NJ Reptile Show Comes to Middletown
By Mary Ann Bourbeau
MIDDLETOWN – Organizers of the Saratoga Reptile Show – popular among herpetology enthusiasts – are hosting the inaugural New Jersey Reptile Show, a one-day showcase, Sunday, Oct. 5, right in Middletown.
The show will feature a plethora of reptiles, amphibians and other exotics. Many breeders, vendors, veterinarians and rescue organizations will be on hand for pet owners and the reptile-curious to meet these animals, learn about them, and maybe even take one home. The event takes place at VFW Post 2179 in Port Monmouth.
“We’ll have animals from all around the world,” said show owner and Eatontown resident Cynthia Mattern. “People will have the opportunity to buy right from the breeders and learn about the animal’s lineage instead of just going to pet stores.”
The day promises to be a fun and educational event for families. It will also include giveaways and contests.
Mattern, who was raised in Monmouth County, recalls having many small animals at home as a child, including reptiles, turtles and chickens. She turned her hobby into a career and now owns a farm where she breeds various types of geckos, turtles and green tree pythons. She passed her love of exotics down to her two children – her son helps out with the shows and her daughter lives on a turtle farm in Florida – as well as her six grandchildren. She enjoys seeing new generations come to these events and potentially become pet owners themselves.
“It’s a great hobby,” she said. “It’s good, clean fun.”
Mattern said the best sellers are usually bearded dragons, crested geckos, Pacman frogs and ball pythons.
“They tend to be harmless and easy to take care of,” she said.
The ones that need the most care are chameleons and leaf-tailed geckos, which are native to Madagascar. Like many reptiles and amphibians, their diets consist mainly of live insects. They can live up to 15 years in captivity.
One of the most exotic and highest-priced reptiles is the New Caledonia gecko, the largest species of gecko, which can grow up to 14 inches long. Their prices can also be large, with some selling for close to $3,000. But for some pet owners, their attributes outweigh the cost.
“They have beautiful colors and they’re well-mannered,” said Mattern.
A variety of geckos will be on display at the show, including leopard, crested, gargoyle and tokay geckos. Lizards include bearded dragons, uromastyx, monitors, skinks, chameleons and iguanas. Pacman frogs, tree frogs, dart frogs and salamanders will fill out the amphibian category. Snakes include ball pythons, red-eyed morph corn snakes, milk snakes, king snakes and boa constrictors. The show will also feature various invertebrates such as tarantulas, scorpions, roaches, millipedes, isopods and other “bug” pets.
Top vendors from across the tri-state area will be on hand selling cages, supplies, feeder insects and frozen (and live) rodents. Scheduled vendors include NJ Exotic Pets, Major League Exotics (Howell), Fins & Feathers (Red Bank), Classic Jurassic, AquaTerra Exotic Pets, Reptile Deli, Garden State Exotics, Franken Chams, HJS Serpents, Hendershot Habitats, RLO’s Exotics, EZ Botanicals, Jackie’s Succulents and Tropicals, American Reptile Distribu- tors (Freehold), LF Rustics, Sticky Toe Co., Paws, Wings and Scales Animal Hospital, Small n Furry Rescue (Howell) and Leaf Tailed Poison (Old Bridge).
The VFW 2179 is located at 1 Veterans Lane, Port Monmouth. The show will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5. General admission is $20, and children age 5 and under are free. Parking is available on- site at the VFW, and food and drinks will be available for purchase at the VFW snack bar. For more information, email info@njreptileshow.com or visit njreptileshow.com.
The article originally appeared in the October 2 – October 8, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
The headline of this story has been clarified after it appeared in the Oct. 2 printed edition of the Two River Times
