Well it did whistle2

Agreed 100% on that comment .


Ray-Nature Conservator

HeteroScuderia wrote:
Now I'm starting to understand why the veterans of this hobby and forum slowly slip away and keep to their own social groups, they continue to breed and share only amongst themselves to avoid this Tarantula-rush that will turn all their spiders to worthless.

I'm a very small time breeder, and even I am feeling how the hobby has dipped over the last 6 months.

Ok, I have to ask something before this thread is locked. I agree with 90% what you are saying, but I have a few concerns...

I'd like to know (from every experienced breeder, if you want to share), what is concerned a "veteran" ... has it got something to do with the time you have spent in the hobby... your knowledge base ... how you care for you animals... mortality rate of your tarantulas.... what is it exactly? EDIT: Ok, I see this question has been raised in the thread more than once, lol. But seeing as nobody has answered it in detail, I won't remove it and hopefully a good answer will be posted

Anyway, back to MY rant:

I've seen breeders in the hobby (with years and years of experience) treat their tarantulas like I would treat my garbage at home, backstabbing other people, and all sorts of sub-standard human behaviour. On the other hand, I've seen people that started with me in the hobby (still considered newbies I guess), caring for their tarantulas as well as they should be cared for.

So who decides where to draw the line, and who to include/exclude? Are the 'clicks' (let's be frank, there are clicks, no need to hush about them) formed based on similar knowledge and experience (and the love of tarantulas), or are the veterans just picking people that they like?

I think it's the latter. NOTHING wrong with that, though! Each to his own I guess.

I, for one, am very careful about labeling newcomers, they might just turn out to be a future 'veteran'

EDIT:

So, in conclusion, I vote:
YES to Newbies :thumbsup:
NO to 'Mavericks' ... or as I like to call them... COWBOYS! And it would be WONDERFUL if the veteran cowboys could retire and hold an urgent collection sale so that I can look better after their tarantulas

Hi Spunky and thanks for your post.

Mavericks, Cowboys, Sheisters name them what you like - they bring an unwelcome imbalance to the economy of the hobby.

Your comments are correct and this thread is a perfect example of your example. Some people get in to the hobby for quick bucks, and others with great intentions, and I must use this opportunity to address the obvious issue in this thread with the user, Linn Currie. In this instance she clearly thought this entire thread was aimed at her because we had recently held a telephone conversation where she explained to me that she recently got in to the hobby and has spent a good deal of money buying T's that she hopes to raise, breed, photograph etc. Unfortunately it turned into a slinging match as it went on but (and I hope you are reading Linn) I fully believe you to be someone that will stick around and you were completely mistaken at answering my comments as though I was talking to you directly. However I do realize that due to our recent conversation, it was easy to think so. And I'm sorry.

What none of us like are the people I explained in my opening post, people that call me up, asking for "Breeding pairs of Gooty's" because they want to start breeding Tarantulas, and when I ask them if they have bred any other "Poecilotheira" before, they answer "What is a pokitheira?"... They just saw these spiders on Gumtree that cost a fortune as slings, searched the common name on Google and decided that they are going to breed these blue "Gooty's" and make some pocket money.

SO, THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION: They have spent little to no time in the hobby at all, getting to know it's dynamics, it's peers, it's trends etc. They have spent no time researching the economy of the hobby to see if there is actually a market to sell what they want to breed, they have not researched anything about care, habitat and general husbandry of tarantulas, let alone how to deal with 500 B.smithi slings. THEREFORE - I would say, a VETERAN at the very least is someone who has done all of the above to some extent and over a period of say three or four years - has actually used what he/she has learned to the benefit of the people in the hobby as well as himself. Taking, but also giving. A true veteran is someone that has been doing this for 10 or more years already I would think.

I hope this is the astute answer you are looking for.

HeteroScuderia wrote: THEREFORE - I would say, a VETERAN at the very least is someone who has done all of the above to some extent and over a period of say three or four years - has actually used what he/she has learned to the benefit of the people in the hobby as well as himself. Taking, but also giving. A true veteran is someone that has been doing this for 10 or more years already I would think.

I hope this is the astute answer you are looking for.

Oh, darn. I still have 2 years left ((AT LEAST)) before I graduate in Bachelors of Veteran Tarantulism. :deal :pinch:

Thanks for the feedback

2 years from what? Reaching 4 years? Or 10 years? LOL

You can't really put time to experience, each person will learn different things at different speeds, - the years I mentioned above are purely my personal opinion - nothing more. But I do feel as long as during your time - you learn and contribute for the benefit of all, I say thats great.