Repticon slithers into Columbia, July 18 and 19

The word “Repticon” may make you think of a supervillian that could cause your anxiety to move faster than a speeding bullet and spike to levels that could leap tall buildings in a single bound. But for the estimated 4,000 attendees who will flock to Jamil Temple over the weekend, this is the equivalent of a reptile lovers’ comic-con.

Skip Peel, an event coordinator for Repticon since it hatched under new management in 2006, has watched the event’s return to the Midlands be met with excitement by vendors and visitors alike.

“One of the cool things about this event is you don’t know what you’re going to see,” said Peel. “It’s like a trade show. Some people stay all day, but a lot of people know exactly what they want and they’re in and out in an hour.”

The vendors at Repticon are as vast and varied as their customer base.

“There’s just all kinds of amazing animals you might see,” said Peel. “I’ve seen an albino alligator, a tiny owl that was a rescue, a young Morelet’s crocodile, and one time, we had a vendor who actually managed to breed a two-headed king snake.”

And for those experienced snake-charmers looking for something a bit more perilous, Columbia’s event also boasts a venomous section.

“The Carolinas have a long history of venomous collectors,” said Peel. “There’s a section sectioned off from the rest that people can browse. You will definitely see different rattlesnakes, a few cobras and I don’t even know all what else.”

But Peel would recommend you come to the show, if not to purchase an animal, then at least for an education and perhaps a new outlook on our cold-blooded counterparts.

“There’s still a bit of a stigma to reptiles,” he said. “There’s that element of biker guys and gals that are all tattooed up and like their reptiles, but a lot of what we do is family-(oriented). Kids come out and are interested in getting their first pet or certainly their first reptile. And we have hourly seminar presentations that deal with the more popular species. They can attend these seminars and learn how to care for them.”

And Peel said that women are drawn to the event as much as their male counterparts.

“I’ve been noticing lately on our Facebook page how many photos we’ll get of women with the animals,” he said. “I see this at the show too. It’s almost half men and and half women. So you think it’s more of a guy thing, but it’s not. Women love these animals just as much.”

But it’s the kids that really have the heart of a superhero when it comes to reptiles.

“The kids almost always love them,” said Peel. “It’s very rare for the kids to be afraid of them. And then the kids grow up, and now you’ve got a second generation of people that are into (reptiles).”

Which would make you wonder, if a reptile lover had the power to become a reptile, what kind would they choose? Peel had an answer, but it’s not what you would expect.

“I’d want to be a Nile crocodile in Africa or saltwater crocodile in Australia and just be a big, happy, content, nobody-messes-with-you crocodile,” he said with a laugh. “They’re an apex predator. An apex predator just eats and sleeps.”

That sounds pretty super.

Dwaun Sellers

IF YOU GO: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Jamil Temple, 206 Jamil Road. At the door, tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 5-12, and free for children younger than 5. www.repticon.com/columbia.html.