Whether it’s a bearded dragon, a frog or an axolotl, visitors will have plenty to admire and purchase at this year’s reptile show at the Jackson County Expo.

The Medford Metro Reptile Expo will fill The Expo’s Olsrud Arena with a wide range of reptiles and amphibians, knowledgeable staff and vendors, terrariums and habitat materials, and activities to keep the whole family busy. 

“We have chameleons, bearded dragons, geckos, snakes, pythons, frogs and all kinds of different species … we’ll have thousands of different species in there,” said John Deaton, co-owner of Northwest Reptile Expos with his wife, Carie Deaton. “We’re a captive bred show and one of the few captive bred shows in America; we were the first captive bred reptile event in America, which means you can’t bring animals from the wild into the show and sell them.” 

The Reptile Expo is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at The Expo, located at 1 Peninger Road in Central Point. 

Tickets — which can be purchased at the door, cash or card only — are $12 for adults, $6 for kids ages 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and younger. 

There will be more than 40 vendors at the Reptile Expo arriving from across the Western United States, traveling here from California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah and other states. 

“We have a few vendors who are rescues too,” Deaton said. “We have a face painter and people selling snacks and candies.” 

Organizers of the Reptile Expo have a general idea of what reptiles and amphibians will be brought, but won’t know for sure until everyone is under the same roof. 

“The vendors bring what they bring, so it’s a mystery to us what will show up,” Deaton said. 

While there are lots of reptiles and amphibians and other critters at the show, some species are particularly popular at the Reptile Expo shows. 

“Probably the most popular are ball pythons and bearded dragons; a lot of people like snakes and they’re usually out of the way and you only have to feed them once or twice a month,” Deaton said. “Bearded dragons are very popular because they’re pretty friendly, and they’re like a pig and will eat anything.” 

“We also have aquatic species, like the axolotl,” he added. 

But the Reptile Expo isn’t just for visitors looking to buy their newest pet, it also gives an opportunity for people to see rare creatures up close and learn about them. 

“A good portion of families are wanting to bring the kids out to see something different,” Deaton said. “It’s good to come out and all vendors let you handle their stuff and have a hands-on experience.” 

The vendors at the show also bring a level of expertise with reptiles and other animals that one normally wouldn’t get at the average pet store. That extends into the knowledge of products such as tanks, food and more for certain species.

“We have a lot of products; there’s also a person there with tanks or cages, feeders, frozen (reptile food), all kinds of lighting; it’s all there for you,” Deaton said. 

A key aspect of Northwest Reptile Expos — organizers of the Medford Metro Reptile Expo and other expos in Portland and Seattle — is a focus on ethical breeding and selling of the animals. 

While some reptile sellers steal animals from the wild or do other immoral practices regarding breeding and selling reptiles or amphibians, the Medford Metro Reptile Expo is one of few captive bred shows in the country. 

“We have shows that are sustainable; we’re not taking them from the wild,” he said. 

Shows like the local reptile expo “take that black market trade away,” Deaton added. 

For more information on the Medford Metro Reptile Show, visit attheexpo.com/event/medford-metro-reptile-expo-2.

To learn more about Northwest Reptile Expos, go to nwreptileexpos.com.

Reach reporter James Sloan at jsloan@rv-times.com.