a packet of smokes is R32, a liter of fuel is R 11, a bottle of cheap brandy is R 50, a movie(with coke and popcorn )is R 100, a debonair s pizza is R 80, Hi tech boots are a R 1000, your Identity Body fit briefs are R 400 each, Your Levi starts at R 700 for a knockoff!

Then:
L. klugi @ R 60
B. vagans @ R 50
B. boehmei @ R 190
H. incei @ R 80
H. gigas @ R 120
Euathlus sp Red “Fire” @ R 450
B. auratum @ R 300
C. eleganse @ R 250
M. balfouri @ R 800
P. metalica @ R 1400
A. geroldi @ R 400
....is not expensive but nicely priced!

If you are in it for the love of the hobby, you will probably be upset if you sell a versi sling to someone for R75 bucks and that person just goes and sells it for R500 to someone else or R800 to a petshop.

I just had my first successful breeding and the slings are ready for sale, and I can confirm that it is a lot of friggin' work, even more than I expected. I now understand the arguments about 50/50 splits being unfair, asking price of slings, etc. And I bred a pretty straight forward species.
Raising and breeding something like M balfouri or P metallica or A versi are even more difficult, more time consuming, more expensive mature specimens... so I can fully understand the asking price.

Also, the 1000% "profit" excludes the cost and time over 2 years. Factor in the risks, loss of other males in the process, etc. it is nowhere near 1000%
also, trying to sell 100 spiders at R400 each is going to be a challenge all it's own.

I decided not to breed some of my females because the effort is not worth the R50 or R20 sling price. I will rather just keep them happy and healthy.

I agree with Carlo. You buy what you can afford... otherwise everyone will be driving Ferrari's or lambos or both Live in mansions and have rolex watches (not that I care much for a rolex come to think of it )

Panama wrote: Let me stress that i wanted this to be a debate, no need for this to get heated.
I FULLY understand that making money is a reality in this life.
I just dont see the benefit in selling T's at such high prices.
I also believe that the price of the T is only ONE aspect of when it comes to potentially flooding the market, there are a few more that play a role i.e Getting the specimens to maturity, fertility of males and females and most importantly breeding experience.
Just beacause a rare and valuable T sells for less does not necesarily mean they will flood, the market can still be yours but you could lower prices.

As with any investment there is a risk taken. Needless to say these lovely creatures are risky if you are relying on them for bread and butter. As i mentioned, i am by no means wealthy, i work 2 jobs and i begin studying a BSc next year. Obviously, i would love extra money to ease the stress.


There are douzens of ins and outs here, we all have valid points to make.

Dude, Carlo and Cerat have already raised excellent points why what you are suggestion will not work.

You say it is not about making money yet all you are doing is the numbers of how much money you could make.

All I can say is if you think it is as easy as doing the math then i will patiently wait for yor to post ads of high value T's at unbeatable prices (while destroying the hard work and business of so many guys that have been doing it for years).

This might sound crazy, but I kind of like the idea of scarce and EXPENSIVE tarantulas. I like them all, but when it comes to purchasiing and owning my own T's, I can't help but gravitate towards the more scarce, interesting and expensive T's. If you take that away, where does that leave the hobby?

Guys lets close this subject it has been debated many times before nothing new will come of it.

Thanks for all the comments