BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

So I am headed to a HUGE reptile expo that takes place in Arlington Texas every year and I am hoping Mr. Blue can come along with me. Now I know the few local ones we have in our area don't mind people bringing their own reptiles to the show even if you aren't selling them. I have taken my bearded dragon several times there just to walk around with him on my shoulder (he loves the attention). But I am unsure of these huge national type expos since they got their own rules about things. Last year we did end up taking a baby hognose snake back to a breeder, but that was more of business than pleasure. Does anyone have any experience with the big expos to know their rules? I have checked their website and it doesn't say anything one way or the other unfortunately

Going out tomorrow once Mr. Blue eats to find him a little ferret harness in hopes it will fit him. He isn't used to sitting on my shoulder and thus will need a harness and leash if I do take him to the expo. And on that note does anyone have any tips of taking a skink to an expo? Like experience and whatnot? I want to make the trip there as stress free as possible, but I know it will cause some amount of stress overall. He has come a long way to becoming tamer and seems eager to be out of his tank...thought the expo would be stimulating for him.

This is completely my own opinion, but I personally wouldnt bring him - Wouldnt it be more enjoyable to attend without having to worry about an animal? What would you do if he does stress? Go home and miss out on things? Put him in the car and worry about him?

Even if you do bring him, why not carry him on your arm? Seems like a safer option - Im having a fiddle around with one of my own ferret harnesses (Im presuming its to catch him if he falls?) and I honestly dont think it would hold a bluey - Even a ferret has to be supervised whilst wearing! The size difference between their belly and their neck is too great , I just dont see it being at all safe Im afraid, I personally see just holding him as tooooonnes more safer.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Typically they frown upon allowing attendees to bring in their animals. If they allowed you to bring in your reptile, they have to allow everyone else to be able to bring a reptile or two as well. It would not be fair to the vendors who have spend several hundred on a booth, while the average joe can come in with one or two animals at a time and sell them with out paying the booth fee (yes, I know you are not wanting to sell, but there would be other people who would).

But I agree with Nae. Why? I have never understood why someone would bring their pet to a show. Taking them to a new area, stressing them out, having to worry about the animal, worry about it transferring/picking up some sort of disease/parasite from the show, etc. I go to Pet Expos as well. These are generally rescue groups and vendors (no animal sales allowed here). They allow vaccinated and neutered animals into the show. But I still dont take my dogs. Its too crowded and then I have to worry about everyone elses dog.

From my experience, there is no way in hell I would take any of my animals to a show and risk the stress and diseases just for my enjoyment (but then again, I dont see how it is enjoyable to have to worry about my animal the whole time )

I must agree with comments so far. Any larger expo I've looked into say no pets allowed, and even prefer animals bought at the expo be taken out ASAP.
Chance of picking up random germs, and chance of my BTS having had enough and starting to flip out (I've been through it, and don't want to do that again), just not worth it in my opinion. So many more cons than there are pros.
So far I haven't found, or even heard of, a harness that works on a BTS. Their heads being the largest part on their bodies, but the neck tapering so gradually, harnesses just do not work; without much work at all they always slide out of them, forwards or back, makes no difference. And on your shoulder is never a secure or reliable way of carrying a BTS. They are built so differently from Beardies or Iguanas, they just cannot hold on in a good way, so BTS should never, in my opinion, be carried around on your shoulders.

Sorry!
I love having one of my reptiles with me in lots of places, but reptile expos are just not good in my opinion.