Staff photo / Bob Coupland Benjamin Porter III of Campbell, left, gets to see a Burmese python up close with assistance from Raymond Beeman of Bristol and with Big Sal’s Feeder Farm in Vienna on Sunday at the Northeast Ohio Reptile Show at the Metroplex in Liberty.

LIBERTY — Ball pythons, bearded dragons and geckos are the big reptilian pets this year that some area residents are seeking.

Reptile pet owners spent Sunday looking not only for new pets but also supplies and food at the Northeast Ohio Reptile Show at the Metroplex.

Mike Marinkovich, chairman of the show along with Jim Wynn, said they host a reptile show six times a year — every other month — because of the demand for reptiles and pet supplies.

“Pythons and geckos are what many people are into from this show and others we have held. We saw a really big increase in people wanting reptiles as pets when COVID was going on. We saw an uptick in people buying reptiles. A lot of new people got interested in reptiles,” Marinkovich said.

Markinkovich, who has been with the show for six years, and owns ball pythons and geckos, said the popularity of the show gets bigger and bigger each time.

“I know people are always looking for enclosures for their reptiles. Many people come here to get supplies for their reptiles that they can’t always get at pet stores. A big part is the food and what they eat,” he said.

Campbell resident Benjamin Porter III has had a 14-foot Burmese phython at his home for more than 20 years.

“I like the size they can get. They are also very docile. I have never been bitten by one,” Porter said.

Raymond Beeman of Bristol, with Big Sal’s Feeder Farm in Vienna, said he has noticed in addition to people seeking food for their reptiles, they are also looking for gift items.

“Some are looking for an odd-ball pet they can’t find anywhere else,” Beeman said.

Shawn Gordon of Big Sal’s Feeder Farm said the ball pythons are popular since they are easy to take care of.

“They do not require a lot of maintenance. You only have to feed them once a week,” Gordon said.

Josh Laquinta of Pittsburgh, Pa., along with his son, Blaze, 6, said they had a lot of requests for boa constrictors and Burmese phythons.

“This is our first show here, and we plan to be back next time” Josh Laquinta said.

The Schuster family of Hermitage, Pa., was looking for snakes for Evan Schuster, 11.

“I really like snakes,” said Evan, who has a ball python and a much smaller, corn snake that the family purchased at the show.

Michelle Schuster, Evan’s mother, said they received a lot of needed supplies for the snake and were shown how to tell if snakes are male or female.

“The larger snake is fed every couple of weeks and eats three rats,” she said.

Dan Schuster said his son is known as “the reptile man.”

“He likes snakes and watches a lot of programs on TV and YouTube about snakes,” he said.

Evan said he watches a lot of shows about snakes on Animal Planet.

The two remaining reptile shows this year are Oct. 10 and Dec. 12 at the Metroplex, 1620 Motor Inn Drive. Visit www.neohioreptileshow.com.