Building Community, Sharing Passion: Fluker’s at Retic Fest 2025
Sep 5th 2025
If you’ve ever wanted to surround yourself with hundreds of people who live and breathe reptiles, Retic Fest is exactly the kind of event that reminds you why we’re all in this hobby. Earlier this month, I had the chance to attend Retic Fest 2025 in Sarver, Pennsylvania. The event is hosted by Garrett Hartle and his amazing family at Reach Out Reptiles. Fluker’s was fortunate to be one of the event sponsors, and it was one of the most rewarding weekends I’ve had in the reptile community.
What is Retic Fest?
Retic Fest is more than just a reptile show; it’s a celebration of responsible reptile keeping, captive breeding, education, and shared passion. Over 300 reptile lovers showed up, from seasoned breeders and hobbyists to pet store owners, educators, and families new to the world of herps. Everyone was there to connect, learn, and share what they know, and nobody held anything back. Whether you came to see the latest in dwarf and super dwarf reticulated python breeding or just to connect with fellow reptile keepers, there was something for everyone.
Fluker’s Role at Retic Fest
As a family-owned company that’s been serving the reptile world for decades, Fluker’s was proud to support this grassroots event. We had the opportunity to connect face-to-face with customers who use our products every day and gift the Retic Fest guests with a crowd favorite, our 100-watt basking bulbs. A special thanks to Garrett for featuring Fluker’s during his Palm Street livestream, where I had the opportunity to speak directly to the community about what we do and why we’re so passionate about reptile care. And that’s one of the biggest takeaways from Retic Fest: this isn’t just a hobby. It’s a lifestyle, a calling, and a community full of people who are constantly striving to do better: for the pet and other animals, for each other, and for the future of responsible keeping.
Learning About Reticulated Pythons (And More)
One of the most exciting parts of the weekend was diving deep into the world of reticulated pythons. I’ve always admired these incredible animals, but learning directly from Garrett and the team at Reach Out Reptiles gave me a whole new perspective on how complex and rewarding keeping retics can be. They shared insights on where reticulated pythons are found throughout the world and broke down the real work that goes into breeding dwarf and super dwarf lines. It’s not just about size, it’s about temperament, genetics, enrichment, and long-term health. Garrett’s team puts an enormous amount of effort into doing things the right way, from tailored enclosures and proper climates to offering optimal diets and encouraging natural behaviors. At Fluker’s, we talk a lot about husbandry, proper nutrition, UVB lighting, hydration, and habitat design, but it was inspiring to see it in action at such a focused level.
House Snakes and Insect Conversations
Even though reticulated pythons were the star of the show, I had some of the most memorable conversations about house snakes and feeder insects. I met a lot of keepers who are interested in African house snakes which is a smaller, manageable colubrid species that’s been gaining popularity in the U.S. These conversations centered around how the House Snake will eat anything which naturally led to feeding strategies. Many people were curious about live insects as part of a broader reptile diet plan, especially when it came to raising other species in their collections. I had the chance to talk about the value of feeder insects like crickets, roaches, and black soldier fly larvae; not just in terms of protein, but in how they support gut health, hydration, and natural feeding behaviors. What amazed me most was how curious and engaged everyone was. These weren’t surface-level questions, people wanted to know about life cycles, gut loading, breeding colonies, and even sustainable insect farming. There’s a real hunger for knowledge, and it reminded me how important it is for us as an industry to keep sharing and innovating.
Getting Feedback Straight From the Source
As a manufacturer, we don’t always get to hear directly from our customers in person. But at Retic Fest, that changed. We got hit with thoughtful questions and smart suggestions from people who spend hours every week feeding, observing, and caring for their reptiles. Some asked about humidity control and how to better use feeder insects to manage hydration. Others had great ideas for improving insect packaging or enriching their pets’ diets. The feedback was honest, enthusiastic, and incredibly helpful. These keepers are the real deal, they’ve tested what works and what doesn’t, and they care deeply about finding better solutions. As we continue developing new products at Fluker’s, that kind of feedback is so valuable. It’s one thing to see reviews online. It’s another to stand face-to-face with someone who says, “Hey, I’ve used your black soldier fly larvae; have you ever thought about modifying the bedding to make it easier to separate?” It’s moments like those that keep us pushing forward but it also lets me better educate them why we chose our bedding and how it contributes to keeping the Black Soldier Fly Larvae from desiccation or drying out. Ultimately leading to a better diet for your animal.
A Family That Does It Together
One of the most powerful things I took away from the event wasn’t about a product or a species; it was about people. Watching Garrett and his family run this event together was something special. Every one of his kids played a role, and you could feel the energy and love they put into their business. That really hit home for me because Fluker’s is also a family-run company. Garretts kids worked tables teaching others about their animals and sometimes even took over the Palm Street live stream. Seeing another reptile business embrace that same spirit of teamwork and shared passion reminded me why we do what we do. The reptile industry may be growing, but at its heart, it’s still built on relationships, both with each other and with the animals we care for.
A Full Spectrum of the Hobby
If you’ve never been to Retic Fest, I can’t recommend it enough. The Fluker’s team is already looking forward to 2026. It’s one of those events where you walk away feeling better about the future, for the hobby, for the reptiles and amphibians, and for our industry as a whole. We’re honored to have played a small part in supporting this community. And we’re excited about some of the new connections and future collaborations that started at this year’s fest — even if we can’t talk about them just yet. (Stay tuned..)
Looking Ahead to 2026
Retic Fest brought together a wildly diverse group of attendees. From big-time breeders and passionate hobbyists to first-time keepers and everyone in between, including educators, pet store owners, and small businesses, we all came together for one shared reason: a love and commitment to reptiles. It felt less like a trade show and more like a reunion. No matter your experience level, you were welcomed in. If you had a question, you could ask anyone. No gatekeeping. No egos. Just passionate people who want to learn and help others grow. In a world that sometimes feels disconnected, this event was refreshingly real.