, you might just leave singing their praises. It’s hard not to get pulled in by the excitement—you see curiosity transforming into confidence, and that can be life-changing for some visitors.

Lisa Parker

Plus, if you’re looking to actually roll up your sleeves, almost every booth is ready with something hands-on. Demo builds, meet-the-species sessions, even talks about natural history and habitat design—pull up a stool and learn something unexpected. And, uh, don’t forget to check out the vendor map in advance, because you’ll definitely want to plan your time to hit everything. (Trust me, your feet will thank you at the end of the day!)

Jay Tacey

Couldn't have said it better. Raleigh’s got the energy, the animals, and the community. Whether you’re here for the exotic critters, the education, or just the thrill of discovery, there’s always something to keep you coming back. And honestly, after every episode like this, I get a little more excited for the next Repticon city stop. Michael, Guy, Lisa—thanks for sharing the stories and laughs today.

Michael Arnold

It’s always a blast, Jay. Can’t wait to see what the next show brings, and I’ll make sure I come back with even more bioactive questions after the Raleigh run!

Lisa Parker

Y’all are the best—we’ll see you out there at the Expo Center. Don’t forget your kazoo, just in case the power goes out! Seriously though, thanks for listening, and come say hi at Repticon Raleigh!

Guy Mc Farlane

Absolutely—see you at the next show, everyone. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned keeper, there’s always something new to learn. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Jay Tacey

Alright, take care everyone, and keep it curious. We'll be back soon with more vendor spotlights and all the latest Repticon news. Bye for now!