LEWISTON — There was no official count, but it would be safe to say there were thousands of snakes Sunday at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center in Lewiston. And lizards and geckos and frogs and lots of people.

Do not worry. The reptiles were in cages — mostly — and the ones that were not were part of the organizers’ larger goal of removing the stigma associated with the cold-blooded animals. All the reptiles on display and for sale Sunday were captive bred and part of an ever-popular portion of the pet world.

Children, who got in for free, got to see the animals up close, petting or holding an endless variety of snakes and lizards. But there were also vendors offering reptile-themed jewelry, books, stuffed animals and more.

A raffle could win you items ranging from candy (for humans) to a container of 500 “superworms,” a delectable treat for certain reptiles.

Andrew Desjardins, one of the event organizers, said the 22nd annual Maine Reptile Expo was one of the most heavily attended in recent memory. The expo, hosted by the Maine Herpetological Society, moved to the Lewiston Ramada in 2019, but had not really been able to host a proper event since then due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This year is crazy,” Desjardins said. “Within 10 minutes of being open, this place was packed.”

Desjardins, also known as Mr. Drew, runs Mr. Drew and His Animals Too, a natural science and exotic animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Lewiston. A section of the convention center Sunday was devoted to children and the organization’s goal of educating people about exotic animals.

A large tortoise that lives at the center, which was wearing a balloon to make him easier to spot, was getting plenty of attention from passersby.

Desjardins said many of the animals that end up at his center are first purchased by people who do not know enough about them or are not taught how to properly care for them. He said that is why the expo is a great place to make a first purchase, because the vendors make sure new owners are educated, or can contact them later.

“These guys here are the experts,” he said. “These are all locally bred animals, and all these breeders have a passion for these animals. If you’ve got questions, they’ve got the answers.”

Mr. Drew walked around the expo with his iPhone, broadcasting information over Facebook live. Every now and then, someone would recognize him and say hello. He told one parent about his balloon-clad tortoise and made sure to mention that Max, a large lizard, loves to be patted.

However, it was not all newcomers at the expo.

Elsewhere at the event, Nelson Horton of Relentless Reptiles stood behind a large display of snakes he breeds. He said he is asked many questions during the annual event about breeding.

“They want to know how I make this or how do I make that,” he said, referring to what is known as a “morph,” a genetic variation in a reptile’s color or pattern.

In the bins in front of him were snakes that were all the same species, but different colors. Many people collect them.

“These things, they’re like potato chips,” Horton said. “You’re never going to have just one.”

Horton said he has more than 500 geckos in his collection, and produces another 200 every year.

When asked what he believes draws people to reptiles, Desjardins said it begins with curiosity. He said people often fear or hate reptiles, but that often changes after even a short time with the animals.

“A lot of people see these animals — they’re cold-blooded, they’re not a dog or a cat,” Desjardins said. “But then they’re always amazed that it responds to you, and that these animals are aware of being treated well and kindly.”

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