Spotlight on Repticon Fayetteville

Lisa Parker

Hey everybody, welcome back to Repticon Reptile Shows! I'm Lisa, and with me—like always—are Jay, Michael, and Guy. So, let's jump right into the news we've been waiting to share: Repticon Fayetteville is back at Crown Complex, Expo A and D, right here in North Carolina. December 20th and 21st, 2025. Saturday, you're looking at 9am to 4pm. Sunday's a little later start, 10am sharp, still running to 4pm. The address, for folks still typing it into their phones, is 1960 Coliseum Drive, Fayetteville, NC.

Michael Arnold

Oh man, I'm excited. I mean, Fayetteville has this energy, like it's really for everyone. If you’re new to reptile shows—or your grandma wants to see a gecko—it fits. There’s just so much going on: live reptiles everywhere, interactive educational talks, and, honestly, the vendor lineup keeps growing every year. We’ve seen in past episodes—like, thinking back to the Fort Myers and Raleigh shows—these events are about more than just sales. They're about people, community… and about sparking that curiosity in adults and kids. You get to see the animals up close, ask a ton of questions, touch, learn, meet the breeders face to face.

Jay Tacey

Yeah, and building on what Michael said, what stands out is—you don't just come for the shopping. The layout at Crown Complex really works for mingling, for accidentally stumbling on a tarantula table or getting looped into a bioactive setup demo. I remember stepping in last year and getting stopped at the door because a vendor was rolling in with this ridiculously large bioactive enclosure—looked like something from a sci-fi movie. It's busy, it's buzzing—sometimes a little chaotic—but in the best possible way.

Lisa Parker

I think that’s special, honestly. You’re seeing the whole community just… click into place, even before we open the doors.

Guy Mc Farlane

And that's when you know the event's got soul. It’s not just booths and animals—it's a living, breathing ecosystem. These shows bring together families, aspiring herpetologists, seasoned breeders—even the people who just wandered in out of curiosity. Everyone fits somewhere, whether they’re geeking out over corn snake morphs or asking how to make a terrarium less… uh, less moldy. And let’s be honest, half the fun is people-watching in the food line.

Jay Tacey

So, let's dig into our spotlight vendors for this show. I want to start with Danelle’s Critters out of Sanford, NC. Danelle Karth, homeschooling mom, got her start just a few years ago after chatting with a crested gecko breeder—one of those accidental origin stories. In no time, she’s running a collection that’s basically a "who’s who" of easy-to-keep and beginner-friendly species: gargoyle and crested geckos, corn snakes, hognose snakes, gold dust day geckos... even ball pythons now. What’s impressive is the educational side—her website's loaded with deep-dive care guides, regular blog updates, and she’s always answering questions herself, in-person and online. She’s got this, uh, reputation for being almost too available. Mighty helpful if you’re just starting out.

Lisa Parker

Yeah, and I love that about her table—it’s like, you step up and you get that energy right away. She’ll ask what you ‘think’ you want, then actually help you walk it back if you’re not ready, or point you to her YouTube videos. Danelle jumps into full teacher mode. And I’ve watched her pause sales to help a kid hold their first gecko or walk a parent through quarantine basics. Plus, she’s flexible—Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, cash, whatever. Super stress-free. Genuine educator and hobbyist through and through.

Guy Mc Farlane

Professional and approachable—hard to beat that combo. And it shows with feedback too. She’s got a perfect 5.0 on MorphMarket. Not something you achieve unless you're truly putting the animals and buyers first. It’s great to see breeders blending passion, education, and transparency—and having the trust to back it up.

Michael Arnold

Second up—Cowajunga from Greensboro. Family-run, boutique breeder, crested geckos only, but holy moly, the quality. Aubrey Hood does everything bioactive—from the Arcadia UVB lighting to feeding routines and housing. Every gecko is raised in its own lush, living vivarium until adoption. If you’re a morph junkie, she’s got the reds, Super Dalmatians, yellows, lavenders… with pet to breeder grade. What stood out to me: if you’re looking to get more than one gecko—maybe to expand your group or you actually have some plans as a hobby breeder—she knocks off a hefty discount. And her MorphMarket rating? Also flawless. 5.0, 90 reviews. Wildly attentive with buyers, explains shipping, gives updates, does expos—the works.

Lisa Parker

Totally! Aubrey’s table is always a showstopper. The way she decks out every vivarium, it’s… I wanna call it reptile interior design? But it’s functional. And she genuinely cares about folks getting the right fit—I'm not kidding, I saw her talk someone out of an impulse buy last year until they did a bit more research. That’s not something you see enough of.

Jay Tacey

And then Electric Black Reptiles—this booth is pure energy. Ball pythons, colubrids, all the geckos—Leachianus, gargoyle, crested, leopard, Chinese cave. But then inverts too: tarantulas, scorpions, isopods, with some custom enclosures on display. Their motto is, what is it, “Quality reptiles made fun and exciting!”? It actually fits. Their staff is always cracking jokes, doing short walk-through demos, happy to chat about anything. They make the booth unintimidating, which is, honestly, what the hobby needs. They’re heavy on show presence—Knoxville, Asheville, Johnson City, and now, Fayetteville.

Michael Arnold

Yeah, they make it fun to learn, which sounds obvious—but how many tables actually pull you in and encourage you to touch, to get curious? Electric Black’s guys are always smiling, answering, and not afraid to admit what they don’t know. I might be wrong, but I think that’s something people remember just as much as the animals.

Lisa Parker

So we've talked about these amazing tables, but what really makes Repticon Fayetteville a can't-miss show is the variety. Seriously—if you’re a parent coming in with a six-year-old who just discovered lizards, or a breeder chasing that ‘next’ morph, there’s a path for you. Between Danelle’s hands-on, step-by-step support, Cowajunga’s next-level habitat artistry, and Electric Black just making the whole thing approachable—there’s something for every level and interest right at those three booths alone.

Michael Arnold

I’ll jump in, because I swear, that hands-on thing is the difference. If you’ve ever found yourself falling for a new animal, it’s because you had that moment—maybe you held one, or just saw one up close. For me, it was carpet pythons. First time I saw one in person, at a table a lot like Danelle’s or Electric Black’s, I was hooked. It changes everything when you can ask questions, try, interact—not just look. These vendors… they let curiosity become passion, and passion’s what keeps this hobby alive.

Jay Tacey

Yeah, and from my end, what jumps out is vendor transparency and the ethical side. Danelle and Aubrey both are crystal clear about care, what to expect, even what not to expect. And if you’ve ever designed a zoo, you know good habitats aren’t just about looking nice—they’re about giving animals what they need first. Cowajunga’s bioactive approach is exactly that: the goal is genuine well-being, not just pretty enclosures for people. And Electric Black? They demystify inverts and reptiles so more folks can appreciate them safely. That’s a huge step in responsible pet keeping, especially for families who maybe don’t know where to start.

Guy Mc Farlane

Completely agree. Plus, for, um, anyone making the leap from casual interest to long-term commitment, this level of support and accessibility is crucial. It’s easy to forget—especially as shows grow bigger—that many people attending are still on their first pet or even just thinking about it. Touching, questioning, seeing real setups in action, those are the building blocks for genuine animal welfare. If these vendors are your first point of contact in the hobby, you’re in good hands.

Lisa Parker

All right, so before we get totally lost swapping old expo war stories—I know we could talk vendor memories and first reptiles all day—I’ll cut us off here. Make sure you put Repticon Fayetteville on your calendar, December 20th and 21st. Whether you’re new, a bit obsessive, or just in it for the fun, there’s something for you. Thanks for joining us. Jay, Michael, Guy—it’s always, uh, a blast doing this.

Jay Tacey

Yeah, I love these deep dives. And, you know, we’ll be doing even more of them as new shows pop up, so keep an eye on the feed. Thanks for tuning in, folks!

Michael Arnold

Always a pleasure. Don’t forget to say hi at the next show—I'm the guy lingering suspiciously near the python displays. See you out there.

Guy Mc Farlane

Thanks everyone, and if you see me wandering around, stop me for a story or two. Until next time—cheers!