Ottawa Valley Reptile and Plant Expo organizers Quentin Sprunt and Madison Burelle are joined by their: Sinaloan Milk Snake named Milky; Anery Corn Snake named Checkers and Lindsey, the Lily White Crested Gecko. (Quentin Sprunt photo)
Geckos, snakes and invertebrates, oh my! Find those and more at the Ottawa Valley Reptile and Plant Expo this Sunday, Aug. 11 at the Renfrew Armouries.
Quentin Sprunt, owner of Greenspace Geckos in Deep River, is organizing the expo alongside his partner Madison Burelle.
Sprunt explains that events like these offer breeders, vendors, hobbyists and those who are curious an opportunity to bring supplies, new animals, show off what they have, what they could be having, talk about projects and more.
Similar events are held in large cities and in the States and for some time now Sprunt has wanted to bring an expo to the Ottawa Valley.
Participating in and even attending some of the larger shows can be cost-prohibitive so Sprunt has kept an eye on affordability when planning Sunday’s show.
There’s been plenty of interest as word gets out, said Sprunt. Vendors, and he hopes attendees, are expected from far and wide.
Sprunt has been interested in reptiles and all that surrounds them since he was a kid. There’s so much to learn, he said.
He encourages everyone to come and see what the reptile hobby, which is sometimes misunderstood, is all about. He noted that no dangerous animals are permitted at the expo.
He hopes that parents will bring their kids to check everything out.
And he hopes that people of all ages will open their minds and hearts in terms of appreciating reptiles and the other creatures that will be on hand at Sunday’s event.
Part of the reptile expo is a terrarium build-off competition.
Live on stage, three skilled individuals will compete – create a 3-D background, plant it out, include isopods (important for not just looks but to allow the plants to grow better and break down waste), according to Sprunt: “It’s a whole ecosystem in a box basically – is what you’re trying to create.”
The completed terrariums will then be auctioned off in support of reptile-related causes.
Food vendors will be on site, said Sprunt.
The Ottawa Valley Reptile and Plant Expo at the Renfrew Armouries runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11.
Cost of admission is $5 for adults (12 and up). Families will receive a 25 per cent discount.
More information is available on the event’s Facebook page.
(Written by: Sherry Haaima)