During an exhibition at the Colorado Springs Event Center on Sunday, a man began to inquire about the price of a particular display item when his wife placed a restraining hand on his shoulder and said, “We don’t need another one.”

“I know,” he replied. “Besides, we don’t have the space.” But he couldn’t take his eyes off the boa constrictor.

The large but non-venomous snake was one of hundreds of exotic pets on display, and for sale, at the two-day Show Me Reptile and Exotics Show.

Coordinated by Missouri-based Show Me Reptiles, the weekend event featured dozens of exotic pet vendors from several states across the U.S., including Utah, New Mexico, Missouri and Tennessee.

“We’re here to provide a venue for the exotic pet community to look at and buy reptiles,” said event coordinator Sam Roy. “We’re also here for people who might be considering an alternative to a traditional pet.”

Non-traditional pets have grown in popularity in recent years, according to several vendors at the trade show.

“Over the last few years,” spiders have really taken off in the pet trade,” said John Morris, owner of Denver-based Outlaw Arachnids, one of a handful of spider vendors at the show.

“Tarantulas can live a long time as pets — as much as 20-30 years,” said Heather Tinney of Eight Deadly Sins, a spider shop in Grand Junction. “If you want a pet that will be around for a long time, maybe you should consider a tarantula.”

More than 1,500 pet enthusiasts showed up for the expo, gave uninitiated attendees a chance to see — and in some cases, touch — live reptiles. That’s the most effective way to dispel stereotypes about reptiles and other exotics, Roy said.

“Reptiles are sociable creatures. They love each other and they love us,” he said. “They’re not scaly and slimy. They’re affectionate. They recognize people. They’re actually pretty nice animals.”

Ronald Bohnert, owner of Scales N’ Tails, echoed Roy’s assertions.

“People tend to think reptiles are slimy and scaly,” Bohnert said. “They’re not. In fact, they’re pretty soft to the touch.

“People also think that snakes are aggressive and dangerous. But all the snakes in this show are captive-bred, by people. The first thing they see, when they’re hatched, is people. They don’t have a natural fear of humans, so they don’t behave aggressively.”

Bohnert and his Scales N’ Tails team brought an array of snakes and other reptiles to the expo despite a smash-and-grab burglary that took place at their North Academy Boulevard location just a few days before.

Just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday, after a failed attempt the day before, a group of thieves broke into the store and stole several animals.

Security footage, available for viewing on the Scales N’ Tails Facebook page, shows a hooded figure connecting a tether to the store’s door and a small car in a failed effort to tear the door from its hinges. When that didn’t work, the thieves threw a large rock against a window several times before it finally broke.

The suspects stole five pythons, six lizards, some bedding and a cage, according to Bohnert.

“They basically took what they wanted and left,” he said.

Despite about $9,000 in damage and losses, the Scales N’ Tails team never considered skipping the expo.

“We were going to do the show regardless,” Bohnert said. “We’re the premier reptile spot in Colorado Springs. If there’s a show in our city, of course we’re going to be there.”

It was Show Me Reptiles’ first expo in Colorado Springs, but it won’t be the last; a second show in the same location is already set for Oct. 5-6, according to Roy.

“We thought this weekend really went well,” he said. “We’re looking forward to coming back in October.”