Repticon Jacksonville 2026: Your Guide to a Scaly Weekend in Duval Hall

Jay Tacey

Welcome back to the Repticon Reptile Shows podcast. I’m Jay Tacey, and today we are talking all about one of my favorite stops on the circuit: Repticon Jacksonville 2026.

Michael Arnold

Yeahhh, Duval County! Hey everybody, Michael Arnold here. And this one is basically in my backyard, so I’m pretty hyped.

Guy Mc Farlane

And I’m Guy Mc Farlane. I’ve spent most of my career in zoos and conservation, so any event that combines animals, education, and community? I’m in.

Lisa Parker

And I’m Lisa Parker. If you’ve been to a Repticon before, there’s a decent chance I was the one running around with a clipboard and a kazoo making sure doors opened on time. Jacksonville is such a fun show.

Jay Tacey

So let’s set the stage. Repticon Jacksonville is a two-day reptile and exotic animal expo, and it’s absolutely built to be family-friendly. You’ve got serious hobbyists, brand‑new keepers, kids in snake T‑shirts, strollers, the whole mix—everybody under one roof geeking out over animals.

Michael Arnold

And that roof, specifically, is Duval Hall at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds in Jacksonville, Florida. Mark your calendars: it’s happening the weekend of March 28th and 29th, 2026.

Lisa Parker

The show kicks off Saturday morning—doors open at 9AM on March 28th—and closes at 4PM. We reopen at 10AM on Sunday, so you’ve got plenty of time across the weekend to come hang out, shop, and ask questions.

Guy Mc Farlane

If you’ve never been to a Repticon before, picture this: you walk through the doors of Duval Hall and it hits you right away. You’ve got rows and rows of colorful booths, banners, and display cases. There’s this soft background hum of people talking, kids going “whoa!” and “look at that one,” and every so often you hear a vendor explaining something about husbandry or genetics over the chatter.

Jay Tacey

From my zoo background, what I love is that it’s sensory, but it’s not chaotic. You’ll see beautifully set-up enclosures with reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates—snakes, geckos, frogs, tarantulas, isopods—each of them displayed so you can actually see the animal and talk to the person who works with it every day.

Michael Arnold

Yeah, you’re gonna see deli cups with baby snakes, larger display cages with big, impressive pythons or boas, racks of geckos in every shade of orange and white you can imagine, and then those tables that, like, every kid bee‑lines to—the tarantulas and bugs. You know exactly the ones I mean.

Lisa Parker

You’ll also notice it SMELLS different from other expos. It’s not a pet‑store‑funk thing. It’s more like clean substrate, fresh enclosures, a little bit of coffee from the concession stand. And people are just… happy. They’re carrying critter totes, talking to breeders, showing each other photos on their phones.

Guy Mc Farlane

From an operations perspective, Duval Hall is a great space for this. Wide aisles so families can move through with strollers, clear signage, and you can actually step back from a booth, take a breath, and think through a purchase instead of being shoulder‑to‑shoulder all day.

Jay Tacey

And you’re not just looking at animals. You’ve got vendors with enclosures, décor, feeders, supplies—everything that supports good husbandry. Plus community organizations with education tables. We’ll talk more about that later, but the overall vibe is: come in, explore, learn, and leave feeling more confident about the animals you love.

Michael Arnold

So whether you’re an experienced keeper chasing your dream project, or a family whose kid just discovered geckos on YouTube, Repticon Jacksonville on March 28th and 29th at Duval Hall is built for you.

Lisa Parker

Alright, let’s talk about some of the awesome folks you can meet in Jacksonville, because this lineup is stacked.

Michael Arnold

Yeah, we gotta start with 616 Serpents. These guys are a family‑run operation, and they are SERIOUS about their Blood and Ball Python projects.

Jay Tacey

From my perspective, what stands out with 616 Serpents is the way they approach breeding. They’re focused on high‑quality animals, and they’ve built a really strong reputation—5.0 rating on MorphMarket, great feedback on communication and animal health.

Michael Arnold

And if you’re into Blood Pythons, you’re gonna see some really cool morphs at their table. Things like Goldeneye and Magpie Blood Pythons—those are visually striking animals, lots of contrast, really unique patterns. They also work with Ball Pythons, so you’ll get that whole spectrum from bold, chunky Bloods to classic Ball Python projects.

Guy Mc Farlane

What I appreciate, wearing my animal‑welfare hat, is that they emphasize ethical breeding—healthy stock, solid genetics, and they’re known for being responsive to questions. If you’re considering a python, especially as a long‑term commitment, that support matters.

Lisa Parker

And they’re great to talk to even if you’re just starting to THINK about a snake. Ask them about adult size, temperament, feeding, all of that. They’d rather you be prepared than rush into a purchase.

Jay Tacey

Now on the lizard side, Canvas Geckos is another standout you’ll see in Jacksonville. They specialize in New Caledonian geckos—so think crested geckos, gargoyle geckos, those arboreal species that have really become favorites in the hobby.

Michael Arnold

Cresties and gargoyles are honestly some of my favorite recommendations for people who want a first lizard but can’t quite handle, like, a giant monitor lizard. They stay a manageable size, they’re typically pretty docile, and their setups can be these cool little planted jungle tanks.

Lisa Parker

And Canvas Geckos has a reputation for really nice quality animals—great structure, colors, patterns—and they care a lot about customer education. So if you’re at their table, don’t be shy. Ask about housing, humidity, feeding, and how to tell if a gecko is a good fit for your home.

Guy Mc Farlane

From a welfare standpoint, New Caledonian geckos can be very rewarding when kept properly, but they do have specific needs—temperature ranges, humidity cycles, appropriate diet. Canvas Geckos is the kind of vendor that will walk you through that, not just hand you a box and say “good luck.”

Jay Tacey

They’re also a great table to visit if you’re just fascinated by morphs and patterns. You’ll see everything from subtle tones to really bold, high‑contrast animals. Even if you’re not ready to buy, standing there and listening to them explain their projects is like a mini‑seminar.

Michael Arnold

Alright, we can’t talk Jacksonville without talking about The Exotic Kingdom. These folks specialize in captive‑bred tarantulas and invertebrates, and they’re a big educational presence at shows.

Lisa Parker

Their table is always packed—kids dragging parents over, people overcoming their fear of spiders, all of it. But what I love is that it’s not just “look at the scary spider.” It’s “let’s talk about this animal’s natural history, how to care for it, and whether it’s actually right for you.”

Guy Mc Farlane

Exactly. They focus on captive-bred animals and proper husbandry, which is huge from both a conservation and welfare angle. They can help you understand which species tend to be more suitable for newer keepers versus those that require more experience, and they’re very upfront about things like defensiveness, speed, and enclosure needs.

Jay Tacey

And this is where that education piece really shines. If you’re curious about tarantulas or other inverts but not sure where to start, The Exotic Kingdom is a safe place to ask all the “basic” questions. They’d rather you walk away with knowledge than take home an animal you’re not ready for.

Michael Arnold

So between 616 Serpents, Canvas Geckos, and The Exotic Kingdom, you’ve got this beautiful cross‑section of the hobby at Repticon Jacksonville: snakes, geckos, and eight‑legged wonders—all from vendors who actually care about ethics and education.

Lisa Parker

Alright, let’s switch gears and talk about how to actually make the MOST out of your Repticon Jacksonville weekend.

Michael Arnold

First practical thing: tickets. Whenever possible, grab your tickets online ahead of time. It usually speeds up your entry and helps you plan your day a bit better.

Guy Mc Farlane

Let’s talk “what to bring.” Bring a small notebook or have notes ready on your phone—that way you can jot down species names, care points, or vendor contact info. Bring photos of your current setups if you already keep animals, so vendors can give specific advice. And if you’re THINKING of buying, it’s smart to bring a secure carrier or have a plan for safely transporting an animal home.

Michael Arnold

If you’re traveling or not ready to take an animal home that day, that’s where services like Reptiles Express come in. They’re at the show as a membership-based shipping service that helps vendors and buyers ship live animals safely and in compliance with carriers. It’s a good reminder that you don’t have to impulse‑buy just because you drove in.

Lisa Parker

Yeah, and speaking of impulse buys, let’s hit the big one: questions to ask before you buy anything. Things like: “How big does this species get? What’s the lifespan? What temperatures and humidity does it need? What’s it eating now?”

Jay Tacey

I’d also ask, “Is this animal captive-bred?” and “How long have you had it feeding consistently?” For snakes, ask if they’re taking frozen‑thawed or live. For geckos, ask about diet—are they on a commercial mix, insects, or a combination?

Michael Arnold

And don’t be afraid to say, “I love this animal, but I need to do more research before I buy.” A responsible vendor will absolutely respect that. In fact, the good ones will encourage it.

Guy Mc Farlane

This ties into something really important to all of us: education, conservation, and responsible ownership. Events like Repticon Jacksonville aren’t just marketplaces—they’re hubs for learning.

Lisa Parker

You’ll see groups like the Jacksonville Herpetological Society there. They’ve been around since the late 1980s, focused on education and conservation, and they’re a fantastic resource if you’re local or even semi‑local and want community, meetings, and more structured learning.

Michael Arnold

You’ll also see USARK Florida represented. They’re on the front lines when it comes to policy and keeping responsible reptile ownership possible in the state. Stopping by their table, learning what’s going on legislatively, maybe supporting them if you can—that’s a huge way to give back to the community.

Jay Tacey

From a big‑picture standpoint, when you combine reputable vendors, informed keepers, and organizations like Jacksonville Herp Society and USARK Florida, you get exactly what we want to see: animals that are thriving, guests who are informed, and a hobby that’s sustainable for the long term.

Guy Mc Farlane

So our challenge to you is: use Repticon Jacksonville as more than just a shopping trip. Make it a weekend of learning. Talk to 616 Serpents about long‑term python care. Ask Canvas Geckos how to build a proper New Caledonian setup. Let The Exotic Kingdom walk you through what responsible tarantula keeping really looks like.

Lisa Parker

Make a weekend out of it—come Saturday, come back Sunday with fresh questions, bring your family, your friends, your “I’m not sure about snakes” co‑worker. Let them see what this community is actually like.

Michael Arnold

So one more time: Repticon Jacksonville, March 28th and 29th, 2026, at Duval Hall at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds in Jacksonville, Florida. Two days of reptiles, amphibians, inverts, supplies, education, and a whole lot of passionate people.

Jay Tacey

Come see the world through the eyes of these animals, meet vendors who care deeply about their work, and connect with the organizations that keep this community strong. If you walk out with more knowledge and respect for these animals—even if you don’t buy a thing—that’s a win.

Guy Mc Farlane

And if you DO bring home a new scaly or eight‑legged family member, do it thoughtfully, with a plan, and with support from the folks you met at the show. That’s how we keep animal welfare at the center of what we do.

Lisa Parker

Alright, I think that’s our cue to start packing for Jacksonville. I’ll be the one at Duval Hall with the schedule, the radio, and, yes, probably the kazoo.

Michael Arnold

I’ll be the guy hovering around the snake tables way too long. Come say hi, talk reptiles, maybe show me your favorite pickup from the show.

Guy Mc Farlane

And I’ll be the one asking way too many questions about enclosure design and long‑term care. Please, stop me and chat; I love hearing how people care for their animals.

Jay Tacey

On behalf of all of us, thanks for listening to Repticon Reptile Shows. We’ll see you in Jacksonville on March 28th and 29th at Duval Hall. Until next time, take care of yourselves, take care of your animals, and we’ll talk again soon.