ONTARIO - Pets that slither, crawl, scurry and climb were available for sale at Alexanders Herp World Expo this weekend at the Ontario Convention Center.

People looking for non-traditional pets had many types to choose from during the two-day expo, including snakes, frogs, turtles, geckos, lizards, bugs and arachnids.

The expo is a way to show people who may be unfamiliar with reptiles and amphibians that they're not slimy or creepy creatures but actually make good pets, said Philippe de Vosjoli, who was selling various types of geckos, including giant geckos, gargoyle geckos and crested geckos.

"I think it's a positive look at all of the nature that's out there," he said.

Vosjoli, who has written a number of books on the care of amphibians and reptiles, said geckos make good pets for people who work full time or live in apartments.

Drew Toy of Daryl's Pet Shop in Redlands was selling different species of tarantula, one of which was sitting comfortably on her shirt.

"We have holdable tarantulas and non-holdable ones," she said. "We have ones that make great pets to either look at or play with or grow up with and learn a lot of science about."

Toy said the most popular tarantulas are ones that can be held, but some people like to buy the more dangerous kind.

"Owners who have kids and don't want it, if it gets out, to chase their children," she said. "Or the college kids who want to impress their girlfriends. They usually go for the more viscous ones that attack anything that moves."
