A Leachianus Gecko walks up the side of an aquarium at the display for Cypress State Reptiles during H.E.R.P.S. reptile show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025 in Gonzales, Louisiana.
Reptile enthusiasts were able to pet and hold exotic animals as well as other nature's oddities, during the HERPS Exotic Reptile & Pet Show this weekend at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
The event, which travels throughout Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma, featured 75 reptile and exotic animal breeders, as well as pet supply vendors.
Pythons, rats, amphibians and spiders were available to purchase, along with various-sized enclosures and pet food.
The popular expo also utilizes the opportunity to educate the public about the many different breeds of exotic animals and how they survive in nature.
"For most attendees, this is an introduction to certain animals, reptiles and amphibians," said Shawn Gray, HERPS Exotic Reptile & Pet Show organizer. "They may want to get one as a pet and this is a chance to talk to breeders about giving proper care.
"We get a lot of repeat customers. More and more are buying animals, and our reptile community is growing."
The HERPS expo has been held at Lamar-Dixon for several years, including as recently as March.
"The staff here is always attentive and we love this location," Gray said.
Vendors from around the country travel to participate in the expo. Some tote along their own family pets to display.
Darian Rodriguez, owner of Rodriguez Reptiles, brought Zeus, his pet porcupine. The crowd-pleaser Zeus proudly displayed his long quills and slender claws.
Rodriguez, a breeder of reptiles such as blue-tongued skinks and bear dragon lizards, said the Lamar-Dixon event was fun not only for himself, but for attendees as well.
"We've had big crowds full of kids interacting with Zeus and the other reptiles I brought," Rodriguez said. "They are making core memories here and they are the next generation of future hobbyists."
Bringing Zeus to expos helps educate people about an animal they often have never seen in person, Rodriguez added.
Rodriguez considers Zeus to be a member of his family, along with his chihuahua.
"Porcupines have a lot of doglike qualities to them," Rodriguez said. "He gets along great with other animals."
Some species sold out quickly, including nocturnal gliding possums known as "sugar gliders."
Christopher Todd, owner of T&A Exotics in Carriere, Mississippi, sold the possums along with pythons, tarantulas and pet rats.
"Everybody is curious about these reptiles and animals," Todd said. "If they do not own these types of animals, they are shocked to see us holding and walking around with snakes. This gives people a chance to become educated about them and learn new things.
"These types of pets are out of the normal. They are not like dogs, cats and rabbits. These stand out more."
Todd has taken his love of snakes and expanded it to creating a small business.
"I got my first red-tailed boa at 18, became addicted, and now it's grown to this," he said.
Several vendors offered unique items that appeal to those looking for something out of the ordinary.
Tammy Landry, of Marrero, sold taxidermy, reptile bones and butterflies in frames.
Landry, owner of The Undertaker's Vault, has participated in the Gonzales expo for seven years.
"We've been popular because these are impulse buys," Landry said. "We have handmade goods and taxidermy.
"Some people are attracted to things that you don't see every day."
Landry's oddities include skeletons of various reptiles and other animals.
"We showcase a skeleton of a Nile monitor lizard to show what it looks like without skin," Landry said.
One of the popular items sold at The Undertaker's Vault are "spine lamps."
"We sold a lamp yesterday made from a spine of a wild hog," Landry said.
For information, visit herpshow.net.