It’s a packed house, shoulder to shoulder, with buyers, sellers and those just there to look.

The annual Tucson Reptile and Amphibian Show and Sale brought together reptile lovers from Arizona and around the world on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. 

Snakes, lizards and bugs were hanging from arms and necks and you never knew what was brushing your arm.

The show had many attractions from a petting zoo, reptiles you could buy and animal sanctuaries. With face painting, balloon making and kid stations the show is a family friendly environment.

The show started in 2002 and has continued every year. This year the event was moved from a smaller location in central Tucson to the Pima County Fairgrounds to be able to contain the growing numbers of people in attendance each year. 

In 2022 over 11,000 people visited during the two-day show. Vendors come from Arizona, Florida, California and even Germany. 

Giant lizards walk around on leashes and a giant trailer has a sign warning of the venomous snakes inside. The room is loud and joyful as people unite in their love of creatures and educate those wanting to learn more. 

Jay Embrey started his snake business a year ago and his business booth, Jay’z Reptiles, was set up to reflect the passion he feels for his snakes. The cases were clean and lit, showcasing the variety of colors that cover the snakes. Embrey took a snake out and hung it from a shelf, showing the customers the unique creatures that he is selling. 

Embrey has raised snakes his whole life. “Being here is how I share life long passion with the reptile community,” Embrey said.

Arizona is known for its snakes, and every year Russ Johnson receives hundreds of calls to pick up rattle snakes that creep into public spaces. Johnson is the founder and president of the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary, which comes to the reptile show every year in the hopes of educating people about reptiles and how to coexist with critters in their community. 

“It’s really about conservation through education,” Johnson said. 

The sanctuary rescues reptiles in Arizona that would otherwise be euthanized. At the show the sanctuary hosts a petting zoo, adoption center as well as a display of venomous snakes with information on how to be smart and safe around them during everyday life. 

Not everyone at the show is there to sell. The non-profit Biodiversity Group was looking out for endangered reptiles, amphibians and all “life overlooked.”

The group is the first to print 3D images of live animals, and they displayed models of frogs and turtles at the show. 

Volunteer Ian Breland said the Biodiversity Group is working to cut the costs that it takes to identify and describe smaller new species. 

“In protecting life overlooked we protect all biodiversity,” Breland said. “ We see everything as equal and everything has its role in the environment.”

For more information on future dates, times, locations and venders for the Tucson Reptile and Amphibian Show and Sale visit their website at Tucson Reptile & Amphibian Show (tucsonreptileshow.com).